After powering through a hellish finals week, winter break has finally arrived. Flying from 80° in Miami to 30° in Chicago was quite the change of scenery, but I was greeted by a loving family, a happy pup, and a home decked for Christmas. The cookies were piled high and I immediately nestled in my dearly missed couch, ready to get my break on.

People say there’s no place like home for the holidays, heck there’s whole song about it with several renditions taking over the airwaves. I never really understood this idea though, as I only knew Christmas in my Hinsdale home with family year after year. Traditions like our annual cookie exchange and holiday movie nights started immediately after Thanksgiving and continued through the season, making the arrival of Christmas itself that much more special.

Christmas in Miami is very different, and even more so as a college student. There’s no cold weather, and the decorations throughout the city just don’t compare to Chicago. Finals take over your life, leaving you incapable of properly decking the halls and being jolly. There were no real Christmas celebrations with hectic schedules at the end of the semester, and everyone is focused on finishing exams and packing up their rooms. At that point, I just wanted to get to Chicago as fast as I could.

The immediate slap to the face of cold weather was one of the best feelings. Christmas time is here, and there are no reasons to stress. The next month is going to be filled with holiday shenanigans and friends and family that will make up for the lost cheer in Miami. Being home is so comforting, and to be able to celebrate the season with my favorite people makes it all the more spectacular. The simple things like having mom cook dinner, hanging out with friends, and relaxing with a show reinforce how fantastic it is to be in familiarity. Miami will always be a place I hold special, but there really is no place like home during the most wonderful time of the year.