How I survived Thanksgiving break
Sometimes, I feel as if a vital part of the freshman experience has escaped me. During the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, I witnessed my friends excitement grow exponentially as the days lead towards break. They talked about how nice the weather was going to be in California and how excited they were to sleep in their own beds. In my case, Massachusetts has the exact same soul-sucking cold as Providence, and, honestly, my school bed is infinitely more comfortable than mine at home (invest in a mattress pad if you have any love for your spine). Break, for me, wasn’t something I was excited for. This reality is mostly my fault since I’m that awful type of person who can’t enjoy sustained relaxation. Because of that, and the general understanding that everyone’s home life is different, my experiences are unique. However, I knew my own situation demanded discovering something interesting to do before I fell into a 5-day Netflix hole.So, there I was, one lone girl aggressively trying to figure out how to survive Thanksgiving break amidst the cheer of a campus excited to be reunited with loved ones. It’s not that I don’t love my family and my friends. I do. It’s more that I knew a total of five days in my lackluster suburb would kill me. No, I’m not being dramatic. Black Friday shopping truly almost got me this time.* I knew as the weeks drew closer that I needed a plan. Really, I needed an escape. Ultimately, I was able to find one, spending the bare minimum of two days in my childhood town before going off to visit some friends. For any of you wondering how I did it, read on, and discover the ways of a chronically absent girl!
- Start mentioning you’re looking a place to visit.
Keep it casual. You don’t want to let on too soon that you’re looking to hijack your friend’s home for a few days. Rather, softly allude to your desire to see new cities. This will lead to an outpouring of state pride and promises to “show you around.” Most likely, (since this is Brown after all) your friends will talk about how great it is in New York/Los Angeles. Choose whichever is more convenient, and move onto the next step.
- Mention that you’re also looking for a place to stay
This part is a bit tricker, so make sure to deliver the information stealthily. Essentially, you want to mention your need for accommodations so discreetly that they don’t even notice the thought seeping into their subconsciousness.
- Don’t. Stop. Mentioning it.
Persistence is vital. Talk about how exciting it would be to get the extra bonding time. Ask them about their favorite spots around their hometown. Never let them forget that they are the determining factor in whether or not you have a nice break. Guilting someone into hanging out with you is the only 100% guarantee of getting people to hang out with you. Don’t forget that.
- Follow through once your friend hesitantly agrees.
Once they’ve agreed, you can’t let them forget they’ve agreed. Send them proof of your plane/bus tickets. Make sure they know that no matter how much they regret their decision, it’s absolutely too late to back out.
- Gently spring the news upon your loved ones back home.
A hard step I often forget myself. If your parents are like my parents, they’ve probably already accepted your chronic absence. They might mention that break is a rare chance to see your extended family. In response, remind them that extended family is just another convincing reason to get out of town as soon as possible.
- Get! Out! Of! Your! Hometown!
This one is the fun part! Enjoy exploring a new place, bonding with new friends, and making memories you’ll remember more than the extra sleep or Netflix binge home would have given you. *Note to self: never be in a Walmart at 3 a.m. again. Image via.