The one thing that most college students have already experienced when they embarked on their college journey is undoubtedly the feeling of homesickness. A few of my friends got so homesick that they had to drop out of school and moved back home. As an international student myself, I understand what is like to be homesick and to be all alone with nowhere and no one to turn to. I thought it would be fun to take this opportunity and share with you guys some of the things that break my heart when I left Vietnam every summer to come here.

1. I miss the hot, humid weather that makes me want to tear my hair out.

2. I miss the desk receptionists in my apartment building who are always so welcoming and down-to-earth.

3. I miss the janitor who was always the first person to smile at me in the morning before I went to school.

She was always the first person that I saw in the morning when I left for school (except my mother of course) and the first to greet me when I came back. She was always so dedicated and so nice to everyone living in the building that it was a collective shock when she decided to quit.

4. I miss waking up to the smell of boiling pho broth that she had prepared the night before.

5. I miss sleeping next to my dog, who just turned 6 last month.

6. I miss having my own room and the privacy that goes with it.

7. I miss the pavement food next to my apartment and school, where one bowl of noodles only costs around 1 dollar.

8. I miss the sound of my mother nagging me when I refuse to help around the house.

9. I miss visiting my grandmother and enjoying her plethora of comfort food.

10. I miss speaking my native language.

11. I miss my home. I miss Vietnam.