After being at college for almost a month and a half, I took my first trip back home for Columbus Day weekend. The anticipation really built up the week leading up to the holiday, and I was counting down the days till I’d be back home. I’d already filled my weekend with plans to reconnect with old friends and activities, and spent the majority of that week grinding out homework assignments and organizing my dorm. I’d reached out to some upperclassmen friends and was able to secure rides both to and from University of Massachusetts Amherst, saving my mom the two-hour drive up to get me. While UMass Amherst has become a second home, I couldn’t wait to see all of my family and friends back in Ipswich, MA. 

I arrived back home Friday afternoon. Despite the dark rainy weather, the day was far from gloomy. I hauled my luggage up my stairs and into my warm home. I was instantly hit with a feeling of happiness and nostalgia. My aunt was waiting for me inside with a smile and hug. Despite being gone for over a month, it felt like nothing had changed. I joined my aunt on my old tan couch and tried my best to fill her in on everything that's happened since getting to college. I realized just how difficult it is to fit a month and a half's worth of stories into a thirty-minute conversation. 

My aunt was getting ready to leave when we heard the familiar sound of my mom’s footsteps coming up the stairs. She opened the door and embraced me in a long hug. I was filled with emotions and had to restrain myself from crying with joy on sight of seeing her. 

That evening, I drove my car again for the first time in seven weeks. One of my biggest fears was not remembering how to drive, a silly one but a fear nonetheless. I didn’t realize how much I’d miss driving until I couldn’t at college. I felt like a new driver all over again, clutching my steering wheel and being overly cautious about everything. After 30 minutes the “new driver” feeling subsided and I felt comfortable again. 

I also feared my dog would have forgotten who I was after not seeing me for a long time. Initially he seemed excited by my presence, but then returned to his normal disinterested state moments later. It seemed as if nothing had really changed since being gone. 

Being home made me realize how much I’d missed the little things: like seeing the town wharf from our living room window, getting dinner with friends, and snuggling up at night with my dog. I visited some of my favorite restaurants and enjoyed spending time around town. I also got to reconnect with other college friends home for the weekend, as well as friends from high school. Some of the highlights from my weekend included baking Halloween cookies, going window shopping, and going to the local fair.

Overall, being home even for a couple of days was a real treat and I’m really glad I chose to go home for the long weekend. While I love UMass Amherst, there is truly no place like home and for me that’s my childhood house where all of my family and friends are located.