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hike_me t1_j2upy4g wrote

You can’t buy bagged milk here.

You can buy Maine-made cheese curds to make your poutine (Pineland Farms)

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TAmber1213 t1_j2uqlhn wrote

Look up shops and things that will be around where you live. And if you like hiking there are a lot of mountain trails to take here !!!

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Way2L8AND1 t1_j2ur4ky wrote

There is a Route 1 and a Route 1A.... Not to be confused with... "You're on Route 1 eh ?"

Ok, weak joke. Safe Travels and good luck :)

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MrLonely_ t1_j2us4am wrote

Gorham Portland area is going to have a lot less snow than your used to. Especially with global warming it can be a pretty sad sight

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Msghall1229 t1_j2usdfg wrote

Avoid all the places like Demillos ect in the old port. Wicked expensive for subpar food. How ever go find duck fat and try the fries amazing

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montel555 t1_j2uutmo wrote

Welcome to our wonderful state! My sister went to USM and got a great education. You’re moving to a city with amazing food and friendly people, and I think you are going to love it. If you’re friendly to and accepting of others you will have a great time.

Maine is a state where you learn the specifics as you go. Go with the flow and be willing to lean in and you’ll feel at home in no time.

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Gilbert221 t1_j2uv34l wrote

Shop at market basket if you can, it’s cheaper and way better.

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WhiskyIsMyYoga t1_j2uyy8f wrote

Maple syrup is the preferred condiment for lobster rolls.

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peppapoofle4 t1_j2v2n4b wrote

Stock up on Coffee Crisp, cause we don’t have any here! 😞

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kissiemoose t1_j2v2vcu wrote

All of Greater Portland is a small town, so be kind to everyone you meet because odds are you are going to keep running into them or you know someone who knows them. As with the rest of Maine, don’t beep your horn unless it’s to say “hello”. The fastest way to tell everyone you are “from away” is to beep your horn in anger.

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Jim_stugots t1_j2v2zxb wrote

Good sheet of ice @usm gorham!

If you play hockey, bring those skates

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remiandthenoogs t1_j2v3pb4 wrote

Welcome!! USM alum here.. gorham is a really fun town, VERY much a college town. Like others have said, take advantage of the bus that runs between campuses, especially from Gorham to portland because parking in Portland can be TERRIBLE at times (or at least it was 5 years ago.. god I’m old). If anyone mentions “the crack”, that’s the husky hide away, where you can get non cafeteria food using your husky bucks (or real money if you run out). It’s called the crack for a reason, it’s ADDICTING lol. Also beware, the entire Gorham campus is a hill. When I was a freshman the dorms at the bottom of the hill (Dickey Wood, RIP) is where I lived and it was a HIKE to get to class and I was an athlete, so give yourself time. Sebago brewing company is a great little pub less than a mile from campus (easily walkable, but plenty of parking if you drive) that has good pub food and a late night crowd. If I think of anything else I’ll comment, but have a GREAT time, most people are really friendly!

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Lady-Kat1969 t1_j2v89yz wrote

Welcome to Maine! I can relate a little from the opposite direction; I'm a Mainer and spend as long as I can in Canada each year. (My dad's family was from New Brunswick.) There's enough similarities in culture to make it really surprising when you run into the differences, but most of them aren't really a big deal. It's hard to find butter tarts and I don't think ketchup-flavored or all-dressed chips exist this far south, but poutine has become easy to get. The food is sweeter here, but not as much as some people claim; a good rule is that the cheaper the food is, the more likely it is to have unnecessary sweeteners in it.

I think it's a law that people staying any appreciable amount of time must try Moxie, but when you do, find it in glass bottles; there is a difference.

One of the great things about the Gorham campus is that, while people are right about not having as much snow as we used to, it's still possible to get some winter sports in even if you don't have a car; I don't know the trails close to campus, but pretty much every town in Maine has them so it's a safe bet Gorham does too. It's also a reasonable walk to downtown, if walking isn't a problem for you. It's easy to get your day-to-day needs there.

If you do have or can get access to a car while you're here, you're in a good location for exploring. The coast isn't far at all, and skiing is a reasonable day trip. When warmer weather hits, there are a few good swimming holes within 15-20 minutes drive. If not, then there is public transportation; not a lot of Maine has it, but there is a Gorham-Portland shuttle and Portland has a decent bus system. (At least compared to other places I've lived.)

For specific recommendations, I'll start with Becky's Diner. It's good but not great food, but it's reliable and the worst meal I had there was just mediocre rather than actually bad. Hit Trader Joe's; some stuff is more expensive than regular grocery stores and some is cheaper, but you can find a good assortment. This is the best time of year to explore the Old Port in downtown Portland, as the crowds tend to be heading for more winter sports-oriented places. If you like Thai food, try Pom's; there are two locations and the one on Congress St is easiest to get to without a car. Sun Market, also on Congress St, was a good Asian market when I lived in Portland, although that was a while ago. For a fun excursion, go down to the Portland waterfront and take a ride on the ferry; doesn't matter which one, because they all have excellent views. For a longer excursion, the Downeaster runs from Boston to Brunswick with several stops in between; they don't have the number of trains that they used to, but if you get up early it should still be possible to get a day trip in and some of the stops could be covered in the amount of time you'd have.

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ToesocksandFlipflops t1_j2w83xt wrote

Junction Bowl if that is your thing it's tucked behind the hannaford in Gorham.

If you like hockey Portland has an ECHL team that is decent hockey. They play Trois rivieres and Newfoundland frequently so you can enjoy the national Anthem if that is your thing.

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