Where are you from? People ask me this all the time. I’m not exactly quite sure if I should say Japan or not. I mean I am Japanese yes, and I lived there until I was 15. But sometimes, when people ask me that question, I’m tempted to say:

New Jersey. I’m a jersey-ite.

Now, I have said this to some people and they just nod and say “cool.” But I have to wonder. Do these people Really know what Jersey (or Joisey for those native folks like me) KNOW about Jersey?

I think people are surprised when I tell them about “the shore”. First of all, I Seriously believe that anyone that is not from Jersey knows what “the shore” Really is. To hear a jersey-ite say “the shore” it could mean a number of things. It could mean Asbury Park, it could mean LBI (that’s Long Beach Island), it could mean Sleaze-side Heights (Really Seaside Heights), it could mean AC (that’s not Air Conditioning, that’s Atlantic City), it could mean Wildwood/Ocean City, or it could mean a bunch of things. The irony of that last sentence is that only a jersey-ite would probably understand any of that. What’s my point though?

I Really miss the shore.

I miss the boardwalk. I miss (oddly enough) hearing, “Watch the tramcar please.” over and over again. I miss hanging out with my friends and saying “meet me at Lucky Leos”. Consequently, is Lucky Leo’s still there?

Those are just some of the things I miss about being a “Joisey boy”.