Random Things No One Told Me About Staten Island

1) Tolls.
In order to get to an island, in any circumstance, you must take a bridge or a boat.  That's just common knowledge.  As Eaic and I drove for the first time into Staten Island, we had to pay a $13 toll.  Aside from it being crazy high, we didn't think much of it because we'd been on the highway and perhaps we'd missed the toll sign way back when.  We paid the $13 and continued on our way (which wasn't far at all until our destination).  Upon arrival, it became apparent very quickly that I would need to get some cleaning supplies and I would need to get them right away.  So, we looked up the nearest Walmart.  It is less than 15 minutes away, over in New Jersey.  We got into the car and loaded up on all kinds of good stuff (you know, like toilet paper, soap, dishcloths, ... as well as some food staples) along with hundreds of other people out shopping on Saturday afternoon.  However, as we were coming back across the bridge, we realized that we had yet another $13 toll.  This caused us to come home and do some research.  In order to drop Eaic off at La Guardia, it would cost me another $15 toll to get back onto the island.  You can leave Staten Island as much as you want... but you cannot come back without paying a toll.  Please keep that in mind if you plan to come visit.
Because I don't know if or when I'll need to go into New Jersey, I got an EZPass.  It makes it a little bit cheaper when I do go.

2) Turtles.
Apparently turtles are common pets here.  I met my first turtle, Harry, on the first Sunday I was here.  Terry called up and told me that her turtle was in the backyard.  Now, I'm not exactly a reptile person.  However, it was particularly fascinating to know that a turtle sometimes hangs out in my backyard.  I did a little research.  Pet turtles are a pretty common thing here in New York.  The thing I find most interesting about that is the length of time for which turtles live.  There is a significant chance that Harry will outlive Terry.  That's a serious commitment!

3) Beaches.
So, I'd never been to Staten Island before.  I'd never gotten off the ferry and I've ridden the ferry lots of time.  I never really knew everything that Staten Island has to offer.  One thing that is relatively unknown for non-New Yorkers is the beach.  Staten Island has, apparently because I have yet to visit, a beautiful beach.

4) Mexican food.
I am surrounded by Mexican food.  No one told me that I would be living in the middle of the Latino area.  As a Spanish major and Latin American studies minor, this is particularly exciting.  I honestly have yet to try any, but I will, I promise, and I'll get back to you :)

5) Driving/parking/standing.
So, this is probably the biggest difference between Staten Island and Grand Rapids.  I knew that city driving is not really what happens in Grand Rapids and so I came mentally prepared for that.  I also came to Staten Island with confident parallel parking skills.  The latter has come in VERY handy because that's all I do - parallel park.  The one thing that I didn't come prepared for was the way in which people "stand."
For example, if you want lunch from your favorite corner deli, many people would drive around the block looking for a parking spot, right?  Not here.  Here, if you pull up to your favorite corner deli and there aren't any spots, you just park in the street and put your flashers on... and run in.  This causes others to have to drive around them, which can be fun when they're parked on the corner near the stoplight/sign.  It's also fun when traffic is heavy.  It makes everyone pay a little more attention, though.
Two laws that affect me and the way I drive are that no cell phones are allowed while driving (this includes calls) and that you cannot turn right on red light.  Luckily I didn't find these out the hard way, but I could have in my first week.

6) Rain.
I kid you not, sometimes I wonder if I really moved to Seattle or London.  In the first two weeks I was here, it rained for 10 days.

7) Fort.
Did you know that Staten Island was where the British were stationed during the Revolutionary War?  In order to stop enemies from invading during World War 1 and the Spanish/American/Cuban War, a fort was built on Staten Island.  It was never needed to defend the city, but it looks cool and it was a fun exploration one sunny Saturday.