How should students be spending their whopping 48 hours free of classes?
Illustration by Sage Blackwell.
Fall on campus means many things for students: a rush of midterms, even though the term just started, dwindling motivation to go to class during the few hours of daylight, and the infamous draining of Petch Fountain.
The shining light in the dark for so many is the fall reading break. This reprieve from the hustle and bustle of the fall semester is always much needed by the time it finally swings around. However, when students finally have the chance to pick up their heads from their laptop screens and textbooks, they are often left unsure how to use all that spare time.
If you too feel mystified about how to spend your stunning two-day break, the Martlet has got you covered with plenty of options.
Fly to Rome!
If you have the Euro-summer travel bug that seems to have bitten every twenty-something, this reading break could be your chance! Go abroad and enjoy all of the wonders that a cross-Atlantic Air Canada flight has to offer. For the low price of just over $1 000, you can fly to Rome from Vancouver … and turn right around. The 15 hours of travel each way will leave you with just enough time to enjoy the sights of the airport and maybe even pick up a few duty-free souvenirs — because let’s be honest, that’s the point.
While you may not have time to explore the city, you can still brag to all of your friends that you’ve been to Italy and regale them with tales of what is certain to be a harrowing adventure, as any trip through YVR tends to be.
Visit the Big Apple
No, not New York City. The Big Apple everyone should visit is just a hop, skip, and jump away in Colborne, ON. Although the drive over requires a ferry, toll roads, and a quick jaunt across the southern border, all 44 hours of it are sure to be worth it once you arrive before the world’s largest “apple-shaped structure.” Nicknamed “Mr. Applehead,” the sculpture is merely the mascot for the Big Apple bakery that sells various apple treats. This quick road trip is sure to refresh you for your next round of midterms.
Do your laundry
For the less adventurous or anyone looking to have a more low-key break, you can finally do your laundry. The mountain that has been building up in the corner of your room needs taking care of and, honestly, it will take you all two days of the break to tackle it. Between forgetting to switch your laundry to the dryer, throwing someone else’s damp clothes on top of the washing machine, and trying to meticulously match your socks, laundry can be the most time-consuming chore.
Do one of your readings
After all, it is called “reading break.” Whether it’s a scientific paper, a classmate’s essay you need to peer review, or just that next chapter of the Sally Rooney novel your English professor assigned, you should have plenty of time to make a dent in the readings that pile up all too easily. Thanks to our lengthy break, you should have time to get a bit of reading done –– even factoring in the breaks to check your phone after each sentence, because reading a whole paper just requires too much attention.
No matter what you decide to do with your break, know that there are plenty of options. With a whole two days off from classes, the world is essentially your oyster! Use it wisely.
