1. My Parents
First and foremost, I miss my parents more than anything. I miss everything about them; from coming downstairs each morning and being greeted by a hug and smile to watching movies on the couch on cold, rainy nights. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't counting down the days to see them.
2. My Dog
Don't get me wrong; I love my dog, but I never thought I would miss the little guy so much. I feel like something is missing in my life and that I am dog-deprived. So yes, I am the girl who walks around campus to stop everyone walking around with a four-legged pal.
3. Driving
Driving is another thing to add to the list of things I didn't think I would miss. To me, there is nothing like going out late at night for a drive or hitting the road as the sun peaks its way through the trees. I am so eager to get back to blasting music with my best friends or even enjoying the silence of being alone in an empty car on an empty road.
4. My Friends
I love the friends I am making here at school, but nothing will ever begin to compare the friends from my hometown. Going from seeing them on a daily basis to getting lucky to catch them over a FaceTime call is something that no one can prepare you for.
5. Being In Close Proximity To Anything And Everything
As much as I love Title Town, Tuscaloosa doesn't have much that is less than a $15 Uber ride away. Back home, everything was within a short driving distance. The city? Twenty minutes. A good mall? Ten. Wegman's and a shopping center with everything you could possibly need? Five.
6. Good Restaurants
A bountiful selection of restaurants are among the many great things in close proximity back in my hometown. Here, we have some hole-in-the-wall places with a few chains, and as someone with food allergies, my options are even more limited.
7. The Beach
Along with living right outside the city of Philadelphia, I was also 45-60 minutes away from a beach. Here in Tuscaloosa, the beach is four or more hours away. Even in the cold northern weather, all New Jersey-ans know that the beach is still fun, no matter the time of year.
8. Running Into Familiar Faces Everywhere
One of the reasons why I went so far and to such a big school was to have all brand new faces and to go days, even weeks, without seeing the same people. However, there are days I miss going out and running into my friends, teachers, or even acquaintances. I don't necessarily miss everyone from my hometown, but I definitely miss the familiarity.
9. Impromptu Trips
Whether it be to a giant mall outside of Philly with my mom, to lunch with my dad, or an adventure with my friends, I miss the spontaneity. Living a farther distance from everything than I'm used to requires a bit more planning, and really, who has the time for that?
10. Home
What I miss most about being home is actually being home. No matter how exciting game day is or how many parties there are, there is nothing like the feeling of walking through my front door at the end of a long day and knowing I am home.