The countdown for winter break began the moment we got back to school after our lovely but short turkey week. Now, just around the corner (tomorrow), the debate on whether holidays are better spent at home or away is a hot topic. For me, winter break means sayonara DC and hello vacation, and let me tell you why.
I don’t know about you, but this year my weekends are filled with homework (even a long weekend barely helps). The winter holiday provides an opportunity to get out of our everyday lives; it is an uninterrupted 12 days of no homework, no practice, no nothing. Though some may say that staying in DC at the house gives time to relax and see family, which is great… all of that can be achieved in Puerto Rico. Don’t think I haven’t noticed that we’re all pale and depressed from the winter weather. Getting out of DC and taking time to enjoy the heat somewhere tropical is a necessary escape from the mundane school life; I don’t want to see (or be) Casper the ghost in AP US History anymore, Halloween was a while ago y’all.
On the other hand, you could take a more “in-theme” approach to your time off. Diving head first into the season and having a true winter holiday: skiing, snowboarding, sledding and ice skating is definitely something my family and I try to take advantage of. Who doesn’t love a winter wonderland experience, and who knows, maybe you’ll even find yourself a Hallmark-level romance? If we’re going to be completely honest with ourselves, you might as well find it somewhere else because lord knows DC won’t get any snow. Not to mention that Liberty Mountain is definitely past its prime; I don’t think I can try to convince myself any longer that the so-called “snow” on their slopes is more than just shaved ice.
So if you and your family are on the fence about vacating the city this year, do it. Even if it’s just a couple of days out of state to visit family, it’s a must. Unlike a long weekend, you won’t have the stress of school on either side of your vacation. Three days with your conservative grandpa sounds really relaxing without a calculus test to greet you the day after. Have a great holiday tigers and I mean it, some of you need to go get a spray tan.