College Spring Break. A week of no classes where most people go off to warm places and is talked about throughout high school as week of no rules. A time to have fun, get drunk, meet people you don't know, etc. I'll leave the rest of the possibilities that could happen up to you.
Then the 1980's rolled around and alternative Spring Breaks began or ASB as some college students call them. Colleges and universities all over the country offer them to a wide array of different places. This university offers three places: New Orleans, Los Angles, and Jacksonville, Florida. Each trip offers a type of a different type of service.
As a freshman, I was faced with the question: Do I go home or do an ASB? I choose the latter. Jacksonville was my choice and so I eagerly awaited a break from Michigan weather while helping others. Jacksonville's service opportunity was with Habitat for Humanity helping build houses in a subdivision they have been working on for the past four years. Leading up to the trip, I had a countdown going on my phone and had my bag packed a good four days before leaving.
Our wonderful group of twelve left Saturday morning at 7:05am with the temperature at 35 degrees. The trip down was pretty uneventful and we stopped in North Carolina that night. Immediately, the warmer weather felt amazing and the next morning most of us were in shorts and sandals ready to finish the last nine hours in the minivan. When we finally arrived in Florida all of us got out the vans as fast as we could. Fifteen hours in a minivan can make ten college students go a little stir crazy.
We started work Monday around ten and most of us got fired. Sunburned, torched with UV rays, roasted, etc. It was awful. My back was a victim to the strong UV rays of Florida as was several other's various body parts. Aloe and sunscreen became our best friend for the rest of the week. PSA, if you go to Florida, wear plenty of sunscreen.
Everyday was basically the same. I personally helped install windows, prep walls for siding, move shingle packages (THOSE ARE REALLY HEAVY, FYI), move scaffolding, and shingle a roof. I also became very handy with a hammer (after hitting my thumb) and a caulk gun. Just so you know, caulking is an extremely tedious job. Especially fire protectant caulk. It's red and gets everywhere. It got all over my hands and when it dries, it looks like dried blood and the only super easy way to get off was with WD-40. That was an interesting experience to say the least. Wednesday was our half day and so some of us went to St. Augustine to shop and explore.
Through out the week we got to work with some amazing people. The workers with Habitat were so easy to work with and eager to teach us how to do the certain jobs around the work site. The two men I worked with were my favorite. They both loved to talk and kept me laughing throughout the week. Not going to lie but I miss them a lot.
We left Friday at 1:00 and the ride home was pretty interesting. I was in a van full of guys. I've played enough rounds of Battleship to last me quite a few months or even the rest of the year. I am a little sick and tired of it. (Played a total of three or four games within the course of the fifteen hour car ride.)
Overall, the week was extremely fulfilling. Before the trip, I didn't really know everyone who went on the trip. I realized that I needed that. Before the trip, I was hanging out with the same people over and over. I needed a week with people I barely knew in order to grow a little more. Plus a lot of fresh air helped my mood improve and gain some motivation to finish this semester.
If asked if I would recommend this, I would say "10/10 recommend." Service trips are amazing and fulfilling and absolutely worth it. Do it, it is the best way to spend your Spring Break.
