Spring Break - we're burning for it A look at the typical options for collegiate Sring Breaks and Middlebury students

Author: Isabel Yordan

It's very nearly here. My mental countdown has already started and I hope yours has too. All I can think about lately is spring break. Maybe that's because there is a pool in Palm Springs that is calling my name, but more likely it's because I would rather not think about the midterms and papers that are looming. Spring break is probably the best treat that was ever given to a student. I am not saying this because I am that spring break kid who goes crazy and takes off my shirt all the time and a wants to party like never before. No, I just can't wait to turn in my sugar-free Red Bull for a half-and-half (half lemonade, half iced-tea) and trade my daytime power naps for an oops-I-fell-asleep-on-a-lounge-chair-and-am-now-baked-like-a-lobster-nap. I've been at the library a lot lately, and I can tell the rest of the campus is running on empty and burned out as well. I know that everyone wishes that these two weeks would just end so that they can flee the campus and put it all behind them. Whatever your spring break plans are, I'm sure you are excited and can't wait and that you don't really care what I have to say about it, but what would one of my articles be without me doling out my cherished advice?

Spring break has a lot to offer - the possibilities are endless. For some unknown reason, spring break holds the key to all your travel desires, more so than any other break. The idea of spring break is that the world is your oyster. Still, some of you may just be going home to Connecticut to sit on your couch. And after a round of midterms, I don't blame you for a second. There are ways to maximize the lazy man's break as well, though. Clearly you should hit your local tanning bed. The rest of the campus will be coming back beautiful and bronzed. I don't think you can afford to miss out on this trend.

Just don't tell anyone that you went to "fake and bake." Make up a story - don't even tell your best friend. Usually if you are going home for spring break then a certain portion of your time will be spent in front of the TV. I have to admit I am a sucker for the "Dawson's Creek" re-runs. I'm not saying to watch "Dawson's Creek" - I know that I am the only one who still enjoys that show - but I am saying to indulge yourself. No one will judge you, because you don't have to tell them. Go ahead, turn to TBS and watch the re-runs of all the shows that you never even knew why you watched when they were new and popular.

If you are not going home, then I deduce that many of the rest of you will be traveling. I am so insightful, I know. Well there are a lot of options here. Let's just separate it into advice for those of you going tropical and for those going not-tropical. To you tropic travelers, I would have to say the key to tanning is that slow and steady wins the race. Sandy Sokoloski '07 remembers with a gleam in her eye and a smile on her face, "My friend was so badly burned on spring break that we nicknamed her patches due to the odd way that she began to peel." And also, I would try to keep a shirt on in front of any cameras - you might regret it if you don't, but maybe that's just me. If you are going somewhere in the non-tropical category then I am going to assume you are doing something sporty, in which case I have no advice for you. Sorry, but you will have to fend for yourself.

I know there are a lot of spring break options I didn't cover, but frankly, I just woke up from a long afternoon nap, and I am surprised that I was able to string together more than three sentences. So deal. I will say just one more thing - it is for anyone visiting friends at other schools. The key with this is to try to blend in to their social scene. Meredith Conrad '07 will say, "You have to be careful, because apparently slammer shots are frowned upon at some other schools." So go off, take your tests, write you papers and then get ready to make it all a mere memory.