There are pros and cons to being an out-of-state student. I am from the San Francisco Bay Area and I go to school in Seattle, Washington. When I was going through recruitment my freshmen year, the first question they asked, immediately after finding out I was from California, was “Why did you leave?”. Do not get me wrong. There is a lot to be said for living in a place where the temperature does not drop below 50 degrees and is sunny upwards of 300 days out of the year. It rocks. However, before going to college, I had never really experienced seasons, nor had I really immersed myself in the culture of a city other than my own. By making the decision to go outside of my Californian comfort zone and move two states away from all of my family and friends, I have grown as a person through the college experience and though the necessity of learning to be extremely independent. That being said, here are the best and worst parts of being an out-of-state student in my experience:

Every time you leave school or leave home, your heart breaks a little.

I love my family more than air but my friends at school also hold a very special place in my heart. Whenever my mom drops me off at the airport to fly back to Seattle, it is an emotional departure full of tears. On the flip side, whenever my best friend drops me off at the airport I get emotional but she told me if I cry then she will never drop me off again. She is a sympathy crier. Have you ever tried driving with tear-filled eyes? It is impossible. 10/10 would not recommend to a friend.

You do not have a place to do laundry when you need an escape.

I am not an advocate for going home every weekend at college. In my opinion, it is vital to the college experience and establishing yourself as an independent adult to be out on your own for an extended period of time. Running home every weekend, inhibits the full participation that allows for you to accomplish those things. However, every once in a blue moon you need a break. Living twenty minutes away and telling your mom you need to come home because you have to do laundry as an excuse to sleep in your own bed and get a home cooked meal is a definite plus and not having that opportunity sucks a little bit. Especially when you are sick and just want to be taken care of by your mom and recover.

You get to experience a new culture of people in a new city, making you worldly.

It is so nice to break outside of the bubble you grew up in. All of sudden, you haven’t known everyone for 6+ years and you have a new environment to explore. Personally, I knew very little about Seattle before I moved there. After completing all the touristy attractions, I then was able to start exploring the hidden gems throughout the city. College, especially when you are on your own, is an exciting chance to reinvent yourself and discover what you are interested in. Go to coffee or museums with new people. It is fun, I swear.

When you get a care package, it is like Christmas.

Actually, if you get any mail at all it is like Christmas. You feel loved, appreciated, and special. Everyone deserves to feel like that. My personal favorite was the giant box of Halloween candy my grandmother sent up to me to share with all of my roommates.

I appreciate the food at home even more.

Whether it be my favorite restaurants or my parents’ cooking, nothing beats the taste of home. Sorority food will never ever compare with my my Dad’s steak dinners or my Mom’s specially prepared fish dishes. It does the trick but is never as satisfying. Also, I have yet to find Mexican food in Seattle that even comes close to my favorite restaurant in my hometown. In fact, I gave up looking for one. At this point, I have just accepted the fact that there is better Thai food in Seattle and the Mexican food in California cannot be beat.

People invite you to their homes.

They understand that you do not have that same escape from school that they do and so they in turn invite you home with them. It is so fun to see your friends in their natural habitat. You get to know their families and understand a little bit better why they are the way they are. It is the sweetest gesture ever, plus if they have a dog it is an extra special bonus. Everyone needs a little distress time with a puppers for their personal mental health.

All in all, I love being an out-of-state student. I feel like I get the best of both worlds. And no that was not a Hannah Montana reference.