Spring break is a time of bliss, a time to rest, a time to reflect, and a time to party. Across the nation, young adults take road trips, jet set, or go on cruises to various places in search of that ultimate vacation satisfaction. I can recall being twelve years old and watching “Spring Break in Cancun” on MTV and thinking to myself, “wow this looks amazing.” For those who don’t know or can’t remember, the show was all about get wild and crazy, half naked people, and wet t-shirt contests. Jerry Springer even had a “Spring Break” edition of his show that was filmed down in Mexico.
No matter where you go, your ultimate goal is to forget the realities of school, your back breaking job, or perhaps getting away from that nagging girlfriend or boyfriend. Some of the hot spots to party for spring break have almost become cliché. Places such as Las Vegas, Nevada, Miami, Florida, and the before mentioned Cancun, Mexico are the most common spots people go to for spring break.
For some people, spring break is a time to stay at home. For some students, spring break means one week of not getting struck in traffic on the way to school, one week of not worrying about mid-terms, one week of not doing any schoolwork, and temporarily eliminating one hassle from your life.
For me, spring break this year was about hopping into my car with my friend, and taking a road trip down to sunny San Diego, California to stay with our friend for a few days. The drive down took seven and half hours and went without a hitch other then the ridiculous traffic we hit in Los Angeles. Upon arrival to our destination, we all got refreshed and cleaned up and then proceeded to start the night off with some bar hopping before capping off the night with some more partying back at the house.
This was basically our routine for the three nights that my friend and I and were down there. We also went to the beach for a few hours one afternoon, had a barbeque at a lake another afternoon, and went to a local casino on another afternoon. The trip was exactly what I needed to get my mind off of life here at home. I was happy to see my friend and get to hang out with him, and make some new friends in the process. I was actually surprised how much I enjoyed the fifteen hours of driving I did in a four day span, because it was relaxing, and an adrenaline rush at the same time to be flying down the highways of California.
Whatever you all did for your spring break, I hope that it was exactly what you wanted, and that it was a refreshing break from your reality. However, now comes the sad part. We have to say “see you next year” to spring break, and snap back into reality and the hustle and bustle of our lives. At least we’ll always have the memories of spring break.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Love Thy Neighbor.
In today’s world, how of us can say that we really know our neighbors? If you really think about it, knowing your neighbors is something that should be really important to you. You wouldn’t want to be living next to a crazy person, or registered sex offender without know so. Perhaps you would want to build a bond with your neighbor should you ever go on vacation and need someone to watch your home. Some people may not care to know their neighbors. Some people might be really shy and anti-social, or you might live in an apartment complex where a lot of neighborly interaction doesn’t happen as in comparison to houses.
From my own person situation, I don’t know any of my neighbors. My family and I have lived in our home for the last three years and I don’t know the names or faces of most of my neighbors. If I were to see them at the mall, or at my work, or at San Jose State, I wouldn’t recognize them.
I know that in American society, having good relations with your neighbors is very common. I once dated a girl whose entire neighborhood would close off their court and hold their own parades for the fourth of July, and massive block parties for other holidays. Once again, I’ve never experienced that with my own neighborhood. I sometimes come home and see some of my neighbor’s chit chatting with other, and I sometimes wonder if they’re talking about why none of them ever hear from my family, perhaps thinking we’re a family of troglodytes.
I’ve only had one real encounter with my neighbors. Last year I had just gotten home from school, and as I’m walking into my bedroom I hear the sound of glass cracking from my window. I have large shutters on my window that I always keep closed so I couldn’t see what was going on. However, I was able to crack them open to sneak and little peak and I saw that my entire window was cracked, and I looked to the side and I see my neighbors eight-year-old throwing rocks at my window. I was forced to go next door and tell his mother what he had done, however, what I didn’t know was that the boy is autistic, and was having a tantrum of some sort.
Recently, I found out through my mother that one of neighbors had a death in the family. Our neighbor’s daughter was five months pregnant and died from a hemorrhage of some sort and also lost the baby. Because of lack of familiarity with my neighbors, my family was hesitant to give our condolences and offer any support that we could which is unfortunate.
I’m not saying that I’m going to go knock on all of my neighbors’ doors and introduce myself to them. That would be a little after the fact, since it’s been three years since I’ve moved into the neighborhood. What I am saying is that I would like to have some sort of a relationship with at least some of my neighbors because I’ve seen how long-term friendships can come from just sharing a street. Maybe one day my family will develop a stronger bond with our neighbors, and if anyone reading this is considering doing the same, then do it.
From my own person situation, I don’t know any of my neighbors. My family and I have lived in our home for the last three years and I don’t know the names or faces of most of my neighbors. If I were to see them at the mall, or at my work, or at San Jose State, I wouldn’t recognize them.
I know that in American society, having good relations with your neighbors is very common. I once dated a girl whose entire neighborhood would close off their court and hold their own parades for the fourth of July, and massive block parties for other holidays. Once again, I’ve never experienced that with my own neighborhood. I sometimes come home and see some of my neighbor’s chit chatting with other, and I sometimes wonder if they’re talking about why none of them ever hear from my family, perhaps thinking we’re a family of troglodytes.
I’ve only had one real encounter with my neighbors. Last year I had just gotten home from school, and as I’m walking into my bedroom I hear the sound of glass cracking from my window. I have large shutters on my window that I always keep closed so I couldn’t see what was going on. However, I was able to crack them open to sneak and little peak and I saw that my entire window was cracked, and I looked to the side and I see my neighbors eight-year-old throwing rocks at my window. I was forced to go next door and tell his mother what he had done, however, what I didn’t know was that the boy is autistic, and was having a tantrum of some sort.
Recently, I found out through my mother that one of neighbors had a death in the family. Our neighbor’s daughter was five months pregnant and died from a hemorrhage of some sort and also lost the baby. Because of lack of familiarity with my neighbors, my family was hesitant to give our condolences and offer any support that we could which is unfortunate.
I’m not saying that I’m going to go knock on all of my neighbors’ doors and introduce myself to them. That would be a little after the fact, since it’s been three years since I’ve moved into the neighborhood. What I am saying is that I would like to have some sort of a relationship with at least some of my neighbors because I’ve seen how long-term friendships can come from just sharing a street. Maybe one day my family will develop a stronger bond with our neighbors, and if anyone reading this is considering doing the same, then do it.
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