Coming back home during a break is a great moment for every college student. I got the chance to return to my beautiful home island of Puerto Rico just this past week and was overjoyed. I do admit that my return home is a bit more tropical than others might experience, but every hometown is beautiful because it is your own. Here are five of the things I noticed that make each and every visit home special and meaningful:
1. Home-cooked meals
Admit it: The second you read "home cooked meal," your mouth immediately began to water at the thought of your favorite recipe. Of course, the dish would be nothing were it not prepared by the loving hands of your parents or relatives. In Puerto Rico, it is tremendously hard to stick to a diet. Between mofongo, arroz mamposteao', tostones, and churrasco*, you'll be trying your best to control your desires of stuffing your face 24/7. However, it is worth it, especially considering that in no time you will be back to campus food.
*If you're not familiar with any of these foods, I really recommend that you Google them. Go ahead, book a plane ticket to visit Puerto Rico. I can promise that you will not regret it.
2. Internal tourism
There's something about being a permanent resident in a location that sometimes impedes you from "staycationing." It's the feeling that touristy things in your neighborhood are always going to be there, and therefore you're always free to go. It isn't really that I left for college and came back during breaks that I felt the need to explore my beautiful island. Between beaches, rivers, rainforests, valleys, and even zip-line courses, there really is no excuse to sit and do nothing. There's a whole world out there to explore!
3. Family hugs
This one is universal; applicable to anyone, no matter where you're from. Family time is the one thing you miss the most when you're away in college, and it's the one thing you're most glad to have when you're back. Even though going off to school by yourself and being independent is great, there's no better feeling than being surrounded by the people who love you the most. The first thing I want to do when I step foot in my country is hug my entire family. At the same time, that goodbye hug before I leave is the thing I most dread. Enjoy your family as much as you can!
4. Elementary/Middle/High school friends
The friendships that last through high school and beyond are friendships that will last a lifetime. These people have seen you at your most awkward stages. They stood by your side while you were following the latest, lamest fashion trends. They were there when you cried because your crush didn't ask you to slow dance to the last song of the school party. The least you could do to thank them for the sacrifices is to take them on a road trip and buy them some delicious, local food.*
*See items 1 and 2.
5. Childhood bed
Words cannot express the relief and satisfaction my body, mind, and soul all feel the instant I am reunited with my bed. I am one of those people that can make anything into a bed, if i really try hard enough. However, nothing compares to the bed I have slept on for 10+ years. Occasionally, my mom will make some minor changes to my room. She'll paint the walls, make a small office corner for herself, remove my 14 One Direction posters, among others. I'm okay with all of those changes. I understand that I'm not living there for a large part of the year. The important thing is that my bed remain unchanged and unmoved. There is no holier ground that my childhood bed.
