A semester at college can make you forget about what it is like living back home. Winter break gives a taste of what you were missing while gone and maybe a thing or two that you were not. Such as...

How wonderful it is to not have to wait for a laundry machine to become available: I’m not sure about the other dorms but in mine there are only four washers and four dryers and over 400 residents, so scoring a laundry machine is like winning an Olympic medal.

How to drive: Is it just me or does everyone else also feel like a newly licensed sixteen year old when they come home for winter break? Getting back into the swing of things isn’t too difficult though, just that initial press on the gas that sends the car jolting can seriously remind you how long it’s been since you’ve been behind the wheel.

How nice it is to not have to put on shoes to walk to the bathroom or flip flops to shower: This one is self explanatory because who would want to have to wear shoes if they don’t have to.

How much your dog sheds: My black pants have begun accumulating this strange texture...hmm wonder what that is? Ah yes, dog hair. In my house dog hair is extremely prevalent as Finn has a luscious coat of white wiry hair--lint rollers are an absolute necessity at home.

How yummy home cooked meals are, even if UMass dining is #1: There is just something ineffable about a home cooked meal. For me I think what makes them so great is honestly the balance of my plate. At school everything is delicious, so when you don’t have parents (and grandparents) judging your meal choices, you end up with an entire plate of pasta with a side of spring rolls--how healthy! At home meals are much more wholesome and I feel less guilty about indulging.

That running into people you know all day isn’t a normal occurrence: Despite UMass’s size I swear I cannot go anywhere without running into someone I know from my dorm, classes, high school, clubs, my sorority, etc. So when I get home it definitely feels a bit strange to not be constantly seeing familiar faces when I run to Marshalls and out to eat.

What sleeping in a full size bed feels like: In high school I would complain if one of my friends had to share my bed with me during a sleepover, now coming home from college I swear this bed could fit about 5 people comfortably. This winter break I will be taking full advantage of the starfish sleeping position while I have the room to do so. If I am being honest though my twin size bed at school really isn’t as awful as I had anticipated.

How nice it is spending time with family (but only to a certain extent...and then get me back to school!)