As a first year college student who attends school six hours from home, Thanksgiving is about to be my first trip back home. After three months, I have only just begun to feel like a college student (I mean, I finally put stickers on my laptop last week). After 82 days of living in a homey dorm room with great friends and not my parents, coming home to a bunkbed and not having to swipe a card to get Thanksgiving dinner is bound to feel a little strange. Here are four things college freshman think in preparing to come home.
1. My Dog
While some students have emotional support dogs and people from the town often walk their (incredibly friendly and adorable) dogs on campus, it just isn't the same as finally seeing your own pup after three months. I'm definitely looking forward to my little guy sleeping on my bed again.
2. Having My Room Back
While sleeping in one's own bed is a big deal for most college students returning home for the holidays, I can honestly say that my bed at school is a lot more comfortable than the bunk bed I have back home. My room back home is also much less tidy and not nearly as well decorated as my space back at school.
3. Actual Food
While I've gotten pretty accustomed to having every other meal consist of either macaroni and cheese, tofu or pizza and finding creative ways to make food thanks to the meager resources of a college student living in a dorm (see above: baking a cake with coconut oil, almond milk, cake mix and mason jars), I'm really looking forward to having fruit, not swiping a card or waiting in lines, and food that isn't made for hundreds of people.
4. Visiting Friends
While I've made friends more easily in college than I have been able to almost anywhere else, I'm still looking forward to the prospect of catching up with a few friends from high school.