Portraits of New Jersey is an ongoing Jersey Vindicator series by photojournalist Andres Kudacki, who speaks with residents about what they love — and what frustrates them — about life in the Garden State. He pairs each conversation with a photograph.

Food: Ever since I got here, I have been able to try all kinds of cuisines from different cultures. New Jersey is a very diverse region, and it has incorporated cuisines from all over the world. Even though they might not be genuinely pristine, I had a very fun experience exploring all kinds of cuisines.

The people: During my college years, I got acquainted with people who were different from me, and I genuinely had a good time getting to know them. I learned about their cultures and shared my life with them.

Fashion & style: Thrifting is something I began to do ever since I got here as an international student. I went to thrift stores and vintage stores of all kinds, and I felt like I thoroughly explored my style.

Transportation woes: As someone who doesn’t have a car, using public transportation can be very painful. The subway, metro, and bus systems are not as developed as in some regions in Asia.

Medical services: If you don’t have insurance, medical services can be very inconvenient. Ever since I graduated and no longer had insurance, there were a few times when things became very problematic for me.

Hygiene & infrastructure: In certain regions of New Jersey, some neighborhoods are not ideal. They don’t get enough funding to maintain public infrastructure, so hygiene and facilities can be underdeveloped.