We all have our “things” about our hometown or city that make it ours. When you come to college, it’s hard to make others understand those things that are just a part of the culture of where you’re from. Coming to Pittsburgh as a Long Islander two years ago, I’ve been teased every day for all my Long Island quirks—my accent, obsession with bagels and pizza, and all other things that no one outside of the Long Island bubble would understand. Yet, what 90% (all of the people from Pittsburgh) of this school can’t understand is that they are just as weird! Pittsburgh is one unusual city—one I’ve grown to love of course—but just as weird as its inhabitants. Well, Pittsburghers, here’s a chance to look into our out-of-state minds. Here are eight quirks of this city that I still have trouble understanding!
1) But actually—what is a yinz and why are you saying it? To this you day, will never hear me say yinz. I am more likely to say “y’all” than I am yinz because I just don’t understand where it derives from! Yinz and your Stiller nation are a whole other universe to me. Even better, why is a Coronita a YINZERITA? I tried saying ‘yinz’ to my sister and her friends from Boston once, and I was stared at for a solid two minutes before shots were fired and they were shooting it down as an existent word. Sorry Pittsburghers, but I don’t know how to defend this one, aside from the fact that it is slightly catchy.
2) How about just Pittsburghese in general? Soda is pop, sprinkles are jimmys, and rubber bands are gumbands. I’m not saying that your way is wrong and mine is the only answer, but I’m the one who’s usually the accused here. So many of my Pittsburgh friends have never heard of the way I pronounce some words, and because I’m from Long Island I get thrown under the bus! You Pittsburghers need to realize that you’re the ones with the extensive vocabulary—so extensive that there are even Pittsburghese translators online! That’s when you know you have your own language. Who knows, maybe Pittsburghese will be moved onto Google Translate soon.
3) Giant Eagle! Sheetz! Giant Eagle! Sheetz! Have you ever heard of King Kullen? Because where I’m from, that’s our super market, and it’s not extremely different from Giant Eagle. There was so much buildup for me over Giant Eagle that I was expecting it to be some kind of food version of Candy Land. I have yet to grace the presence of a Sheetz, but all I know is that I’ll either have to be Team Sheetz or Team Wawa, and if I pick Sheetz, all the Philly students (everyone at Pitt) will hunt me down. Maybe us out-of-state students should just stay away from both?
4) How does a city have so many hills? One thing that will always mesmerize me about this city is the geography. The hills, the rivers, the metropolitan city—we definitely win the award for the most diverse city. I’ve never seen a city like Pittsburgh, and it still has my vote as one of my favorite cities because of how beautiful it is. Although, I will say that those hills on the way to class are killer. The first day of class freshman year, I had to get from the Cathedral to Victoria in 10 minutes; panting away, I just didn’t understand how a city could have so many hills! Yet, hills or not, I’ll always love it.
5) The pierogi is the god of all foods. Okay, this one I won’t shoot down—I have had pierogies, and they are quite delicious. Yet Pittsburghers expect all of us to know what they are! I remember as a freshman, I asked two of my in-state friends what a pierogi was, and they both stared at me like I had just asked what color the sky is. I also thought that it was spelled ‘pierogie’ until right now, so I guess I’m just doing it all wrong. The one thing I will say is that I do admire that there are pierogies that race at the Pirates games, also known as The Pirates Pierogies… if anything, I’d go to a game to see that.
6) How am I still on Forbes Avenue? Forbes has to win a record for one of the longest streets ever. You can be in five different areas of the city and still be on Forbes. I try to layout a map in my head of how it goes in so many different directions, but it’s all beyond me. It is kind of comforting looking up and seeing that you’re on Forbes; even though you’re in a totally different area, it’s cool to explore one street represented in a variety of towns!
7) Why can’t you just eat your sides on the side and not on a sandwich? Who ever heard of eating fries and coleslaw on a sandwich? The first time I had a sandwich at Primanti’s I stared at it for a while, trying to figure out the best way to tackle it. I give Pittsburgh props for its unique ideas, but it was very difficult to eat. But hey, when in Pittsburgh, do as the Pittsburghers do. Man up like I did and bear the mess of the side dishes on the sandwich.
8) The one, the only, the weather. Ahh, the Pittsburgh weather. You never know what you’re going to feel when you walk outside onto the streets of the ‘Burgh. It can be 90 degrees and pouring rain, or it could be snowing in October. As annoying as it is, it’s a nice little surprise never knowing what’s going to be. It makes for the atmosphere of an unconventional, weird, quirky city like the ‘Burgh as a whole is. Just get Pitt to give us actual snow days, and the weather would be our best friend.