On Being Homesick and Adjusting to the New Normal

I’m not going to lie, it took me a lot to write this blog post on being homesick.

In part because it’s hard for me to talk about not feeling at my best, but also because I’ve been struggling with inspiration.

I talked to Kris and let him know I really had no idea what to write about. I explained I wasn’t feeling inspired and didn’t know what to do about this week’s blog post.

He brought up the fact that I’ve been feeling a bit homesick and should share my experience on what I miss about Illinois.

Let me preface this by saying I am loving Miami and still believe we made the right choice moving to Florida. However, I think it’s completely okay to miss your old life.

After all, that was your ‘normal.’

Missing old friends and family

I’ll start by the hardest part of moving: leaving behind friends and family.

There’s times where I have felt alone in Miami.

I have Kris, Ollie, and a few family members. However, all of my best friends are still in Illinois or Colombia.

To top it all off, we don’t live that close to my family so my only chance to see them is on weekends. 

Unfortunately though, Kris works late on Fridays, works every Saturday and some Sundays. This leaves little room for us to actually hang out. 

In Illinois, Kris worked every other Saturday so I would usually spend them hanging out with girlfriends and going to The Barre Code.

I’m still getting to know people in Miami and I know it’s too soon to tell, but I haven’t been able to make those instant connections I did with my friends in Illinois.

Overall, people are really nice and I’m so happy I have family living in Florida. However, I really miss my best friends and that has honestly been the toughest part.

Going from being busy every Saturday and Sunday visiting family and friends to spending Saturday with Ollie meal prepping while we wait for Kris to come home has been a tough adjustment.

Luckily I’ve been able to spend some time visiting fitness studios, but that leads me to my next point.

Missing The Barre Code community

When I was living in Illinois I worked at The Barre Code Lombard. You all probably know by now how much I love that place.

Living by The Barre Code gave me a sense of belonging. Plus, I met some wonderful people that I’m lucky to call my friends now.

As I mentioned earlier, I would go to the studio every weekend and take Barre classes. Not only was it good for my physical health but it was great for my mental health as well.

I’ve tried a few studios so far and it just hasn’t been the same.

The vibe is completely different and it doesn’t feel as homey and welcoming as The Barre Code.

The good news is there is a Barre Code studio in Miami. It’s a way farther drive than the Lombard location was to me, but I will be trying it out this weekend and hopefully reporting back positive things!

It was a much easier drive

Kris and I lived in the suburbs of Chicago so while it was busy, it was less hectic than the city life.

In Florida, we’re living in Miami. AKA it’s busy, crowded, hectic, and I really wonder how some people got their driver’s license.

In all seriousness though, driving in Miami has caused a lot of anxiety for me.
Most drivers seem to think turning signals do not exist/are not necessary, honking every 2 seconds is acceptable, and getting ahead of a car on the turning lane is apparently a thing.

I’m still trying to get used to driving next to impatient drivers and learning how to manage that anxiety. But I won’t lie, it has deterred me from going places at times.

And I won’t even get into parallel parking because that’s just a whole other mess. Oh, and let’s not forget I have to pay to park everywhere now. 

Trader Joe’s and affordable groceries

I am a huge fan of Trader Joe’s (I mean who isn’t?). 

Lucky for me, I have one nearby. Unlucky for me, it’s the only one within a reasonable distance. 

Meaning, everything sells out within 30 minutes of the store opening and there is absolutely no parking. And believe me, I am not exaggerating. 

I really miss the ease of going to Trader Joe’s on a Saturday afternoon and picking up groceries for the week without worrying about getting to the cauliflower gnocchi before the person ahead of me.

In addition to that, groceries in Florida are much more expensive that Illinois.

Honestly, I’m not sure why that is the case considering Florida has an easy access to fresh produce. All I know is I was shocked the first time I went grocery shopping and realized I was paying more than twice in Miami for the same items I purchased in Illinois.

Falling leaves and everything pumpkin

I’ll be the first to admit it: I’m as basic as it gets. Well, almost.

No, I do not own Uggs and I don’t wear leggings except to work out. But I do love pumpkin and basic Fall pictures.

However, that is not a thing in Miami.

This city experiences Summer all year-round with the exception of a couple of days of ‘Fall’ (in quotations because by noon it’s 80 degrees) weather.

However, the leaves do not change and the obsession with pumpkin is not real.

I have yet to drink a PSL or go to a pumpkin patch. And believe me, it’s not because I don’t want to but rather because it’s too darn hot to wear a cute Fall outfit and hunt for the perfect pumpkin.

I’m not giving up though, so stay tuned as I adventure out and try to find my perfect pumpkin patch! (Miami locals – I’ll take any rec’s). 

Adjusting to the new normal

Although what you just read may have given you the impression that I dislike Miami, that’s not the case at all.

Yes, I miss Illinois a lot. And yes, I’ve cried (I actually cried while writing this post) and questioned our decision. 

But at the end of the day, I don’t want to move back. Believe me, I miss my friends and I’d love to have them nearby again, but in Miami (can y’all do me a favor and move down here?).

I love the warm weather, knowing I can go on long walks with Ollie without freezing, all the Colombian food, all the healthy restaurants, the beaches, having my family nearby. 

I love my new job and the people I work with, all the palm trees, the sand, the instagrammable places, the pet-friendly malls and restaurants, and so much more. 

I know it’ll take some time before Miami feels more like home. After all, it hasn’t even been a month since we’ve been here. And I know I have to be patient with myself and allow myself time to get adjusted.

I just wanted to share how I’ve been feeling because I want you to know that if you’re going through a major (or not major) change in your life, it’s totally okay to feel out of place and freak out at times.

As humans we can adapt to so much, but that doesn’t mean that change is not hard at the beginning. 

I want you to know your feelings are valid and if you worry you made the wrong choice or the anxiety is crippling, feel free to comment below or slide into my DMs. Would love to chat and connect!