When you move away from home, you tend to realize all the little things that make home home. Things that we often take for granted, yet we are so appreciative of when we get to go home.
1. Not having to wear shower shoes.
There is no greater struggle than having to wear flip flops in the shower, or in any part of the bathroom, actually. Visiting home for the first time and not having to wear shoes in the shower was such a luxury. Its the little things...
2. Having multiple rooms for various activities.
Dorm rooms are a really strange thing. You eat in your dorm room. You sleep in your dorm room. You brush your teeth in your dorm room. You do homework in your dorm room. You can't walk into a living room and plop on the couch, or walk into the kitchen and grab a snack. No. Everything happens in one room. It's not normal.
3. Home-cooked meals (or having the ability to make good ones).
There's nothing like smelling the aroma of homemade breakfast in the morning or delicious dinner. I'm just saying, burnt popcorn is NOT the same kind of smell. Dorm kitchens aren't exactly up to par, either. So, don't be expecting any kind of gourmet meals.
4. Not having to walk to a parking garage every time you want to go somewhere.
Driving to Chick-fil-A everyday wouldn't be such a struggle if I didn't have to walk across the street and up three flights of stairs. Not only do you have to cross one of the most dangerous streets on Baylor's campus, but the likelihood of getting a good parking spot when you get back is pretty much zero.
5. A little TLC from Mom/Dad when you're sick.
Laying on the couch and having your mom bring you medicine, orange juice and chicken noodle soup when you're sick is the absolute best. In college, you make your own soup (in the kitchen that is terrible or from a restaurant that is a pain to get to), pour your own orange juice and have to figure out on your own what kind of medicine to take. I hate being sick as much as the next person, but being sick in college is 1000 times worse than being sick at home.
6. Full sized refrigerators.
You can't fit all the food you want in a mini fridge, and you can't fit all the ice cream you want in a tiny freezer either. And as if that wasn't bad enough, you can't fit most to-go boxes in a mini fridge. ITS COLLEGE. If it's not leftovers, what are we supposed to eat?
7. And the most important of all, PETS.
There's nothing like curling up on the couch with your best friend (a.k.a. your pet). No one greets you when you walk into your dorm room like your dog does when you walk in the door at your home. They comfort you when you're sad and keep all of your secrets. They're one of the best parts about visiting home.
When we visit home, we realize the true luxuries of life. It's the little things of life that college students miss the most, such as big fridges and multiple rooms. And as much as I love wearing flip-flops in the shower, there are definitely better things. If the college teaches you one thing, it's to appreciate the little things in life, especially your dogs.
