11 Things You Quickly Learn When You Move Away From Pittsburgh
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
Pittsburgh’s a special city, and Pittsburghers are undoubtedly fiercely loyal. Whether you’ve been a Pittsburgher for life or for just a few years, you also know that we live in a unique city, have our own language, and are one of the friendliest places in the country. However, we might not always appreciate our hometown until we leave. Here are 11 things you learn when you move away from Pittsburgh.
Whether we want to admit it or not, we all speak some Pittsburghese. Who among us, after all, hasn’t called someone yinz or a jagoff, or told our kids or spouse to rid up their room? Just get prepared for quizzical looks when you’re not around native Pittsburghers.
Yep, that’s just a Pittsburgh thing. When you travel outside of the state – even the city – you can just breeze through the tunnel when there’s no traffic. You might have to deal with the same bumper-to-bumper traffic at times, though.
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Many, but not all, drivers in Pittsburgh adhere to the Pittsburgh left. When the light turns green at an intersection, we let one person turn before going straight through the intersection. You just might get some angry honks if you try that anywhere else.
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Fries have been a favorite topping on sandwiches and salads in Pittsburgh for generations. It’s just one of those things that makes Pittsburghers so unique.
We deal with a lot of gray days in Pittsburgh, especially during the winter. You might be surprised to learn, however, that the sun shines an awful lot in many other places in the U.S.
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Chances are that no matter where you travel in the United States or in the world, you’ll run into fellow Pittsburghers. Somehow we always seem to find each other, whether it’s because of the accent or the Steelers/Pens/Pirates gear.
Pittsburghers love their Heinz, especially the ketchup. Sadly, not every restaurant outside of the Burgh serves Heinz, so you’ll either have to carry your own Heinz ketchup with you or learn to like another kind of ketchup.
If you ask for jumbo or chipped ham, you’re probably going to get some strange looks. Both are uniquely Pittsburgh.
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We use a chair to save our parking spot, after working hard to clear it of snow, so no one will try to swipe it. Some other cities do that, too, but don’t expect it to be normal in plenty of other places.
If you’re moving to a colder place, you might get some strange looks if you venture out in shorts and a sweatshirt when it's frigid and snowy. It may be common winter attire in Pittsburgh, but some people might think it’s downright odd.
Dorothy was right when she clicked her ruby slippers together and repeated "there’s no place like home." No matter where we go – whether we leave the area for good or just for a getaway – we’ll always bring a part of Pittsburgh with us.
What are some things you’ve learned when you move away from Pittsburgh (even if you’re coming back)? Let us know in the comments! Then see if you agree with these eight reasons Pittsburghers are undeniably tough.
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