You decide to go to college across the country, thousands of miles away from home. You decide to branch out and break away from the only comfort zone you’ve ever known. You embark on your own independent adventure without a shoulder to lean on. However, no one tells you how hard it is not to able to jump in a car whenever you want and make it home within two hours; or how much you would miss a good New York bagel. Although I wouldn’t trade the beauty of Madison for anything, being away from home comes with a few unexpected struggles.

1. Sickness

Nothing is better than having your mom or dad take care of you when your sick, no matter how old you are. They cater to your every need, bring you endless chicken soup, and hold you in their arms until you’re feeling better. But at school, when you’re feeling sick or run-down, you are by yourself. You have to make your own doctor’s appointments and then tell the doctor what’s bothering you without holding your mother’s or answering the questions for you.

2. The Flight

It's a hassle. It's always a production to go home. You spend a whole day traveling, trekking through airports and end up exhausted once the plane lands. There is a long drive to the Milwaukee or Chicago airport. There is always an issue of flights being delayed or cancelled and there is a good chance you end up sleeping on the floor of the Chicago airport. Who will you sit next to on the place? Will my bag be overweight? Will I make it to the airport on time? There is so much anxiety and stress that goes into making it home safe and sound that the journey home becomes more stressful than joyous.

3. New Foods

Every state or region has its own unique food. Every hometown has it's favorite eatery. The Midwest is known for their cheeses, the South fo their grits and fried chicken, and New York for its bagels and pizza. While Madison has an abundance of great cafes and funky food trucks, it doesn't have what you crave the most. For me, a New Yorker, it is missing that perfect bagel that I can't find anywhere near campus, but can only get at Sunshine Bagels in my hometown.

4. Never having your friends come to visit

Because flying is so expensive and such a hassle, it's rare that your best friends come to visit. You don't get to have them experience your college scene and meet all your new friends. Instead, you spend time with them at Thanksgiving, Christmas, and spring break but don't get to share each other's exhilarating college experience. And it gets worse. When your friends, who all go to school near each other, get together for the weekend, and you see it all over social media, the FOMO becomes too real.

5. Rarely being able to go home

When you’re drained from a weekend of partying or just want to get away from your roommates, going home for a couple days isn’t an option. When all you want is your mom’s home-cooked spaghetti and meatballs, you’re definitely out of luck. Instead, you have to settle for a FaceTime family dinner which doesn’t even compare to the real thing.

College is a journey; part of which is to learn how to survive the real world without our parents coaxing us through every situation. It’s freedom, a blast of fresh air, and a time to develop into adults. They say it’s the journey, and not the destination, that’s what really counts, but there are definitely times where I wish the journey didn’t always have to take me 957 miles away from home.