Thanksgiving comes at the perfect time in the semester: midterms and the workload are picking up just as you need some time to wind down. Your visit home can be complicated, however, if you are considering bringing your college friend or college roommate home with you. You may not want to leave them alone for Thanksgiving, but you may not be sure if going home with you is the best alternative. Before extending the invite, make sure you consider all the factors.
What Will the Transportation Arrangements Be?
Can your friend or roommate just hop in the car with you? Can they get a train or bus ticket and keep you company? Or will things become complicated (and expensive) with a plane ticket? Additionally, consider the amount of travel that is required. Will you want to hang out with your friend or roommate all weekend if you both spend 12 hours straight, trapped in a car, just getting home? Lastly, consider what will happen if your friend or roommate decides they want or need to leave early. How realistic will it be to get them back to school?
What Will the Sleeping Arrangements Be?
Will the sleeping arrangements be awkward once you get home? Keep in mind that what you had in mind for sleeping arrangements may not be what your parents had in mind. And try to be respectful of your friend or roommate; would you want to sleep on a blow-up mattress in someone else's room in a strange house? Is that something they'd be comfortable with?
What House Rules Do You Need to Consider?
Your mom may like you home early, may not allow drinking in the house, and may expect you to be up and out of bed by 8:00 a.m. so you can join the rest of the family for breakfast. And while you know these are the "house rules" and just deal with them when you're visiting, your friend or roommate may not be so amenable. Check in with both your parents and your friend/roommate about what kind of Thanksgiving weekend each is expecting to make sure there's at least a chance of a match.
Could There Be Any Personality Clashes?
You may be an argumentative feminist on campus who tones it down at home just to keep the peace. But your friend or roommate may not know this -- and may not be as accommodating. What personalities will be in the mix if you bring your friend or roommate home for Thanksgiving? Are there factors that are guaranteed to clash? Or personalities that are guaranteed to lead to interesting, engaged, healthy conversations?
Consider What You'll Do In Addition to Eating Turkey
Of course, the big Thanksgiving meal is the highlight of the weekend. But how will you spend the rest of your time? Will you be hanging out with hometown friends that may not click with your college friend/roommate? Will you be hanging with your parents while your friend or roommate wants to go out? Or are you planning on a wild and crazy weekend while your friend or roommate is looking forward to some quiet time to relax and get her homework done? Think about the entire weekend -- and all its complicating factors -- before deciding if bringing someone home is really a good idea.
