Issue date: 9/5/07 Section: Features

Media Credit: Gia Vang Tomás Carboni, a junior business and accounting major, says it's convenient to eat at Round Table on campus. [Click to enlarge]

As incoming freshmen, many were probably asked if they were excited to leave home and go to school.

At least in the beginning, one might have earnestly thought about the question, possibly answering with a reluctant yes, but at the same time describing that friends and family will be missed.

One might miss other things, like a bed at home, a car or a pet. But one important thing often taken for granted, is a home-cooked meal.

For the last 18 years, or more if you are a transfer student, many meals were probably provided by your parents.

Mine coddled me and I still try to hold hands while crossing the street.

Some students are happy to get away from home-cooked meals or favorite local eateries, but some will considerably miss them.

Freshman kinesiology major Katie Kinser said she will miss eating pizza at her favorite local thin crust pizza parlor. Now attending Sacramento State, she said she could take her chances at Giovanni's Old World New York Pizzeria, which was voted by Sacramento Magazine as the best New York Style Pizza and is located close to the dorms at 6200 Folsom Blvd.

Kinser also said she was not certain what she will do without her mom's oatmeal chocolate peanut butter cookies.

Other incoming freshmen look at leaving home differently, but still admit to missing certain home-cooked meals.

For freshman business major Will Chittenden, it's not really about a specific food he will miss, but about not having to worry about getting it.

"(I'll miss) not having to actively make things myself, like not always having something to eat," he said.

Fortunately for Chittenden, the Dining Commons serves three meals a day with a number of different meal options.

Chittenden said he couldn't imagine life without all of his mother's home-cooked meals. He said he will especially miss his mom's brown bagged lunches which she packed his favorite peanut butter and jelly sandwich, made just the way he liked it.

Sacramento is full of restaurants and places to get food in all varieties, whether it is an expensive, fancy, sit-down restaurant, or a pizza place to hang around and watch a football game with your friends.

Although perceptions about moving away from home can be very different depending on who you ask, it can still be exciting.

Taking steps, to learning how to adapt to you're new environment and discovering all that surrounds you on campus, appear to build up this excitement.

This very writer was surprised to learn that there is a Mr. Pickle's Sandwich Shop at 65th and Folsom, which also neighbors a Pita Pit. For those freshmen who have never eaten a Caesar Pita with bacon and chicken, you have not lived until you have tried one.

On campus, you can conquer hunger at many different food establishments, from Togo's, home of the favorite avocado and turkey, located in the River Front Center, to Kung Fu Fat's which resides in the University Union.

Although perceptions will be different from student to student, moving away from home can still be exciting.

Taking steps like learning how to adapt to your new environment and discovering all that surrounds you on campus appears to build up this excitement.

In the end, it does not seem as though it is an insurmountable task to adjust to campus life. The key for all of this is to be opened-minded to all that's around you.

Not just shutting down and wallowing in what you miss, but instead finding things that you will miss once you graduate.

Michael Archibald can be reached at marchibald@statehornet.com.

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