Something About Spring Break

Spring break: the week where college students everywhere find themselves on a beach with friends making memories that last forever. Sadly, the other students go home to their parent’s house where it is still snowing. Every second that passes while indulging in a piece of pizza on the couch, the backpack that has not been touched since you got home stares at you.

Spring break is an interesting time for the ones who go home. There are bitter sweet moments that make one contemplate life choices. When running errands for your Mom or driving to a friends house you always drive by your old high school and completely shutter at the mere thought of it. You see old teachers who wonder how you are doing in college but give you a wink when they say, “I am sure you are having a lot of fun” or “ I am sure you have done a lot of studying.” It is the most awkward interaction of your life but you smile and wave it off. You bump into old exes who still look the same, and wonder what you ever saw in them. Nothing is worse than trying to hold a conversation down with your ex from high school and realizing you have absolutely nothing in common anymore. And you always seem to end up saying the worst thing to them and then face palm when they finally leave. Being home is a constant repeat of uncomfortable conversations.

Everything is exactly how it was five years ago, nothing has changed. There is a sense of pride for where one comes from, yet there is also a constant urge to get out of there. There is the same gossip, but about new people, the same restaurants but with new staff and the same people, but yet they all seem different. It is an interesting concept returning home for spring break because half the time you are on your own trying to keep yourself entertained. When coming back to a small town up here in New England it is hard to adjust back into the lifestyle. Because it so exciting to come home and see everyone after being at school but then four days in, all you want to do is go back to school, where there is always someone to hang out with and always something to do.

But there are the good things about being home too, everyone is fighting for time with you before you go back. You are actually the center of attention because people can only cherish so much time with you. There is good food on the table every night and you can actually enjoy eating it without wondering what it is or if it is safe to eat. You have no expectations from anyone, and can just coast through your day deciding what to do as you go. You get to spend time with your crazy family and enjoy each others company.

It is not all bad coming home, sure we all would rather be on a beach somewhere with a red solo cup in hand with the Top 40 playing in the background. But instead we get mom’s homemade chocolate chip cookies in the oven, dad’s country music echoing through the house and the little town that shaped you into who you are all around you. That seems good enough.