In late October of 2015, I made the drastic decision to transfer to a college closer to home back in Washington State. I felt comfortable with the decision and started to get ready to "restart" my life. I knew it would be hard to say goodbye to my friends and my college, but I didn't realize just how hard it would be. I found myself crying on the plane as we took off and I saw just how gorgeous Philadelphia was at night. This is when it hit me I would miss not just my friends, college, or favorite places, but that I would also miss Philadelphia itself. I've started to realize these "little" things that I miss about Philadelphia, and it's guaranteed that if you leave Philadelphia you'll miss them too. We all take these things for granted, without truly knowing we are.

1. The history.

Philadelphia is such a historical place. It is home to the Liberty Bell, the Declaration of Independence, and the United States Constitution. It is so easy to delve into the history that is Philadelphia with an easy train ride to the Old City. For me, being in a city that has such a historical background made me love it right away. I am intrigued by history, so being able to easily learn about the United States' historical background was just so fascinating. And now, living almost 3,000 miles away I miss being able to visit historical landmarks so easily.

2. The arts.

Philadelphia has over 100 theater companies and many art museums. From the Kimmel Center to the Rodin Museum, there was always something to do in the city. The Philadelphia Museum of Art offered discounts for college students and was able to be accessed by train, bike, or even jogging the Wissahickon Trail. I love art, so being able to see authentic Van Gogh or Monet paintings was beyond exciting for me.

3. The shopping.

I am a big fan of shopping, and lucky for me Philadelphia was home to the King of Prussia Mall. The King of Prussia Mall, or known as KOP to those who live in Philadelphia, is the largest mall on the East Coast. I can't find a mall as big as KOP or even just a mall with good options of stores. I definitely miss the many stores at KOP, seeing as the mall in Bellingham doesn't even have a Sephora. And in the city of Philadelphia, there are so many little stores and shops to choose from.

4. Food, food, and more food.

From Reading Terminal Market to the various restaurants, there are endless options for places to eat. Philadelphia had authentic French restaurants, Greek restaurants, and of course so many places serving Philly cheesesteaks (Geno's is the best). I miss the wide range of food options in Philadelphia, which is something I definitely took for granted by eating my usual choice of Chipotle whenever I would go out.

5. The sports.

Yeah, the Eagles might suck a little this past season, but it was still awesome living in a city where people were so in love with their sports teams. Even though hearing people cheer on the Flyers while I am a Penguins fan was a bit frustrating at times, I miss it. I miss the rivalry between teams and just how crazy Philadelphia would get when any Philadelphia team won. And let's not forget that wild game between Temple University and Penn State University. I'll never forget just how crazy Philadelphia went that night (or at least the college students at Temple)

Shout-out to my friend George for representing Temple on ESPN.

6. So many colleges nearby.

I have so many friends that went to colleges near my school (Temple, Drexel, St. Joseph's, etc.). It was great being able to go to the school of my choice all while being able to hang out with my friends at other colleges. We were all close in proximity and all it took was a simple train ride to get there. I complained about taking a train to get there and trying to decipher train and shuttle times, but now I have to either fly or drive long distances to visit friends.

Also I miss people automatically knowing what I mean when I say "Temple" and I don't have to explain that it's a university in Philadelphia. But I guess everywhere people have that problem. When people here say Washington State, in terms of Washington State University, I automatically assume the state in general, not the school itself.

7. The architecture.

I love the tall buildings and just how gorgeous Philadelphia is at night. I always tell people to try to see the skyline at night time and you'll realize just how beautiful Philadelphia truly is. So many people automatically associate crime with it and just feel it is dirty, but it is more than that. Yeah, some areas can be dirty and maybe not the safest, but not all of Philadelphia is like that. I miss seeing the tall buildings and the lights at night or even just walking through the city during the day with friends. I never thought I would miss a building I have never been in before, let alone known the name of, but I sure do.

8. And the completely little, random (and maybe even weird) things.

Whenever I think of Philadelphia, I think of the people. I think of a certain smell I associate with it that whenever I smell it, it just brings me back to Philadelphia. I miss the people and I miss the life that was the city. So many people, so many things to do and see, and yes, so much going on at once. Oh, and I definitely won't forget to mention that there was literally a Starbucks everywhere I went (there's one back at home, but it's about 30 minutes away). The convenience of my location in Philadelphia definitely added to my love for the city. Life in Philadelphia, like many cities, was such a fast-paced life. I miss the pace, the attitudes of people (weird, I know), and just the atmosphere. No other city will ever replace my love for Philadelphia and as cliché as it is to say it, there will always be a special place for Philadelphia in my heart.

All I can say is that when I return to Philadelphia to visit, I will be sure to not take for granted any of the things I miss now that I have left the City of Brotherly Love.