Moving to a new state can prove challenging. You have to adjust to a new home, a new school or a new job, and a new way of life. Sometimes being new can be incredibly stressful. Whether you’ve lived in PA part of your life or all of your life, you might agree that these are just 14 things you learn quickly when you move to Pennsylvania.
- The weather is unpredictable.
Flickr/Mayfield Fisher Just take a look at the winter of 2017 as proof. Winter was repeatedly interrupted by quick bursts of spring weather before a massive storm hit part of the state. You never really know what to expect from the weather in PA.
- We definitely have all four seasons.
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli We’re lucky enough to experience all four seasons in PA. And, interestingly, we sometimes get a taste of each of them all in the same day.
- Summer days are often unbearably humid and…
Flickr/firefightersdaughter Get ready for days of frizzy hair during the summer when the humidity is sometimes unbearably high. Pennsylvanians are tough, however, and won’t hide in the air condition to escape the heat and humidity.
- Summer is the height of road construction season.
Flickr/Atomic Taco Expect plenty of traffic delays regardless of where you travel in PA during the spring, summer, and even fall months. Download a GPS app to help you navigate the road closures and detours.
- You either go to Wawa or Sheetz.
Flickr/Laura Siegert Sure, we’ve got a fierce rivalry between Philly and Pittsburgh sports teams but it’s not as intense as the Wawa versus Sheetz debate. Most people prefer one over the other.
- Saying pop or soda will give others a clue as to where you live.
Flickr/Allen People in some states say pop and in other states call it soda. You’ve got both in PA. Go to the western part of the state, including Pittsburgh, and you’ll hear it called pop. Travel to the opposite side of the state, to Philly, and it’s soda.
- Shorts are acceptable all year around.
Flickr/Mary Awad A little cold – even downright frigid temperatures – doesn’t scare most Pennsylvanians. And, shorts and a sweatshirt are perfectly acceptable any time of the year.
- We all travel on the PA Turnpike sometimes – and complain about it.
Flickr/Mark Danielson Most of us can’t escape travel on the turnpike, although many are becoming pretty savvy at finding routes around the country’s first superhighway. Why do we complain about it? The tolls increase every year and - let’s face it - in some spots, the turnpike is pretty bumpy.
- PA could easily be nicknamed the pothole state.
Flickr/exacta You’ll learn how to easily navigate around potholes. But, be prepared for a rough ride in the beginning.
- Forget Pennsylvania. We call it PA.
Flickr/Michael Femia We’re the only state in the country that refers to our state by its official abbreviation. If you want to fit in right away, just call it PA like the rest of us do.
- Most schoolkids get the Monday after Thanksgiving off.
Flickr/Robot Brainz Hunting is a big deal in PA. So big of a deal, in fact, that many school districts have the Monday after Thanksgiving off to honor the first day of hunting season.
- Groundhog’s Day is a big deal in PA.
Flickr/Doug Kerr Sure, you’ll hear plenty of moans and groans when it comes to Punxsutawney Phil. Despite the complaints, PA makes a pretty big deal of Groundhog’s Day with many news stations airing Phil’s prediction live.
- PA is the snack capital of the United States – maybe even the world.
Flickr/Mike Mozart You’ll never have to travel too far to find a delicious snack when you live in PA, which is home to a plethora of snack companies including Herr’s, Hershey, Utz, and Peeps. And, that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
- Pennsylvanians are unbelievably loyal.
Flickr/Michael Gray You’ll hear us complain about PA. The taxes are too high. The roads stink. On and on. The fact remains, however, that Pennsylvanians are incredibly loyal to our beloved state. We can complain - but non-Pennsylvanians? We don’t take too kindly to that.
What else do you think people quickly learn when they move to Pennsylvania? Click here to read why PA just might be the black sheep of PA and why we love it that way.
Flickr/Mayfield Fisher
Just take a look at the winter of 2017 as proof. Winter was repeatedly interrupted by quick bursts of spring weather before a massive storm hit part of the state. You never really know what to expect from the weather in PA.
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli
We’re lucky enough to experience all four seasons in PA. And, interestingly, we sometimes get a taste of each of them all in the same day.
Flickr/firefightersdaughter
Get ready for days of frizzy hair during the summer when the humidity is sometimes unbearably high. Pennsylvanians are tough, however, and won’t hide in the air condition to escape the heat and humidity.
Flickr/Atomic Taco
Expect plenty of traffic delays regardless of where you travel in PA during the spring, summer, and even fall months. Download a GPS app to help you navigate the road closures and detours.
Flickr/Laura Siegert
Sure, we’ve got a fierce rivalry between Philly and Pittsburgh sports teams but it’s not as intense as the Wawa versus Sheetz debate. Most people prefer one over the other.
Flickr/Allen
People in some states say pop and in other states call it soda. You’ve got both in PA. Go to the western part of the state, including Pittsburgh, and you’ll hear it called pop. Travel to the opposite side of the state, to Philly, and it’s soda.
Flickr/Mary Awad
A little cold – even downright frigid temperatures – doesn’t scare most Pennsylvanians. And, shorts and a sweatshirt are perfectly acceptable any time of the year.
Flickr/Mark Danielson
Most of us can’t escape travel on the turnpike, although many are becoming pretty savvy at finding routes around the country’s first superhighway. Why do we complain about it? The tolls increase every year and - let’s face it - in some spots, the turnpike is pretty bumpy.
Flickr/exacta
You’ll learn how to easily navigate around potholes. But, be prepared for a rough ride in the beginning.
Flickr/Michael Femia
We’re the only state in the country that refers to our state by its official abbreviation. If you want to fit in right away, just call it PA like the rest of us do.
Flickr/Robot Brainz
Hunting is a big deal in PA. So big of a deal, in fact, that many school districts have the Monday after Thanksgiving off to honor the first day of hunting season.
Flickr/Doug Kerr
Sure, you’ll hear plenty of moans and groans when it comes to Punxsutawney Phil. Despite the complaints, PA makes a pretty big deal of Groundhog’s Day with many news stations airing Phil’s prediction live.
Flickr/Mike Mozart
You’ll never have to travel too far to find a delicious snack when you live in PA, which is home to a plethora of snack companies including Herr’s, Hershey, Utz, and Peeps. And, that’s just the tip of the proverbial iceberg.
Flickr/Michael Gray
You’ll hear us complain about PA. The taxes are too high. The roads stink. On and on. The fact remains, however, that Pennsylvanians are incredibly loyal to our beloved state. We can complain - but non-Pennsylvanians? We don’t take too kindly to that.
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