As a sophomore, I've pretty much adapted to the drastic changes of living away at college, but as a freshmen, it was a tough transition. I have never been away from my family for more then a few days and having to depend on myself for the first time for virtually everything was definitely a challenge. You never truly appreciate something until it's gone.
Being a college student, there are things that I miss about home that I never really thought twice about. To start off, I never thought I would miss my mom's cooking as much as I do. Don't get me wrong, my mom is a great cook and the food at college is decent, but after eating the same thing for a week straight at college, it's suddenly not as appetizing as it use to be. There are only so many chicken patties a person can handle. Now, when I go home for breaks and I sit down and have a nice dish of my mom's fresh chicken parmesan, it feels as if it has never tasted so good. It's pretty much heaven on a plate.
Another thing that I miss about being away from home is the luxury of having my car at all times. For those who don't have a car on campus then you can definitely relate. Not trying to sound spoiled or anything, but it's the absolute worst when it takes about thirty minutes to get to a mall that's only a five minute drive away. Being home and having my car just waiting for me when it's about thirty degrees outside, makes me appreciate the things that I am lucky enough to have in life. Being able to turn on the radio and hear the familiar voices is a sudden comfort to me as I drive.
But, the best part of all about being home is being able to be completely comfortable. Now, don't get me wrong, I love living with total freedom in a dorm room, but there is something special about home. I can finally leave all my things scattered across a room and not have to worry about my friends walking in. The only worry is that I will get yelled at by my mother, but after living at home for 18 years, I am very used to that. I can say and do whatever I please and not have to worry about anyone else being in the room. I can use a bathroom without someone else walking in. I can finally shower without flip flops. There is nothing like the comfort of home.
The best kind of comfort, is finally having your family around you. Although your mom and dad may get on your nerves constantly, you miss them when you are away at school. Siblings may fight with you at all times, but it's still nice to go home and catch up with them every once in a while. Home takes on an entirely different meaning when you are in college. Home is an escape for all the stress of school. There really is no place like home.
