For one week out of the year, something majestic happens. Similar to the movements of the Monarch butterfly or the great flocks of geese that usher in the fall, thousands of young Homo sapiens instinctively head south in mass migrations every spring. ItâÄôs one of natureâÄôs beautiful miracles, and itâÄôll soon be happening again. Yep, spring break starts Friday.
One of the best things about a spring break is the element of surprise. Going on vacation somewhere completely new and getting the lay of the land âÄî itâÄôs the closest thing to being an explorer that the 21st century allows.
DonâÄôt ruin it for everyone by looking up your hotel ahead of time. ThatâÄôs like finding your Christmas present early. Your grandparents didnâÄôt use Google, and neither should you.
Nobody wants to know what theyâÄôre getting when the plane touches down, so being a know-it-all and checking weather reports or hotel rates only spoils the fun for others. DonâÄôt be a smart-aleck.
If you really want to cover your bases, throw a pair of jeans in the suitcase alongside the shorts and sandals. Furnish with a toothbrush, towel and pair of socks and youâÄôll be ready for anything. After all, youâÄôre going somewhere thatâÄôs not Minnesota. ItâÄôs going to be shorts weather wherever you end up.
Someone wise once said that life is a journey, not a destination. This is a great approach to take while on vacation.
With the trusty gold TCF Bank debit card in tow, consider yourself prepared whether youâÄôre going to Las Vegas or South Dakota. If you want to be super prepared, you can back up the bank card with a credit card or two. In todayâÄôs world, physical cash is practically obsolete anyway.
While on the subject of money, itâÄôs good to keep in mind that this is a vacation. DonâÄôt sweat the small stuff!
Living like a college student can be stressful. Pinching every penny eventually leaves you with sore fingers and a queasy feeling in your stomach, courtesy of the Taco Bell bargain menu.
ThereâÄôs a reason they call it spring “break.” Give the frugal attitude a rest and experience the life of luxury for a change. Try something thatâÄôs not on the McDonaldâÄôs Dollar Menu (IâÄôve heard Whoppers are delicious). Spring for that awesome novelty hat âÄî itâÄôll still be funny two months from now. Try a beer that doesnâÄôt have the word “light” in the name and doesnâÄôt taste like aluminum.
The important thing to remember is that youâÄôre on vacation! ThereâÄôll be plenty of time to figure out finances when classes resume.
Some of your friends may not be fortunate enough to travel over break. ItâÄôs a sad fact that not everyone will be somewhere with sand and surf while classes are out. However, there are things you can do to make them feel a little better.
Telling friends who are stuck in Minnesota every detail of your upcoming odyssey will help them feel included. Make sure to let them know how much fun youâÄôre going to have. Talk to them about the places youâÄôll go, how warm itâÄôll be there and the great tan youâÄôre going to get.
Filling them in on these important details will help them feel included and let them feel âÄî for a few moments âÄî like they are going with you.
When you get there, make sure to document the experience. Remember to take as many pictures as possible and keep your Facebook status up to date. People will appreciate your diligence! Let the world know through Twitter, YouTube, Facebook and Tumblr when youâÄôre “taking off soon, canâÄôt wait!” and “just landed, itâÄôs sunny and 80 degrees!!!” Sharing is caring.
Spring break is a great time to be a college student. ItâÄôs a magical week when people expect you to behave like you did in junior high. We spend the rest of the semester trying to appear intelligent and educated, and frankly, thatâÄôs exhausting. Take full advantage of the break, and remember itâÄôs almost here.
John Grimley welcomes comments at [email protected].
