College is a great time, but sometimes it can get a little overwhelming. There's no better way to relieve that stress than by spending a little time at home, whether it be for the weekend or a holiday break. However, getting there can be a bit of a process. Here are the fourteen stages of visiting home from college.
1. The last exam/assignment
This last big hurdle might not be on the day you leave for home. This might not even be the day before. But you've been motivating yourself through it by saying "It's okay, I can do this. Once I'm done, I'll feel so much better" over and over and over. So when you turn it in, be it an exam in your hardest class or a paper you were up writing until 3 a.m., you feel a little bit freer. Because you're almost going home now.
2. Packing
Its always a struggle. Do I have something like this at home? Do I have space for this in my suitcase? Is it worth bringing it all the way home? WHERE IS THAT SHIRT, I ABSOLUTELY NEED TO BRING IT HOME?!?!?!
3. Cleaning?
This step is definitely questionable at best. But if I leave before my roommate, I don't want to leave her with the mess that is usually my side of the room, especially after I've torn apart all my drawers looking for that shirt until I found it crumpled at the back of my shorts drawer.
4. The last day of classes
The day has arrived. You're going home TODAY. But first you have to sit through all your classes. They somehow drag on for eternity, the clock ticking slowly almost to taunt you. But you somehow make it through (with maybe a little help from Facebook, worst case scenario).
5. Saying goodbye to friends
Whether your trip home be for a day or for a month, there's some separation anxiety with you and your best friends. You pinky-swear to text and snapchat every day, because after spending every day together, you can't imagine being apart.
6. Confirming plans with friends at home
You've got to make sure your friends at home remember all the plans you guys made. Because you've been looking forward to curling up on your best friends couch with pizza and hot chocolate all month, and you've got to make sure they are just as excited as you are. Sunday brunch like you did every weekend in high school? Absolutely.
7. The public transportation panic
What can I say, public transportation is stressful. You'll either be super early, or nearly miss your ride. There seems to never be an in-between.
8. The actual traveling
The trip takes forever. A longer eternity than your last class before you went home. You promised yourself you'd be productive, but you've gone back 127 weeks on your roommate's best friend's boyfriend's instagram.
9. Walking in the front door
When you smell that home smell you haven't smelled in what feels like forever you know you're really home.
10. Lying down in your own bed
You can say whatever you want about your extra-thick, body molding, unicorn tear mattress topper, but there really is nothing like your own bed at home. It feels like your own slice of heaven.
11. Eating. So much eating.
Cafeteria food, as good as it may be, gets old after a while. But Mom's cooking? I'll have seconds... and thirds... and fourths. Crunchy dining hall pasta with watery marinara sauce has got nothing on Mom's secret chicken. And you don't have to wait in line.
12. Seeing friends from home
You've been stalking them on Facebook and Instagram and liking all their pictures with their college friends, but now you get to be together in real time. You update them on all the gossip, even though they don't know anyone you're talking about. It's always great to chill in pajamas with the people who know you as well as you know yourself, analyzing parties and texts that happened a month ago.
13. Revisiting the places you miss most
Hitting up your old haunts with your high school friends, laughing about all the crazy stuff that went down. Then getting dinner at your favorite restaurant -- the one where the waitresses ask you how college is, because you went there so often they know your whole story.
14. Realizing that you kinda miss college
Its great to be home. To be with friends and family, to lay back and chill out in a super familiar place is wonderful. But when it comes time to head back to school, you realize you can't wait to see your friends there and update them about everything that happened while you were gone. Because college is kind of home now, too.
