Going to college in a rural area has its awesome benefits, but there are some things you experience that someone who goes to school in a big city will never understand...

1. The majority of people living in the community around your college went there.

Because they went there, they can tell you everything you did (and didn't) need and want to know about their experience, not only at the university, but also living in that area.

2. No one knows where your college is located unless they've been there.

You probably couldn't even find it on a map, so you have to tell people the nearest city they would have heard of and tell them how far away from it you are. (It's like a real life version of Brigadoon! *bonus points if you know what that is*

3. When your college closes for the summer, the town turns into a ghost town.

*cue old western movie background music*

4. Every morning when it's even slightly warm during the fall and spring, everything smells like manure. EVERYTHING.

You may not always mind the smell, but some mornings (and sometimes all day), it is literally all you can smell.

5. Friday nights usually involve you imagining what you would do if you had somewhere to go.

The most exciting thing you could do in the immediate area is go to the small liquor store down the street and get drunk on tiny wines while you wallow in boredom.

6. Cell service and WiFi everywhere around campus is crappy.

"Oh wow! I got two bars of WiFi in the Student Center bathroom..."

7. Because there are so few places to go off campus to have fun, you end up seeing your professors there too, and things get super awkward...

*internally planning an escape route*

8. With limited options of places where it won't be awkward to go, you have to get creative with things you can do in your free time.

I mean, it may not go as far as stealing the Declaration of Independence, but you may end up doing something crazy (like a scavenger hunt around Walmart or going to Denny's and doing the Cotton-Eyed Joe in the back after eating your meal because it's one in the morning and why not?).

9. The mall or the nearest department store is at least 25 to 30 minutes away.

While sometimes the peace and quiet of campus is awesome, sometimes you want to go and buy some stuff (that you probably don't really need), but it's so far away you just end up staying home.

10. No matter where you go off campus, you see someone you know.

"Oh hey! You were in my English Comp class freshman year, weren't you?"

11. Take out and delivery are your best friends because going to get food takes so much effort.

Dining hall food gets boring after a while, and since the grocery store is a bit of a drive... ALL THE PIZZA AND CHINESE.

12. All of the local businesses close by 8 p.m.

I mean really... you have a business in a college town. Did you think that students would be in bed by then?

13. Despite all of the manure-scented, boring days, you can't imagine going to school anywhere else.