For almost everyone in college, going out is the highlight of the week. It's what keeps you struggling through class, homework, papers, group projects, and the minimal sleep that comes with all of that. You live for those nights that may get a little too out of hand. But, as a student that goes home for the holidays and breaks at school, there is a major difference between going out at school and going out in your hometown.
1. Location
At school, you know exactly which bar to hit on any given night of the week. You know who will be there, what drinks they're serving, and you probably even know the DJ. The security guard recognizes you and lets you right in without checking your ID. At home, you have no idea what bar is even open, or what time they close for that matter. You decide it's best to pregame early so that way you can get there early. You're absolutely appalled when the bouncer doesn't let you in with just a cursory glance at your license. Second form of ID? Does Facebook count?
2. Transportation
While at school, everything you could ever need is in walking distance. Bars, frat houses, house parties, not a problem. Grab your shitty jacket that you don't care if it gets lost and drink to stay warm. Uber is probably cheaper, and maybe you even are lucky enough to have a free sober driver service. At home, finding a ride anywhere is essentially rocket science. Do we take the train? Do we see if a taxi is cheap? Uber is too expensive, maybe your friend's younger brother will drive us if we bribe him with beer. Shit, these boots are definitely NOT made for walking.
3. People
At school, you walk in somewhere, and almost every face in there is someone you know and love. Sure, you may be trying to avoid your ex, or dodge the person you drunkenly hooked up with the other night, but overall, you love everyone here and they love you. While home, you're begging that you don't run into people you know from high school. And when you do, conversation is like pulling teeth. No, I haven't talked to you since 10th grade biology, and this is awkward. I'll probably have to chug four more of these beers to forget about the pain of this conversation.
4. Post-Gaming
In your college town, after being out you grab a couple of your friends and you all decide while you're over this bar, you don't want to go home. You decide to post-game at some other apartment/dorm/house, anywhere, with all of the freedom of drunkenly ordering food you'll regret eating the next morning. In your shitty hometown, everyone parts ways at different points of the night, you go home alone by yourself, and you have to hope that there is some leftovers from dinner that night for you to munch on quietly without waking your parents. There is no laughing about the events of the night- you're on your own.
5. Getting Laid
At school, you essentially have the freedom to do whatever you want. Your roommates aren't going to care that you'll most likely be disrupting their sleep. In fact, they'll probably applaud you for getting some. At home, good luck sneaking this person in. Yeah, sure, let's just do this on my twin-sized bed. If you're not quiet, you'll wake up everyone in this house and I'll have to deal with the looks of shame the next morning. In fact, thank you, hot-guy-from-high-school, for the quickest 46 seconds of my life, you can go home now so I don't have to try and sneak you out in the morning.
6. The Hangover
The best part of waking up after a night of binge drinking at school is that you can most likely lay in bed all day without disruption. You may have fallen asleep in your clothes from last night with one shoe on and your hair sticking up every which way, but no one there is going to judge you. Trying to hide how much you drank from your parents that night should be considered an Olympic sport, so therefore you should be trying to hide how hungover you are. At home, someone is probably knocking on your door telling you to get up and help out with the weekend chores. You're not sure why you are still expected to pull your own weight when your parents should be thankful that you're home and showering you with affection.
7. The Morning After
When you decide to finally roll out of bed, the beauty of getting breakfast the next day at school is that essentially, no one cares what you look like. Everyone is in the same boat as you. Oh, you're wearing your crop top and jeans with Ugg slippers to brunch? Awesome. You're borrowing clothes from wherever you slept last night? Same here. Last night's eyeliner is this morning's smokey-eye if you're ambitious enough. At home, aside from running into people from high school, there is a high risk you'll run into someone even worse- their parents. Hello, parent of a kid I graduated with, yes my parents are doing fine, school is great, I'm going to throw up in a trash can now. Yes, I'll let my parents know you said hello and that I ran into you while looking like a sea urchin. Please let this conversation end now.
