the intricacies of new jersey

I spent the weekend at Monmouth University volunteering as a facilitator with New Jersey HOBY in scenic coastal Long Branch, NJ. I got back late Sunday night, spent most of Monday taking a series of naps of varying lengths and, other than spilling hot coffee all over myself, today's been pretty much back to normal.

Though I spent most of the weekend locked up in a university conference hall or sleeping on a foam mattress in a dorm room, like a true traveler I managed to gain some greater knowledge of this proud Garden State out of my trip nonetheless.

The first thing I learned is that every pilgrim or New World settler or whatever you want to call them who came to this plot of land first and started naming things was obviously stoned out of his or her respective gourd. Ho-Ho-Kus? That is a name of a town, people. I cannot make this shit up. Really, I can't, because I'M NOT STONED. Additionally, you can add to that list the towns of Cinnaminson, Mahwah and Pohatcong. And if you're planning a trip to Pohatcong, make sure you don't accidentally type Hopatcong into Google Maps, because somehow that is ALSO a real place in New Jersey.

I also learned that New Jersey is NOT, in fact, part of New England. Now, I understand this. I do. Because New England technically refers to the places settled by the English, right? The New World and all that? But if all you Yankees want to sit around and tell me that Washington, D.C. is the south, then I will call your crazy ass state New England all the live-long day. Capiche?

Here's another biggie. Apparently it is kind of important to note whether you're from North Jersey or South Jersey. And it seems that the South Jersey people tend to feel a little disenfranchised. Because to North Jersey people, New York City is where it's at, but to South Jersey people, it's Philadelphia. If you noted that neither of those cities is actually IN New Jersey, you win the prize.

But it was fun to have some Jersey pride this weekend -- mostly just seeing my ambassadors' and the younger staff members' pride, really. Just goes to show that what might be the armpit of America to me is a place that thousands of people will always be immensely proud to call home. It's a difference of opinion that I kind of dig.

cheers,
elizabeth