Amanda Weigel
10-22-00
Comparison and Contrast
Living at Home vs. Living on my Own
“Wow, where did time go, it is already November.” It has been almost two
months since I moved out and have been on my own. It was really hard leaving home, but
now that I’m out and alone it isn’t that bad. The day I left I was a nerves wreck. The last
thing I remember is driving away with tears just rolling down my face. I have learned a
lot since I left. I have seen the difference between living at home and on my own.
I’m going to start with the part I miss the most. Well, mom is German and she
can cook “like you wouldn’t believe.” Everything is always so good, and she always
made something different. Mom never just stopped with a great big meal, she always had
to make dessert to finish it off. It didn’t matter what day it was, I could count on there
being supper on the table at five o’clock sharp. My most favorite is fleshcickla and cream
noodles. Cafeteria food just doesn’t compare. It doesn’t have that home cooked taste that
makes me drool before I eat it. It doesn’t feel like home with there being hundreds of
people in the cafeteria, and everyone talking over one another. I know I miss mom’s food
when I think that frozen pizza is really good.
When I was living at home it wasn’t bad. I love my family and enjoyed seeing
them everyday. I always know that if I needed anything that mom would be there to help
me. No matter what time it was, she would be there in just seconds to talk. I have a
younger sister that is a junior in high school, and we were really close. I think about her
everyday and wonder how she is doing. Not only do I think of her as a sister but she is
my best friend too. Nothing will ever compare to family, but it does really help that my
roommate and I get along really well. She makes me feel at home when I get back from a
long day of working on my studies. We have a lot in common, and we have lots of fun
when we are together. I have really enjoyed getting to know someone different. We
haven’t fought yet and for girls this is pretty amazing. There is nobody that I would rather
live with then her. I can see Trish and I staying friend forever and having her feel like
family someday as time goes on. I even though we live in a room that is only ten feet
wide by ten feet long we still managed to get are stuff in there and make it feel like home.
I was really used to having a big room at home, and I had enough “stuff” to fill
the whole thing. I wasn’t sure how I would be able to move in to a room that was so
small. I picked out the most valuable things that I needed in college, and that is all I
brought. I thought I might have over packed, but I was able to fit everything in my room.
I have every little space full of stuff. I didn’t know how I would adjust to the great
difference of privacy. The public bathrooms just aren’t like at home. Having hair in the
shower when I get in is absolutely yucky. I’ll get use to this as the year proceeds. It was
hard right away never being able to be alone. There is always someone around even if it
isn’t my roommate.
In the dorm there is not a dull moment. If I am bored I just have to open the door,
and there will be someone in there in five minutes. The social part here is something that
you just can’t find at home. I think that everyone should live in a dorm for at least one
semester just to get that experience. I’m not saying that everything is good about this life
style, but it is fun. The worst part about it is we don’t get to bed at night. I never thought
about being up past midnight at home now if I’m in bed by two in the morning I’m lucky.
I don’t know how long my body can handle this. My biggest goal by next semester is to
go to bed earlier and don’t take naps during the day. If I spent less time on having fun
then maybe I would get some everyday things done. I tend to forget about stuff like
cleaning my room and laundry.
Something that I miss is having my laundry done without even worrying about it.
Mom always did my laundry before I was out of socks and underwear. I have learned
how to wash clothes since I have been on my own. I have only shrunk two shirts and only
ruined one. I think that is pretty good. I still bring my laundry home for mom when I go
back to visit though. I think that mom misses me so much she even enjoys doing my
laundry. Mom realizes that that I am busy and laundry is just one of those things that is
at the end of my list along with studying.
In the dorm it is hard to sit down and study. There is always something going on
and it is always loud. I have found that if I have to get something done I better just pack
up and go to the library because it will only take me half the time it would if I would stay
home and do it. I have only been woken up at night once because of noise. I’m usually
the one that wakes everyone else up. These people are not happy with me.
As you can see there is differences and there are similarities about where you live.
Living at home has its ups and downs as well as living on your own. I feel that everyone
should leap out from under mom and dad’s wing and live on their own. Over all I like
living on my own because it is a good lesson. I felt that I was ready to leave, and I have
realized that I was right. I miss my family, but I’m preparing myself for the real world.