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BU | Life > Experiences

I Love When A City Goes From New To Familiar

Emmy Norton Student Contributor, Boston University
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

On Sunday, October 4, 2026, I took a train back to Boston from New York City. My cousin’s wedding was that weekend and it was the first time I had seen my family since moving into college. 

Having been to NYC once before, it was slightly familiar. I was thrilled to be in a new city, but I had been even more excited for the train back to Boston since booking it in June. I couldn’t wait to listen to Noah Kahan in a window seat, “feeling like a poet,” but the best part about it wasn’t the train itself. It was the familiarity of Boston when I returned.

I thought Boston was new to me, but as soon as the train pulled into Back Bay and I walked outside, I knew exactly where I was and how to get home. I love calling my dorm my home.

shallow focus photography of woman standing on train rail
Priscilla Du Preez/Unsplash

The bus wove through the city. I recognized nearly all the buildings, sidewalks, parks, streets; it was an unreal feeling. I’ve been dreaming of making a new life for myself. A life in a city, to be specific, but I never realized it would be a reality.

This was the first time I truly felt at home.

A week before, I took the T downtown, studied at a coffee shop, and walked around the public gardens. By myself. I felt like I was a part of the city. It was my first time not being a tourist.

I looked around, and I was surprised with how much I was familiar with. I knew my surroundings. I knew that there was an AMC around the corner, and Boylston was the closest T station from where I was. 

The sun was setting. I’m learning that there’s nothing quite like a Boston sunset — they’re different in the city. I assumed they would be invisible behind the skyscrapers, but it’s the opposite. They paint the city in orange and pink hues, making the city vibrant.

U.S. Capitol
Photo by Mike Stoll from Unsplash

I love Boston. But even more importantly, I love the experiences that Boston is giving me. I love my newfound independence, my walks along the winding paths of the public gardens, and finding new people to share these experiences with.

I love that I’m now familiar with Boston.

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Emmy Norton

BU '30

Emmy is a freshman in BU's College of Communication studying Journalism. When she's not writing, you'll often find her watching movies (shoutout to Good Will Hunting), playing volleyball, or listening to music. She loves writing about pop culture and movie reviews, and is excited to continue to grow her writing skills at Her Campus!