Most college students have a hard time tearing themselves away from their school lives for the summer. No one wants to leave their friends and routines behind for an entire three months, despite the obvious perks of being surrounded by the comforts of home. But when your second home is the Holy City, the move back becomes even harder. So, if you're a converted Charlestonian like me, you understand how hard it is to leave the peninsula behind and you understand just how real these 11 struggles are.
1. Thinking you might die of withdrawal from your favorite local treats.
If you're like me, you weep at the idea of not having easy access to Kickin' Chicken’s bobby fries.
2. Realizing no one at home will understand your school's inside jokes.
Jokes like the cougar clap, the Gilroy special, and barefoot scooter guy, just to name a few.
3. Having to live without the entertainment of people watching in Marion Square.
Seriously, where else can you watch grade-A breakdancers for free?
4. Breathing a little easier knowing you’ll be away from the brick sidewalks for a while.
Because at least at home you don’t need to take high steps to avoid tripping and doing the Charleston Shuffle.
5. Panicking because going home means actually paying for your Einstein’s bagel.
Why can’t the whole world partake in Maroon Meals?
6. Understanding that at home, a sunny day is just a sunny day, not a beach day.
Because not everywhere has three different beaches all just a 15-minute car ride away.
7. Indulging in the act of crossing the street without worrying about being hit by a horse and carriage tour.
This comes with the added perk of not being bombarded by the stench of horse manure while walking downtown.
8. Being excited to hang out with your high school friends, but missing King Street’s nighttime excitement.
Because back home, there are no bar crawls, pedicabs, and no late night Gilroy’s.
9. Accepting that your home time is not nearly as picturesque as good old Chucktown.
Back home, not everywhere you turn is Instagram or Snapchat worthy, with or without the right filter.
10. Kissing goodbye to your darty-filled schedule for each Saturday.
And trading it in for a day full of sleeping in inappropriately late and watching "Friends" re-runs on your basement couch.
11. Finally, letting the fact that you’ll be away from your best friends for three months sink in.
And then immediately denying it to yourself because the separation anxiety is just too real.
