My observations about PA thus far.
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Maddies Wench
Flailing Homosapiens
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 Posted: 06/25/04 - 09:13 Post subject: My observations about PA thus far.
1. People either live REALLY CLOSE together, or REALLY FAR apart.
2. It's common to see a Mennonite, an Islamic person, a Hindu, and a Jewish person in the same grocery line. I like that.
3. Soft pretzels are everywhere and the good ones come from Wawa.
4. No one giggles when they say Wawa, so I suppose I shouldn't either.
5. You have to plan buying beer. You can't just head to your local C-store. I suppose that's a good thing too. (By the way, a growler will last me all weekend if I'm a good girl. Even if I share.)
6. In PA they emphasise different syllables than the Northerners do. For instance: INsurance. Not InSURance.
7. 'Whenever" can be easily substituted for "when" and "anymore" is subsituted for "these days". Example: "Whenever you get the newspaper, can you bring me the coupons?" and "Neighborhoods are falling apart, anymore."
8. It's a bit of a culture shock to hear the words 'Welcome to Dunkin Donuts, may I take your order?" In the sing-song speech pattern of it's Indian owner.
9. Pizza crust is different here. I can't tell you how...it just is.
10. 'Water Ice" means "popsicle in a cup". "Custard" means soft serve. Gellati is some strange parfait-like combination of the two. I still haven't figured out the difference between POLISH water ice and ITALIAN water ice.
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Cappy
Excelent
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 09:16 Post subject:
We also call subs, Hoagies.
The best pretzels come from Bernie's, they are sold mostly in Delaware County
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purple hayes
Frightened Inmate #2
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 09:19 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
| Maddie's Wench wrote: | | 6. In PA they emphasise different syllables than the Northerners do. |
First MEDO tries to push the idea that TN isn't part of the South, and now you're telling us that PA isn't part of the north? What kind of blasphemy is this?!?
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elkid
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 09:28 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
1. People either live REALLY CLOSE together, or REALLY FAR apart. True. Very true.
2. It's common to see a Mennonite, an Islamic person, a Hindu, and a Jewish person in the same grocery line. I like that. Not in my neck of the woods. It's like Little Leningrad, or Mini Moscow, up here.
3. Soft pretzels are everywhere and the good ones come from Wawa. The best ones come from street vendors out of a grocery cart, especially on the Boulevard.
4. No one giggles when they say Wawa, so I suppose I shouldn't either. I giggle when I hear non-PA residents say it.
5. You have to plan buying beer. You can't just head to your local C-store. I suppose that's a good thing too. (By the way, a growler will last me all weekend if I'm a good girl. Even if I share.)
I had a hard time getting used to this one when I moved from Jersey. Only purchased by the case except for at a bar, and not on Sunday. I solved this problem with my beermeister.
6. In PA they emphasise different syllables than the Northerners do. For instance: INsurance. Not InSURance. I say it the second way like you; again, probably because I'm a native New Jerseyan.
7. 'Whenever" can be easily substituted for "when" and "anymore" is subsituted for "these days". Example: "Whenever you get the newspaper, can you bring me the coupons?" and "Neighborhoods are falling apart, anymore."
I think the first person I ever heard say "anymore" was rolling rock. I think that's a Western PA thing.
8. It's a bit of a culture shock to hear the words 'Welcome to Dunkin Donuts, may I take your order?" In the sing-song speech pattern of it's Indian owner.
Be lucky you can understand it. We have 4 local ones that I frequent, and I can only really be positive I was understood and that I understood the person behind the counter at one.
9. Pizza crust is different here. I can't tell you how...it just is.
Because it's better! Next to NYC pizza, Philly's got the best.
10. 'Water Ice" means "popsicle in a cup". "Custard" means soft serve. Gellati is some strange parfait-like combination of the two. I still haven't figured out the difference between POLISH water ice and ITALIAN water ice.[/quote]
I love water ice; custard not so much; gelati not at all. Polish water ice has a creamy smoothness (more custard like), Italian not so creamy smooth (more like frozen fruit juice).
And I will never call a sub a hoagie. That's just not right.
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keltic63
the kilted one
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 09:28 Post subject:
I hate to tell you this, but, much of what you discovered there isn't true over here in the western part of the state. We don't call our softserve "custard" it's ice cream. we don't have "Wawa's". soft pretzels aren't everywhere. "water ice" 
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Cappy
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 09:40 Post subject:
Another PA treat is we have the Tastykake factory
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sonnylax
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 09:41 Post subject:
| Quote: | | 5. You have to plan buying beer. You can't just head to your local C-store. I suppose that's a good thing too. |
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rolling rock
The Pinball
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 09:44 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
| elkid wrote: |
I think the first person I ever heard say "anymore" was rolling rock. I think that's a Western PA thing.
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i've always been a westerner, as far as PA living goes, but have always vacationed on the Jersey Shore. Eastern Pa and Western Pa are like two different countries anymore.... we always feel like corny foreigners when we are in Philly or Jersey. why is that? we are not hip to your jive. 
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elkid
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 10:00 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
| rolling rock wrote: | | elkid wrote: |
I think the first person I ever heard say "anymore" was rolling rock. I think that's a Western PA thing.
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i've always been a westerner, as far as PA living goes, but have always vacationed on the Jersey Shore. Eastern Pa and Western Pa are like two different countries anymore.... we always feel like corny foreigners when we are in Philly or Jersey. why is that? we are not hip to your jive. |
There it is again! 
There is most definitely Philly-speak and Jersey-ese. Go an hour or so by car and you're in a different world. There are a few Jersey/NY phrases (like "you don't know from") that people look at me strangely for using.
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genie
Master of Prissface
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 10:02 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
| rolling rock wrote: | | elkid wrote: |
I think the first person I ever heard say "anymore" was rolling rock. I think that's a Western PA thing.
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i've always been a westerner, as far as PA living goes, but have always vacationed on the Jersey Shore. Eastern Pa and Western Pa are like two different countries anymore.... we always feel like corny foreigners when we are in Philly or Jersey. why is that? we are not hip to your jive. |
I noticed that when I was out there too. It's not soda, it's "pop" there are no Wawa or Turkey Hill Mini Marts, and the first time I ever heard rubberbands called "gum bands" I laughed for 10 minutes. And you still have Denny's! The Jersey Shore is basically Philly with a beach. It's much nicer a little further south, in either DE or MD. Cleaner by far too. You can't even see your feet in a few inches of water in Jersey. 
On the good side, the people are way nicer at your end of the state and they don't drive like a bunch of friggin' Indy 500 wannabes.
Chalk up another vote for heading westward......
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Noley
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 10:31 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
| Maddie's Wench wrote: |
4. No one giggles when they say Wawa, so I suppose I shouldn't either.
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I've read 9 of these posts and still have no clue what Wawa is??? What is it??? Does it stand for Water?
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elkid
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 10:33 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
| genie wrote: | | And you still have Denny's! ... The Jersey Shore is basically Philly with a beach. It's much nicer a little further south, in either DE or MD. Cleaner by far too. You can't even see your feet in a few inches of water in Jersey. |
We still have Denny's here, too. There are 3 within 15 minutes of my house.
I disagree with you that the Jersey shore is Philly with a beach. First of all, there are no cheesesteaks. If you're thinking of what people around here consider the Jersey shore - aka Wildwood and the surrounding sh!tholes - then yes, you're right. But travel 1.5 hours northeast and you get to Ocean County. The water of the Atlantic is super clean (I can stand in over 4 feet of water and still see my toes most days), the people are super nice, and the beaches are super clean. Nothing beats Ocean County, especially the little strip of private beach where I grew up. Pure clean unadulterated bliss. <sigh>
And noley, WaWa's like a Circle K.
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genie
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 10:35 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
| elkid wrote: | | genie wrote: | | And you still have Denny's! ... The Jersey Shore is basically Philly with a beach. It's much nicer a little further south, in either DE or MD. Cleaner by far too. You can't even see your feet in a few inches of water in Jersey. |
We still have Denny's here, too. There are 3 within 15 minutes of my house.
I disagree with you that the Jersey shore is Philly with a beach. First of all, there are no cheesesteaks. If you're thinking of what people around here consider the Jersey shore - aka Wildwood and the surrounding sh!tholes - then yes, you're right. But travel 1.5 hours northeast and you get to Ocean County. The water of the Atlantic is super clean (I can stand in over 4 feet of water and still see my toes most days), the people are super nice, and the beaches are super clean. Nothing beats Ocean County, especially the little strip of private beach where I grew up. Pure clean unadulterated bliss. <sigh>
And noley, WaWa's like a Circle K. |
Where are you talking about in Ocean County? I was born in Toms River and a lot of the beaches in that area are as crummy as Childwood. LBI is fairly nice, and a little further north, up towards Manasquan is better but it still doesn't beat the beaches down south.
Or are you from up farther near Sandy Hook?
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Noley
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 10:37 Post subject:
| sonnylax wrote: | | Quote: | | 5. You have to plan buying beer. You can't just head to your local C-store. I suppose that's a good thing too. |
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I think what that means is that you have to buy your beer and booze from liquor stores. You cannot just get it from the 7-11.
I think so anyway...
I wonder if PA is dry on Sunday? I hated SC for that. You couldn't buy anything with alcohol in it anywhere in the state on Sunday. Many restaurants closed for the day as well. 
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HYPERASHEL
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Posted: 06/25/04 - 10:46 Post subject: Re: My observations about PA thus far.
| nolefan85 wrote: | | Maddie's Wench wrote: |
4. No one giggles when they say Wawa, so I suppose I shouldn't either.
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I've read 9 of these posts and still have no clue what Wawa is??? What is it??? Does it stand for Water? |
WAWA is basically a chain versio of the local Deli. a small convenieance store and Deli at one stop.
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