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"Where are you from?"

topic posted Mon, March 22, 2004 - 8:01 PM by  Unsubscribed
Last month, I attended a conference in Atlanta. Among a group of strangers from all over the country, I wasn't surprised to hear the frequent question, "So where are you from?"

I *was* surprised, however, to find myself compelled to explain that while I *live* 20 miles north of Philadelphia, I'm *from* North Jersey. (Specifically, I was born in Kearny and raised in Clifton.) Does anyone else out there -- particularly those who are no longer in New Jersey -- feel such a need to explain themselves? I just couldn't bring myself to say, "I'm from Pennsylvania."

You can take the girl out of Jersey...
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  • Jason
    Jason
    offline 9

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Sun, February 27, 2005 - 12:01 PM
    Saddle Brook, NJ guy all the way (Exit 159, GSP)! My brother and I used to say we were from "New York." No more. I'm strictly a Jersey guy now - Bruce, Frank, Bon Jovi, tollbooths, bagel shops, all of it. I'm all Jersey! Nice to meet you Denise.
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  • kent
    kent
    offline 123

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Thu, March 3, 2005 - 4:40 AM
    I'm from the jersey shore. But raised in the wayne area.
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    • Andrew
      Andrew
      offline 11

      Re: "Where are you from?"

      Thu, March 3, 2005 - 5:56 AM
      Well I grew up in Spring Valley which is in Rockland County NY and just over the border of Bergen County... When people would ask where I'm from and I tell them Rockland, alot of the time I'd get "Is that in Jersey?" Well of course it is not but it is close enough as trips to Paramus and many places in Bergen were a part of life. I lived in Westfield for 1 year followed by Ridgewood for a year and now I have settled into Wood-Ridge in southern Bergen county. I pretty much feel at home in NJ even though I work in NYC.
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  • pato...
    patoloco
    offline 2

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Thu, March 24, 2005 - 5:29 PM
    West Orange, home of the first motion picture studio in the world!
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    • Unsu...
       

      Re: "Where are you from?"

      Tue, March 29, 2005 - 9:46 PM
      menlo park has the first motion picturestudio,,by thomas a. edison
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      • pato...
        patoloco
        offline 2

        Re: "Where are you from?"

        Wed, March 30, 2005 - 8:15 AM
        Wrong, Menlo Park was a residential neighborhood on un-incorporated land. LAter, when it incorporated into a township, it became West Orange. This was shortly before Edison's time, but many people had not taken to the name West Orange yet, hence Edison is known as "the wizard of Menlo Park". I think you would be hard pressed to find anything that came out of the Edison Factories that didn't say "West Orange" on it. I should know, I grew up less that a mile from his labs.
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  • Jeff
    Jeff
    offline 0

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Mon, October 24, 2005 - 5:43 PM
    Born in Evanston, IL
    Moved to Beaverton, OR

    Currently lives at Wayne, NJ
    Goes to college at Rutgers in New Brunswick, NJ

    Damn proud to live in jersey
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  • Chri...
    Christiane
    offline 202

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Tue, October 25, 2005 - 2:41 PM
    I'm originally from North Jersey too — Dumont, in Bergen County to be specific — and I am now living in Bucks County, Pa.

    My parents moved back to the area a few years ago, and are living in Bergenfield.

    My sis is living in Oakland.
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    • Unsu...
       

      Re: "Where are you from?"

      Wed, October 26, 2005 - 5:34 PM
      "...and I am now living in Bucks County, Pa."

      Bucks County? What exit? Um, that question doesn't work as well on this side of the Delaware, does it?

      As for me, Exit 343 off the PA Turnpike.
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  • greg
    greg
    offline 34

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Wed, November 9, 2005 - 11:01 AM
    what's up bergen county, morris county! i was born in hackensack, raised in rutherford, and went to high school in long valley/chester. even though i've lived in california since '92, i still tell people i meet "i'm from jersey" that way i never have to fight anyone.
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    • Aileen
      Aileen
      offline 211

      Re: "Where are you from?"

      Thu, November 10, 2005 - 12:53 PM
      Wantage township, up up up there in Northwest NJ, in Sussex County. 5 minutes from the NY state border, 20 from PA. I'm out here in San Fran, but I still feel it's neccesary to let people know I was born and raised in rural New Jersey (although people don't think rural, countryside NJ exists). I'll be back in December, hanging out in Sussex County and Glen Rock (Bergen County) where my dad resides now. WABT--My ada grew up in Packanack Lake!
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      • Wabt
        Wabt
        offline 6

        Re: "Where are you from?"

        Tue, January 17, 2006 - 4:38 PM
        ada...dad? Where/when did he live in Packanack? My parents lived there from the early 60's thru the late 90's.
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        • Aileen
          Aileen
          offline 211

          Re: "Where are you from?"

          Fri, February 3, 2006 - 2:29 PM
          My dad lived in packanack Lake in the late 40's-all through the 50's, I think to the mid-60's. He went to a bunch og high school's, finally finishing up at Kinnelon High. My mom grew up in some lake in Wayne as well, dePaul High Shcool. Then they migrated to Sussex County (as far off the jersey-sterotype path as possible) and had nine of us. Now dad is in Glen Rock, mom's still in wantage. And I'm in California, where I swell with pride when I can tell people where I'm from :)
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  • toni
    toni
    offline 1

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Fri, December 2, 2005 - 3:28 AM
    I was born in New York but have lived in New Jersey since 1967. First Rutherford (even when I was married - how dull is that??) and now Clifton.

    I have a day job, but i'm also a writer. You can check out my website at www.freewebs.com/toni1953. with one book currently out and 3 more next year, I'd sure like to hear from y'all!
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  • Unsu...
     

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Fri, December 2, 2005 - 9:29 AM
    from detroit. lived in the les of nyc for 13 years, now im in the ironbound lookin for love/answers amongst the crackheads, the transvestite prostitutes, and the dispossed. who knows, maybe Ill find peace here, or at least a decent blowjob. Gentrifications coming, but I just needed a soft place to land after the breakup of my ex. Funny I should choose a place called ironbound. Its a bit more honest than that frikkin westchester crap that I was in for 4 months. What I wanna know is.. Whats the difference between the ironbound and downeck. im on 21 and mulberry.
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  • Domina
    Domina
    offline 32

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Fri, December 2, 2005 - 9:43 AM
    "From?" Jersey, though I am the sum of experiences gained from many places. But you're right, New Jersey leaves a lasting impression on a person. Meaning, people recognize a native of New Jersey, New York, Louisiana or Texas more readily than they recognize someone from say, Pennsylvania or Utah. And that isn't to insult those residents. There simply aren't many films shot there. : )

    One thing I hate about telling people I live in Jersey...For the umpteenth time, NO, I don't know the Sopranos.
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  • Beth
    Beth
    offline 8

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Sat, December 3, 2005 - 8:31 AM
    Mine Hill. My whole life. Anyone ever been there/heard of it?? It's such a small town, so I hate having to explain where it is to people who live like 3 miles away. I go to school in South Jersey tho, and I hate how they bash North Jersey so much down here.
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  • Roberto
    Roberto
    offline 146

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Fri, March 10, 2006 - 8:26 AM
    I'm a Navy Brat, and grew up everywhere from Texas to Florida, Spain to Germany, but found my way to New Jersey, and I love it here.
    I'm happy to let everyone know I'm now from "Northern New Jersey" - I'm in a strange geographic nexus of Boonton-Mountain Lakes-Parsippany.

    I'm happy to sing the praises of the Garden State, in all of it's mountainous and arboreal glory!!

    - Roberto
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  • Ryuji
    Ryuji
    offline 2

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Thu, March 16, 2006 - 5:57 PM
    Fort Lee -- often times gets over looked for some reason. Bergen county it is.
    And considering how frank I'm being with my condition and all, any one else in a "bipolar hole"?

    Outside of that, I seek a nice cafe that also serves beer.

    R
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  • ter'i
    ter'i
    offline 182

    Re: "Where are you from?"

    Fri, March 24, 2006 - 8:39 PM
    I live in NORTH Jersey. I mean NOOORRRTH. Township called West Milford. And being that West Milford is about 100 square miles, let me specify: I'm from *northern* West Milford (did I mention "north"?). I'm practically laying on the state line of upstate NY when I walk out my door. Appalachian Trail / Black Bear country. Tah dah.
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