A little over a year ago, I moved 12 hours away from home. I'm a person who loves change, but at times I do get a little bit homesick. (PS: culture shock is a real thing!) Although there are days where I miss home more than others, I am grateful to have somewhere so amazing to go home to. As for all my other friends that went away to school, I know I'm not the only one facing these struggles. Thus, here are 5 struggles that Chicagoans face when going away to school.
1) No one understands pizza like we do
Not having deep dish pizza is honestly one of the hardest challenges I have had to face. Quite frankly, I consider this heartbreak similar to a really bad break up (with Lou Malnati.) Going to school in the South has made me appreciate deep dish pizza more than ever. Lets face it, no one knows how to make a deep dish pizza outside of Chicago. Lets just say that I have resorted to eating Domino's for the rest of my college career.
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2) Everyone will call you out for your accent
If you didn't realize it before, your friends will make it a point for you to know that you have one. Embrace it. Your friends will even ask you to repeat a specific word just so they can make fun of you. *Yes, I say Chicaaaaahhhgo and caaaahhllege.* People from the South will most definitely point out your strong Northern accent.
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3) You realize that your definition of "downtown" is warped
When I think downtown, I instantly think of Michigan avenue, Oak Street beach, Water Tower Place, and Millennium Park. So, when someone says "lets go downtown" for drinks or dinner, you have to snap back to reality and remember that you're not surrounded by skyscrapers and millions of people in the most beautiful city in the world.
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4) Your hometown becomes nonexistent and irrelevant
When people ask where you're from, you automatically say Chicago. Naperville, Barrington, Crystal Lake, Mount Prospect, etc. do not exist when talking to someone who is from out of state. This rule applies to a 50 mile radius. Sometimes it's easier just to act like you're straight from downtown to avoid confusion.
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5) You will miss home a lot (but in a good way)
Distance most definitely does make the heart grow fonder. Every time you get to travel home, you know that you'll be more grateful for where you come from. As much as I love school, I still will always miss the food, atmosphere, and everything else that comes along with the city. Chicago will always have a special place in your heart, no matter how much you love your new home away from home.
source: giphy.com
