East Coast vs. Midwest

Living in PA till I was 12, I grew up accustomed to certain things, East Coast things. When my parents said we were moving to Illinois, I knew things would not be the same as what I was used to.

It is a little strange not having the things you are used to around you. Things like cheesteaks, pizza, people, names of things, etc. all goes out the window. Everything you know is gone and its like you just walked into a different country.

Now some things I am used to were there when we moved out, but weren't exactly as I expected. Pizza and cheesteaks for example. Illinois has two types of pizza: what I like to call a Thanksgiving dinner pizza or a saltine cracker pizza.

Deep dish pizza is like eating a thanksgiving meal in one bite, you can't move. The opposite is just a regular pizza that is as thin as a cardboard and cut into squares. A little strange to me. Then there are  what they call a "Philly cheesteak" but they aren't a true philly cheesteak. Illinois makes it their own way.

I know it may seem like I am bashing Illinois, but really I'm not. Being out there was an amazing experience that I wouldn't trade for the world. I met some of my best friends, lived across the street from two lakes, people out there won't try to run you over if you want to cross the road and I learned and laughed at some of the names they call things.

Soda out there is called pop, waterfountain is a bubbler, lolipops are suckers and they pronouced Chicago with an emphasis on the 'a.' All of this was a life experience, but what can I say, I am an East Coast girl born and raised. My home will always be in the Valley.