Before going away to school, I was very worried about feeling homesick once I moved out. My family is very close, and we spend most of our time together in some way. Thinking about being away from them for more than a few days really scared me. To my surprise, I moved into my apartment at school and felt great! Of course, I missed my family, but I got into a routine at school, and once I was settled in, I didn't think about what my life was like at home much.
I was really enjoying being at school, but really missed my family, so I ventured home for a weekend, and that's when it started: I was homesick. Since being away I had not felt homesick in the slightest, but once I was actually back home, it was a whole different story. I realized how much I missed being there. I missed my room, I missed my ever-so-full refrigerator, and I especially missed my dog. I mean look at her.
Erin Pocza
I grew up surrounded by the same things and people for 20 years--how could I forget how much I loved them in such a short period of time?
I suppose because I am constantly busy at school, that I just don't think about the little things at home I love so much. No, I never thought I missed laying on my couch at home, eating Flamin' Hot Cheetos while watching Netflix once I was away, but as soon as I was home doing exactly that, I realized missed it a lot. Sure, I could do the same thing at school, but I probably have a million responsibilities I would be avoiding by doing so. I missed watching my weekly shows with my mom and brother night after night, then driving to Dairy Queen to get Blizzards for my brother and me. I missed late night talks with my sister when both of us couldn't fall asleep.
There's something so simply comforting about being at home. Perhaps it's the familiar scent of the sparkling citrus air fresheners my mom has been using since I was born. Maybe it's knowing I need to pull twice on my porch door to finally get it open, while at school my apartment is giving me little new surprises every day. It's knowing that every day at 4:07 PM I'll hear the garage door open and my mom will walk in and tell me about her day at work.
There are so many things in my house that make it really feel like home. No matter how much I try to make my new apartment feel like home, I know it will never compare to the home I've spent my whole life in.
After being at home for a few days, I was ready to go back to school. I mean, I was mostly just ready to go back to my new mattress topper on my bed there because WOW, so comfy. Nonetheless, I got back to school and after a few days, the feelings of homesickness faded.
I realized you can miss being home without being homesick. I miss my family, my friends, and my life at home every single day, but I am so happy to have the opportunity so many don't have to go away to school and make new lifelong make friends and memories there.
