Everyone has pride in where they came from, especially if you’re from a small town. When you move away, you boast your pride as much as you can. You become that person who says things like, “Well, where I come from we…” But after awhile, you say those things less and less. You start adapting to your new residence. Before you know it, your identity is changing right before your eyes.
1. When you go to the airport, they ask where you’re traveling to, and you don’t know whether you should say “home” or not.
You're going "back home" to visit your family, but you've lived here for five years. So, are you going back home or not? The TSA thinks you're coming back from a vacation, but you're actually starting your trip. Back home means back to your roots, not back to your regular life! Now TSA is looking at you strange, you're sweating and they think you're acting suspiciously. It's a simple question. WHY IS THIS SO HARD?!
2. All the things you craved so much from back home are being replaced by things you've found in your new home state.
You used to wake up in the middle of the night craving that pizza you can only get in the little shop back home. Except lately you've been craving your usual from the restaurant in your new city. You know, the one you go to three times a week. Can't live without it now, huh?
3. You find yourself defending local sports teams.
Of course, there will always be a place in your heart for your hometown teams. You always wear your classic jersey every football Sunday. However, you find yourself tuning into local sports, caring about the area colleges and even defending them in sports bars.
4. You have more friends where you live now than you do where you came from.
Your best friend's from high school will always be special to you, but the longer you've made a place for yourself here, the more people you've accumulated. It started out that it was hard to say goodbye to your people back home and now you can't imagine leaving the people you have here.
5. You're finding the beauty in your new home.
At first, you missed your old stomping grounds all the time. Every change in the season made you miss the traditions of your hometown. You dreamt of the landscapes that you grew up adventuring through. Thankfully, beauty can be found anywhere, and the longer you live in your new place, the more amazing places you find!
6. You've changed.
This isn't a bad thing. New place, new city, new you. You've set up a new life for yourself within a new culture, and that changes a person. You're growing, and you really like it. It's okay that you miss your hometown less and less, as long as you never forget where you came from!
