All of my life I have loved to travel. Long car rides, buses and planes have never bothered me. I want to see everything but I also love my home. I believe that everyone has at least a little bit of hometown pride. Where you grow up says a lot about who you are as a person. One of the funny things about hometown pride is you often do not realize that you have it until you leave your hometown. Whether your time away is temporary such as leaving for college or more long term such as a job transfer, you carry your hometown with you and you want everyone to know it. Here are 5 things everyone with hometown pride knows to be true:
1. Your ears perk up when someone mentions your hometown.
You try your best to keep your excitement low-key but you want to know everything about that person. You ask each other a bunch of questions. You might also assume that you have mutual friends even though your hometown is large.
2. You love your local sports teams no matter how bad they might be.
If you team is great, then you aren't afraid to brag about them. If your hometown team isn't having a very great season then you aren't afraid to say you support them no matter what. You may also own and wear your hometown's team's t-shirts, jerseys or colors on game days.
3. You compare all other places to your hometown but you know that your hometown is the best.
In my current city, I can be at the beach in 45 minutes. I can't do this in my hometown but it's still the best.
4. Going home feels like returning to the Promised Land.
You probably have a countdown set on your phone saying when the next time you will return home.
5. You know a lot of random facts about your hometown.
Facts may include population, when your hometown was founded and by who and where the best ice cream places are located. You keep them close by just in case you need to one-up anyone who tries to say that their hometown is better.
You will continue to travel, see new places and meet new people. You owe a lot to the people and places back home. You will try to do your best to curb your excitement when someone mentions your hometown. You will always wear your team's colors and jerseys even if they are on a nine game loosing streak. You will always believe that your hometown is the best place ever. You will return home whenever you can and you will always remember random facts about your hometown. Your hometown is where you became who you are today and it will always hold a special place in your heart.
