Spring Break is Sort of Almost Here

Elizabeth Benshoff
Alpha Gamma Delta

With the recent ice storms on campus, the only thing getting me through these freezing weeks of January and February is the thought of spring break just around the corner. Now, I know classes only started two weeks ago, but I can still pretend spring break is coming quickly, right? With that in mind, everyone seems to be coming up with their plans and schemes to go someplace fun and warm. Personally, I don’t really know what I’m doing; maybe going home since I’m spending the summer in Europe, or maybe I’ll end up going somewhere exciting with some friends. Who knows. Some of my sisters, though, are looking at traveling to Florida and other sunny spots for that week away from Oxford.

Florida seems to be a pretty popular destination. It’s far enough south to be mostly warm already in March, but not far enough to be in Mexico. Also, there seems to be a lot of family homes in Florida for poor college students to take advantage of, especially because it can be hard to come across hotel rooms if you’re under 21. Also, family homes allow you to have as many people stay as you want, without any managers or housekeeping people to get annoyed on a daily basis. It seems a lot of my sisters are planning on taking advantage of vacation homes and time-shares when March rolls around.

Mexico is always a good bet, though there are always lingering concerns about where exactly in Mexico you want to go. The weather is bound to be nice and the beaches are gorgeous, but you could run into some dangerous areas if you don’t plan accordingly. There’s also less of a chance of having family homes or friends to stay with in Mexico, meaning dealing with hotel reservations and rules. Also, you probably have to fly, meaning you could miss out on the great memories that come with driving. Though, flying is always the easier option.

California could be fun for spring break. It’s a bit further away but would definitely have better weather than Ohio. You’d also get to experience the West Coast for a week, which means getting out of the Midwest we call home. Some of my sisters are originally from California, which means they always end up with a couple of people tagging along when they go home for spring break.

There’s also Alternative Spring Break through Miami, which gives you a great chance to do some service and give back over your break from school. This is a great way to get away from it all and still be productive. The experience, I’ve heard, is always really rewarding and sends you back to school with a positive mindset.

If you can’t think of somewhere warm to go, there’s always going home or just staying in the OxBox. While it is cold and icy, it is also relaxing and familiar. I know sometimes I just need a break from schoolwork and the general craziness of college. For some breaks, it doesn’t even matter if it’s cold or there’s nothing to do, I just want to sleep and watch TV On Demand anyway. So, whatever your plans are for this spring break, it will sure give you something to focus on as you ice-skate your way to class for the next couple of weeks. 

Elizabeth is a sophomore studying English literature and political science. You may contact her at Benshoea@muohio.edu.