As I scroll through an endless Instagram feed of sandy beaches, tropical resorts and bikini temperatures, I can’t help but feel a pang of jealousy for my classmates who are vacationing during spring break. The Snapchat Stories of 90-degree weather leave me shivering in my 40-degree suburban neighborhood. As my Facebook feed fills with albums titled “SPRING BREAK MIAMI 2k16 <3,” I almost regret coming home for the week, but as I go through my day, I am reminded of the things that make coming home so great.
1. Your Favorite Restaurants
When you’re away at school, there’s nothing worse than having an intense craving for your favorite restaurant back home. Whether its sushi, Tex-Mex, Italian, or whatever genre of food your stomach is calling out for, there are some places the dining hall could never replace. Coming home for spring break means not only do you get to indulge in your favorite item on the menu, but you could easily do it twice a day (if your wallet allows, of course).
2. Mom's Cooking
Even if you thought Mom’s cooking was good before you went away to school, the months away from home have only made it taste better. There’s something about that home-style flavor and comforting atmosphere in your dining room that makes eating a meal so much more than just feeding an appetite. As you reach the bottom of your plate, each bite is an experience you don’t take for granted anymore.
3. Your Shower
The first shower I took coming home after being at school for the first couple months was one that I will never forget. The water pressure, the perfect temperature, and the comfort of being in my own bathroom made me want to cry of happiness, but the best part was the fact that on my feet there were no shower shoes. Let me repeat, NO SHOWER SHOES. Spring break at home consists of long, hot showers accompanied by incredible baths with my favorite LUSH Bath Bombs, each one leaving me with a sense of freshness the communal bathrooms at school can’t seem to compete with.
4. Your Bed
Even with the expensive mattress topper sitting on your bed in your dorm, you're still never able to find the right position where you are 100% relaxed. Sleeping in your dorm still feels foreign, and there are still mornings before you open your eyes where you expect to see the four walls of your bedroom when you look around. Sleeping in your own home, in your own bed, provides a sense of serenity and safety you’ll never find anywhere else.
5. Your Car
If you are lucky enough to have a car waiting for you back at home, the freedom you gain for the short week of vacation is exhilarating. The adrenaline you get from driving is matched by the excitement of going wherever your day may take you. Driving around town, across the county, or even just to the local diner becomes an adventure thanks to your car. With friends in the front and back seats, the windows down, and the music loud, the journey is just as enjoyable as your destination itself.
6. Your Job
To have a job waiting for your return is a blessing in disguise. While spending your days working is not what you may have imagined for your spring break, the extra pocket money is always useful. For many, being a “broke college student” is a reality and every penny counts. One paycheck may be the difference between a weekend spent sitting in your dorm or heading out to the club for a fun night out with your friends once you get back to school. It may also be crucial for those with heavy student loans and tuition bills. The safety net of having a job waiting for you back home is a luxury not to be taken for granted.
7. Your Pets
Although my bunny doesn’t show as much excitement as I walk through the front door after the long trip home as I would hope, I like to think that somewhere deep down, she missed me. I sure know that I missed her. I envy dog owners getting tackled as their best friend runs at them to say hello, even the tiny ones. Nevertheless, there is nothing more relaxing that absentmindedly petting the fluffy coat of my bunny after a long day running around town.
8. Your Friends
The stereotypical scene of girls making high pitched squeals and shrieks as they see a hometown friend for the first time in months is certainly a sweet sight. The look of pure joy on their faces as they spot their friend from across the room is so genuine and full of love that strangers surrounding them can’t help but smile along. Even in the eyes of boys as they “give daps” and perform their original handshakes when they greet their friends is a look of real elation and excitement. Reuniting with your friends and exchanging stories of nights you can’t completely remember and others you will never forget is refreshing and almost cleansing. These are the people who have known you for years and have stuck around even after that awkward middle school phase. For some, you missed their parents just as much as you missed your friends themselves. No matter how far across the country your schools have taken you, you are just as close as always the moment you are all home.
9. Your Siblings
Whether they are older or younger, our siblings never miss a chance to get under our skin. Nevertheless, it’s refreshing to see their faces as we come home for school breaks. Your siblings have been through thick and thin with you and you share a bond meant to last a lifetime. They have had an extreme impact on shaping who you are, as you have had on them. Over spring break especially, as the temperature (slowly) crawls higher, you find yourself reminiscing over childhood memories of playing outside together and enjoying each other’s company. Now that you have reached adulthood and are starting to make a name for yourself in the real world, the time you spend with your siblings at home is dwindling. In the future, there is even the possibility you will move across the country and see your siblings solely on major holidays. Spring break is a golden opportunity to spend quality time with them before you are all thrown into the madness that is adult life.
10. Your Parents
Since the moment you left for college, your parents have been counting down the days until you are home again. They feel anxious when you aren’t at home because they don’t have the power to keep you safe under their watch. They have dedicated the past 20 years to raising you and getting you to where you are today. Each time you come home for school break, they are naturally happier and more relaxed than when you are gone. The joy you give your parents simply by being present is worth an infinite number of days lounging on a tropical shore with friends. The easiest way to thank them for everything they have done for you throughout your life is simply to keep them company when you get the chance.
11. Feeling at Home
Although being at school is unbelievably fantastic and enjoyable, I can’t deny the occasional homesickness I feel from time to time. There are days when I wake up and long to be home, to be in my familiar neighborhood and surrounded by the only sights I had known for the first 18 years of my life. While it would be nice to be on vacation for the week, deep down the only place I really want to be is home. My desire to be home resonates throughout everything that I do leading up to school breaks. Even the simple things, such as eating a slice of pizza or watching my family’s favorite show, Malcolm in the Middle, make me nostalgic for my hometown. This desire to be home is ultimately only cured by one thing: going home.
