what i've learned in pittsburgh

Last week I was telling a friend that I have not exactly loved my time in Pittsburgh but I had grown stronger because of it.  Later, I felt bad because Pittsburgh isn't an awful city, just the location + being away from family and friends + starting an entirely new chapter =not the most amazing time in one's life.  Sadly that's mostly what this city represents for me.  Pittsburgh actually has a lot to offer and there are many great things here, I'm just ok never really coming back (and I say that in the most loving way possible).  But to the point...I have grown stronger because of it.  And since I've been bogged down with some negativity lately I thought I'd turn my Pittsburgh experience into a positive one.  And now I will list all (most of) the things I've learned while living in Pittsburgh (some are life related and some are Pittsburgh-culture related):

• How to make a Pittsburgh left (and darn-it if I don't do it just as well as the natives)
• How to effectively drive in the snow
• How to be more aggressive on the road in order to get by (sorry for all of those who have been affected)
• How to parallel park (well just a little better)
• Not to spend time in the Hill District after dark
• What a crackhead looks like (that was experienced walking to my parking spot from my first job)
• Lots of Human Resources stuff like health, life and dental insurance, bereavement leave, FMLA, PLT, 401k plans and other dumb acronyms (thanks, first job)
• That I never ever want to have a career in HR
• That I'm passionate about helping people with disabilities (thanks, second job)
• That I'm passionate about non traditional women's ministries (WCN)
• That I love taking care of little boys (thanks, Malones!)
• What a pierogi is
• What haluski is
• That a Primanti sandwich is really delicious and also artery clogging (and don't you dare ask for it without slaw or fries because there will be consequences)
• What yinz means (ugh, that word is like nails on a chalkboard to me)
• Purchasing non-Heinz brand ketchup is a sin (oh well, I guess we're sinners :)
• What the city looks like after the Steelers (pronounced: Stillers) have won the Super Bowl
• What the city looks like after the Steelers have lost the Super Bowl (no one comes to work and the entire city is depressed)
• What the city looks like after being put on lock down for the G20 summit...ghost town
• That I can enjoy a Pirates game, even if I do always bring a Marie Claire just in case I get bored
• That the downtown skyline really is beautiful
• When someone says "dahntahn" they really mean "downtown"
• What nebby means
• A MAC machines is really an 80's term for ATM
• That if your spouse is a student you can get discount tickets to pretty much any show that comes to town
• Andy Warhol was born in Pittsburgh and the museum dedicated to him is pretty amazing (my fave museum in the city)
• There are more bridges and tunnels than I have ever seen in my life
• That if you accidentally cross a bridge or tunnel it's not the end of the world, you can probably turn around somewhere...probably
• The Strip District and Shadyside aren't even remotely as sketchy as their names let on
• That someone was doped up on something when they planned these city streets because more often than not they make no sense at all (see, there's even a Tumblr account dedicated to it)
• I can crawl into most of the potholes in the city, and how to effectively dodge those potholes without hitting an oncoming car
• How to pass a city bus
• Memorize where all the "stop except right turn" signs are located and fly through them
• You can turn an old church into a brewery and it's a pretty incredible place
• That a dog really can be your best friend (love ya, Dixie!)
• Driving up and down steep hills will not always feel like a roller coaster and you're not going to drop off the face of the earth on the other side (this is big time coming from a flatlands girl)
• How to confidently navigate almost anywhere in the tri-county area
• That I love books on CD
• How to ice skate
• That 16 degrees Fahrenheit is my breaking point for being able to comfortably (loose term) go outside
• How to shovel snow
• How to walk on icy/slushy sidewalks without pulling a muscle or breaking a leg
• How to paint every room in my house
• How to paint a porch
• That I have a weird fascination with pulling weeds (love it)
• That family really does mean the world to me
• That true friendships are worth more than gold
• That Yuengling is a great "go to" beer and since it's brewed in PA it's almost always the drink special
• What orthodox Jews look like and what their customs/rituals are 
• How to effectively clear a car of snow/ice
• How to throw a Christmas party
• How to not hit pedestrians even when they deliberately run in front of your car (I'm looking at you Oakland)
• The ins and outs of an ECE doctoral program
• That grad school really does consume your life
• That I really love to read!
• That a sunny day can cure almost anything
• That the South really is humid and what they call humidity up here feels like a nice breeze
• That there really is such a thing as Southern hospitality
• But you can find nice people any where you are, you just have to look for them
• That there are such things as hula hoop exercise classes and they're pretty fun 
• That if you have a good support system, faith and (even somewhat wavering) inner strength then you can get through just about anything.