For who doesn't know, I came from, well to me, a small village that is southern suburb of Chicago. Even though it was a small village, it is connected to neighboring villages/towns like Park Forest, Richton Park, Tinely Park, Crestwood and Chicago Heights. There might have been a lot to do since it's small, but there are still things that I miss:
1. Matteson Public Library
I miss the librarians that I have been close with ever since I enter the library as a preschooler. They were like another part of my family, especially Mrs. Julia. She is like a mom to me and is always there for me when I need her. I miss the 5 to 10 minute walk from my house to library, a place where I can chill, relax, read or to hang with friends at.
2. The Restaurants
I can't explore downtown Peoria yet, but at least there are some walking distance restaurants that I can go to when I don't feel like having dinning hall food. I miss eating Culvers and Portillo's the most. Culvers was one of my favorite restaurants that I like going to and I miss how close it was to my house. Portillo's was one of the best Chicago restaurants I ever been to. Their burgers and cheese fries are superb and I love their chocolate cake. I don't think they have a Golden Carrel, but I have been craving this for a while now. There are actually a lot of restaurants that I been craving.
3. My friends
They say that when you go off to college, you make new friends and tend to forget about the old friends that you have back home. That's not the case for me. Yeah I know there are going to be a few friends that I might not see again, but I still have my 7 close best friends. Even though I am only in a group chat with 4 of them, I am still in contact with them. I met them all at different times of my life, elementary, middle and high school, but we are still close with each other.
5. My High School Teachers
I miss more of my high school teachers then my middle/elementary school teachers because I bonded with them more. They were all funny and unique in their own special way that made a big impact on them. Even though I didn't talk a lot in my classes, I wish I could've talked to them more because they were really cool people. I am trying to visit my old high school during one of my breaks to see if any of my teachers are still there.
6. My High School
Believe it or not, after going there for 4 years on a 9 hour school day eating 'Michelle Obama lunch' and also wearing uniforms throughout those 4 years, I actually miss Southland. Don't get me wrong, I can honestly live without any of that stuff, but the bonds and connections that I made throughout the school I miss having. I have made new friends and still had old friends for some that was for many years.
In the end, when I go on my holiday breaks and vacations, I am going home to visit my old memories, and try to recreate new ones.
