If you left home to live in another country, what would be the top three things you would miss? When I think of home (Coatepeque, Guatemala), I think my top three would be food, family and friends.

First, my favorite food that I miss so much are the traditional Guatemaltecos tamales (not to be confused with Mexican tamales or Puerto Rican pasteles). My tamales are made of dough, chicken, and a red sauce that has lots of chili pepper spice in it. I need to move on because I'm getting hungry now!

Second, I really miss my family. I miss my mother (my father passed away seven years ago). I call and talk with her about one hour every day; we talk about my life here now and all the things I'm learning at GRB High School. I also miss my three sisters, Enedelia (a nurse), Sonia (a business administrator for a company), and Alejandra (also a nurse). They don't live with my mom anymore as they are older than me, but they keep me informed of life in Coatepeque.

I don't have many friends (yet!) at GRB and I had so many there so I really miss my two best friends, Karen and Suzeli. I was friends with Karen since prep school (what you here call kindergarten). Since our last names both begin with Rodriguez, we always sat together, which was a great comfort to me. Although I don't get a chance to talk with Karen much now, I still consider her my best friend. My other friend Suzeli and I only talk on Wednesdays because she is so busy in her job as a secretary.

I interviewed five students in my Journalism class and they all agreed unanimously with me that they would miss the food, friends, family. They also mentioned they'd miss their pets.

In reality, the things that are dearest to us are what we would miss when we leave home, especially to live in another country like I did! The next time you contemplate living somewhere other than where you are now, remember that not everything in life is lasting, but the memories we have of home and family and friends will live in our hearts forever.