Whenever a college kid goes home, there are certain things they always miss: sleeping in their own bed, home cooked meals, and not waking up early. But, over the last few days, I've been on Thanksgiving break, and there have been some unexpected things I've found myself being thankful for.

1. Taking a shower without shower shoes.

I'll admit the first time I stepped in the shower without them, I felt like something was off. It's honestly so nice. It's not something I would associate with being home, but it was a really nice, unexpected change from the usual.

2. Driving.

Since I don't keep my car on campus, I don't get to drive very much. I usually ride shotgun and co-pilot for someone else. But being in the driver's seat was something I've missed so much. I love driving; it's almost therapeutic for me. Even the five-minute drive to work makes me happy to be home.

3. My dog.

OBVIOUSLY, I MISS MY DOG. But I love her (and being home) so much that I don't mind her scratching at my door at 6 a.m., waking me up. It doesn't bother me to take her to the bathroom in the cold weather, or to fill up her water bowl, or to trip on her toys. Absence makes the heart grow fonder (and more tolerant).

4. Cooking.

There is very little I dislike more than doing dishes. One of my favorite parts of college has been *not* having to do dishes after I eat. But I've been longing for a kitchen for so long. I miss cooking so much that I don't even mind doing the dishes after. One of the first things I made when I came home was a nice grilled cheese sandwich. Much missed. So nostalgic.

5. Family time.

Of course, I missed my family. Duh. They're the entire reason I came home for Thanksgiving. But, I miss just being around them. I missed my dad's bad jokes, and his weird sense of humor. I missed joking around with my brother while we do the dishes and blowing bubbles in his face. I love talking with my mom over a cup of coffee in the morning. For me, my favorite memories of being home aren't necessarily us all sitting down to a huge meal. It's the little moments that make our family special. I know for a fact, if it wasn't for them, I wouldn't be the person I am today.

6. Not having a roommate.

I love my roommate so much. She's my best friend in the whole world. We're the most compatible set of roommates ever. But, it is nice to get up in the morning and not worry about waking her up. Or being able to leave my room messy without feeling bad.

7. Catching up with old friends.

While I try to keep in touch with my closest friends from high school via technology, often times it gets really hard. I underestimated how much a one-hour coffee date with friends would mean. The best part is we always pick up right where we leave off. We chat, laugh, and make fun of one another as if we see each other every day.

8. Extended family gatherings.

A lot of my friends dread getting together with their extended families for holidays, but I've (luckily) never felt that way. Very little makes me happier than seeing all of my aunts, uncles, and cousins all in one place. From catching up with my grandparents, aunts, and uncles about how college life is, to playing with my little cousins and asking them about what Santa Claus is bringing them this year, I love it. Plus there's always lots of good food. Family and good food is a winning combination.

9. College.

Thanksgiving break is such a tease. It's hard because I come back home and get a taste of the holidays, only to have to go back after five days. The last two weeks of classes (which are mostly finals) are going to be the worst. It will be like crawling through broken glass. But I do want to see all my friends again before the holidays and have our own "Mini-Christmas" before we all go our separate ways for the end of the year.