Before coming to school here at Jefferson, I had only visited Philadelphia for occasional field trips to the Liberty Bell. But as I am scheduling classes for my senior year, I am realizing that this city has become my home for almost three years. In that time, I have picked up quite a few Phillyisms and although I was not born and raised in Philly, I can confidently say that I feel more and more like a Philadelphian with every day that passes. You know you live in Philly when…
1. You’re no longer nervous to drive the Schuylkill. I mean yeah there’s lots of traffic but you do it a few times and you realize it’s really not that bad.
2. You stop questioning the person in front of you who is ordering jimmies as a topping on their ice cream.
3. You learn to expect soft pretzels at every catered event and cheesesteaks at every sporting event.
4. Your car feels like it is going to fall apart thanks to a road filled with potholes.
5. You find yourself grocery shopping at either Acme or Shoprite.
6. You go to Rita’s on the first day of spring for free water ice instead of free Italian ice.
7. You realize you have a million pictures of city hall but you continue to take new ones.
8. You hear people are going down to the shore instead of to the beach.
9. You are slightly disappointed when you visit another mall and it is not as big as King of Prussia. Also, after conquering King of Prussia crowds, you can conquer any crowds.
10. You know how to navigate Septa. This may be a very untrustworthy relationship (where Uber becomes your back up plan) but if you do it enough, you’ll realize you can find your way to the correct train platform without even having to look at a sign.
11. Your first association of the eagle does not have to do with the United State’s government, but with football.
12. You know you’re not the biggest city on the East Coast, but you like that. You’re comfortable with the City of Brotherly Love’s quirkiness and craziness. After all, there’s no other city like it.
PC: Abbey Pitzer