This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at BU chapter.

If you’re a southerner who’s made the journey to a northern school to receive your college education, you know how important it is to go home for the holidays. While all your Massachusetts friends can go home whenever they want to do their laundry, you have to bide your time until you can go back to the comforts of home.

Holidays are a special time of year in the south. Family time is crucial, especially during Thanksgiving, a holiday centered around our very favorite thing: food. From experiencing the joys of home cooking to family bonding, every southerner can attest to the feeling of going home after a long time being away.

You get on the plane to go home like

You can’t wait to land and run into the arms of mom and dad

You walk into your house like

Coming home to your pets like

You finally get to drive your car again

You basically fast for the big Thanksgiving meal like

But the day finally arrives and you wake up to the smell of amazing cooking

You just stare at the pies like

You’re excited when all your family starts to arrive

You missed the Southern accents so much, hearing them just warms your heart

Your grandparents get there, and you know you’re going to get your cheeks pinched no matter how old you are

You know you’re going to get the scoop on everybody

Everybody asks you why you went to a school that’s so far away

All your family members think you’re insane for picking a school where it’s cold

You answer a million questions about whether or not you’re coming back to the south after you graduate

They really don’t understand your strange stories about public transportation

“No it’s not the metro, it’s the T… No it’s not free… Because I can’t drive in Boston”

You finally get to eat and you’re like

So much fried food, so much fried food

You’re so excited because no one from the north appreciates you’re indescribable love for carbs

Thoughts Southerners Have When Going Home for Thanksgiving