1. Mom's food.
There is nothing in the world like the food your mother (or even your father) cooks when you have been living off dining hall food for the past several weeks.
2. Family time.
Being away from the people that mean the most to you in the world can be more than difficult. Every moment you get to spend with your loved ones is a moment you will appreciate always.
3. Seeing friends.
We all make new friends when we go off to school, but the friends that we grew up with will always hold a very special place in our hearts. When we go home and reunite with these people it reminds us of the best parts of our high school experience.
4. Avoiding those people that we never really liked in high school.
When you are in a high school class with someone who just really irritates you, it can be impossible to separate yourself from them; however, when you come back from college, you get to choose exactly who you would like to be around, and so that once unbearable nuisance becomes much less of a problem.
5. Hometown gossip.
Everybody loves gossip, and don’t listen to those who try to tell you that they don’t, because they are lying. When you come from a small town like I do the gossip is never in short supply. Hearing all of the latest stories that you missed out on while you were gone can be one of the most enjoyable parts of being home.
6. Resetting.
While we are at school we tend to be going at a million miles a minute. Going home allows us to take a step back from the craziness and relax a little.
7. Your bed.
Sure, once you put your mattress topper on your dorm bed it is not so bad anymore. You might even find it to be rather comfy. In reality though, no three-inch memory-foam topper will ever replace the comfort of your bed at home.
8. Your shower.
No matter where you go to school, the showers will always be an issue in some way. The water pressure is never right; the temperature is never quite the way you want it, and unless you are one of the lucky few with your own shower (hate you, by the way) there are an unlimited number of issues that could arise when dealing with others who share the same space. When you go home, your shower becomes the most glorious shower in existence, and everything in the world feels right again.
9. Being alone.
Making friends in college is very important. Having a group of people to go to events and study with are essential to the college experience. Sometimes, though, we just want a few minutes to ourselves. It can be hard to do this when there are endless activities going on and everyone else is going out. Being at home allows us to separate from this, and it gives us the opportunity to find some peace and quiet.
10. Going to the store.
Who would have thought that something as simple as going to the store could be difficult when one goes off to college? As a student who often tries to avoid dining hall food, I find that I run out of my food stock rather quickly. The grocery store is several blocks away, and having no vehicle makes the journey difficult. To add to this problem, I have no idea where anything is in this new store. I often find myself longing for the simplicity of jumping in my car and going to the Walmart I am used to at home.
11. There is no place like it.
As cliché as it is to say, there really is no place like home. Starting a new life is exciting and can be a lot of fun, but you will always be connected to the place from which you came. You may live in a new city or a new town; you may even call this new place home, as I have found myself doing from time to time. Loving the new place is a wonderful thing, but we all know inside that it will never truly match up to our real homes.
