Distance makes the heart grow fonder? Depends on where you are from and where you are headed. If the root is planted in Central Pennsylvania and the future is a bright city skyline, there is little thought of ever returning home. Living in a small valley surrounded by soccer moms and Target stores is not everyone's ideal, but for some it is the perfect balance of the homey feel mixed with lush history and wafts of freedom.
Trekking back to the valley for holidays and summer breaks, I find myself in a bore, jumping at the chance to get out of the house but realizing that there is not much around. Most of my memories circle around two places - friends houses and Hersheypark. Being with friends on those late nights, eating cookie dough, circled around a tv playing an irrevelant movie is nice, but what happens when you're just itching to get out - explore the world with your friends?
Road trips always seem to be the go-to with teenagers. Wanting to grow up, gain freedom to explore the world is something that each young adult thrives for. The excitement of a new destination, seeing a new place and trying new things is all fun and games, but the journey is half the battle. Road trips in South Central Pennsylvania seem to take up an expansive amount of time, driving down a long stretch of the highway, nothing in sight but farms mimicking the rolling hills of Ireland seem dull and boring. "Are we there yet?" has never seemed so revenant.
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, the Hollywood of the East and the "City of Brotherly Love," are great fun. Eclectic shops, fine dining, and adventurous activities have the ability to appeal to everyone. But the trips that take hours make the trip an excruciating battle. Sure, Harrisburg is a short, 15 minute ride away, but it's not worth it. I would say that Harrisburg is beautiful, I mean it should be: it's the capital city. But the steadily rising crime rate, lack of effort, and minimal restaurants and shops make it difficult to enjoy your time there. Harrisburg is small, a few important streets huddle together, making architecture and friendly welcoming critical. The buildings could be beautiful, but how would I know, they are always under construction. The Susquehanna River, the landscape that the city is built around, can be a popular place for fishing and boating, which can explain why the water is black and dreary.
What happens when you've exhausted all your money on the continuous trips to Hersheypark, eaten all the free candy on the Chocolate World ride, played the 50 states license plate game on the way to Pittsburgh, and, quite possibly, seen all the corn fields in the world? My friends all point to the oh so joyous activity of hiking. Bugs, dirt, rocks, tree roots to trip over, and the execration of physical activity is enough to make anyone pass up the opportunity. But when you are on top of the mountain, looking down on the luscious fields of green and up the clear blue, picturesque sky, a feeling of pride and appreciation warms your erratically beating heart (thanks to the ridiculous amount of exercise), and you are happy that you can call this place your home.
