I Guess I'm a Little Homesick

I didn’t really expect it, and I was definitely surprised to realize, that there are a couple things I’m starting to miss about home. While everything is amazing and wonderful here in Paris, I just can’t help thinking about some of the everyday things I take for granted when I’m at home. Instead of lying and holding it all in, I figured that getting out in the open would be better so that I can just accept it and enjoy my last few weeks 4,000+ miles away from home.

One of the food items that I’m homesick for is a good Chicago hot dog from Portillo’s. I don’t eat them all the time at home, but I could sure use one. I’m sure that will be one of the first places I visit once I’m back in the city. And when I go back home home, meaning middle-of-nowhere, Morton, Illinois home, I’m going to Culver’s for a big fat butter burger.

I also miss my comfy bed in my apartment. The one here in my homestay family’s house is totally fine, but the comforter isn’t big and fluffy and the mattress isn’t quite as thick. I guess I wasn’t too surprised about missing it though: there really is nothing like the bond between you and your bed.

Something that I really didn’t expect to miss was my shower; more specifically, my shower curtain. The showers here usually don’t have curtains. Instead, its a glass wall that covers the half of the shower closest to the shower head and you just walk around it to get in and out. This doesn’t leave a lot of material to keep the steam and heat in. Needless to say, I have been pretty cold some mornings.

Considering that it’s already the middle of May, I know that I would have made several trips to the beach by now if I were home. Paris has the Seine, which is obviously great, but there are no beaches like there are in Chicago.

The last, and most surprising thing that I miss, is going to the gym. I know that I’m going to regret admitting that as soon as I go the first couple times upon my return, but I really do. I walk a lot here, meaning about five miles a day, but it’s nothing like doing some squats at the rack or doing some laps in the pool. Wow, I think I already regret admitting that.

Well, there it is. I think that’s about it, other than all my friends and family of course. But I’ll see you, my bed, my shower curtain, horrible fast food, the gym, and the beach soon.