Fresh off the bus from a weekend at home, I already feel refreshed and ready to take on a new week at school. Living in the suburbs seemed boring in high school compared to the fast-paced city life, but when it comes to visiting home, it couldn’t be better for relaxing and taking a trip down memory lane. Here’s how I take advantage of some extra R&R while visiting my family, and how I sneak in some hometown treasures into the very short two days.
Friday Night:
After a long journey back to the mother ship (aka a 2-3 hour ride for us suburbanites), you’re often too exhausted to throw a crazy house party with your tween siblings and friends from home. That’s why I like to take the last few hours before I crash to catch up with my family over some treats that I can’t get on my campus. Whether that be a chocolate cake shake from Portillo’s or some custard from Culver’s, there’s nothing nicer than falling asleep in your childhood bed with some extra sugar and suburban love in your stomach.
Saturday:
Ah, the best day of the week. With the right schedule for the day, it’s easy to forget about the tailgating and football game you’ll have to catch up on later. My perfect Saturday at home consists of your basic NHS (nails, hair, shopping) ((yes I just made that up)). I’m the laziest person when it comes to keeping up with beauty stuff while at school, and since there’s an unlikely chance your high school friends will be home the same weekend as you, it’s nice to have some time to yourself for primping. In the chance that you do have some friends that are either still living in your hometown or also visiting, it’s always nice to catch up over dinner or ice cream on a Saturday night. Depending on how late you stay out, there’s always some extra time to do that homework you’ve been trying to avoid. Or, if you’re like me, take advantage of having cable to binge watch Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives all night.
Sunday:
If your suburban family is anything like mine, everyone from your second cousins to great aunt knows that you are in town for the weekend. Instead of avoiding the awkward small talk and lipstick cheek kisses, embrace it and make a date out of it! Doing something as simple as brunch or seeing a movie makes for great bonding and catching up. Also, who doesn’t love a more than a 1-star meal that grandma pays for? College definitely makes you appreciate the little things, and nobody should be ashamed of missing a weekend at school to visit the place you grew up. Make the bus ride worth it and embrace your at-home suburban-ness!
