The eight-week stretch between Fall Break and the start of Christmas break may just be the longest eight weeks of a Notre Dame student’s life… which creates a campus-wide, undeniably ecstatic attitude towards the gracious five-day break we have to celebrate Thanksgiving. The issue with this indeed fantastic break is the fact that it is just a mere five days. For students from faraway lands, like Spain or California (my home state – which is great), Thanksgiving causes undue anxiety in the numerous decisions regarding where to go, and the most important question: is it worth it to go home?
With Thanksgiving break only a few days away, this makes the second year in which I have faced those tough questions and decisions. Last year, I chose to spend Thanksgiving in Wisconsin at one of my dear friends, Allison Doermann’s, house with another friend. This year, I am traveling to Alabama (roll tide!) with my absolute best friend, Meghan Till (Campus Celeb circa July 2014, Campus Cutie circa September 2014 – yeah, she’s a catch), and it looks like I might spend Thanksgiving with another one of my friends, Audrey Rose, next year!
Through my extensive traveling knowledge, I have concluded that it is more beneficial to stay (relatively) close to campus for this break. So, here are the five best pros to celebrating Thanksgiving with a friend whose home is (relatively) close to campus.
What’s a HerCampus ND post without a game day pic? Meghan, Allison, me, and Audrey – me and my traveling pals
More time!
Bus to Chicago, wait in airport, fly to Phoenix, wait in airport, fly to Sacramento, wait in airport, drive two hours to my countryside hometown nestled in the mountains of extreme Northern California. I take this typical 10-hour journey when I travel home.
Sure, my case may just be slightly extravagant, but the time it takes to go to California versus staying east of the Midwest is extravagant as well! The time you save by spending Thanksgiving near ND is worth so much, especially when our break is only five days. That’s only 120 hours, and traveling to and fro California takes up nearly 17% of that time!
New food!
I love cheese – almost as I love ranch, which is too much. My time in Wisconsin was spent consuming the absolute best cheese I have ever had, in various forms. In addition, I had one of the most unique, and tasty, Thanksgiving Day meals, along with the most phenomenal coffee I have ever tasted.
Home in CA, I would have indulged in my mother’s amazing Arkansas fried chicken, my father’s phenomenal Irish potatoes, my brother’s mouth-watering alfredo fettuccine, along with our usual Thanksgiving Day meal … all typical dishes in the McDonald household. I would not have branched out, not even in the slightest.
Spending a holiday in a new city, let alone a new state, forces you to try new food, and celebrate different food traditions. Whoever said that was a bad thing?!
Feeding my coffee addiction, one cup at a time
New experiences!
In Wisconsin, I saw my first hockey game. In California, hockey is most definitely not a thing (thank you, sunshine). Allison and her family even went as far as to explain the game to me! In addition, it was the first time I ever experienced walking/driving/living in two feet of snow. However, not only did I experience typical Wisconsinite things, I also was able to experience a Thanksgiving Day meal with a family… and their family… and their family!
At home, it’s just my immediate family, with the girlfriends of my brothers. This was not necessarily a Wisconsin thing, but spending a Holiday with a different family opened my eyes to how different families do things different ways. To prove my enlightenment even further, next week in Alabama, I hear Thanksgiving Day lunch is the most important meal of the day, and it is spent with extended family as well. New experiences all around!
Me, trying to understand the concept of ‘snow’
Lasting bonds!
Not only am I on texting terms with members of both Allison’s and Meghan’s family, but I feel accepted into both of their families as if I was actually a member myself. Being able to be a part of someone else’s family is a big deal, a precious and remarkable big deal.
However, your friend’s family is not the only bond you will form: being able to spend time outside of the Notre Dame Bubble with friends made within the Bubble leads to one of the best friendships there is in the world. Kind of like what Lou Holtz once said regarding ND, those who know the friendship, no explanation is necessary. Those who don’t, no explanation will suffice.
Lou Holtz’s famous quote. So true.
The memories!
Yes, you will indeed make memories if you travel back home. However, the memories you make with fellow ND students will make up some of the most significant memories of your life. The thing about ND friends is, sure, you will be friends forever, but you will only live on the same 1,250 acres of land with them for four years.
When will you have the same five days off in post-undergrad life to take a Thanksgiving trip together? In addition, I am not sure about y’all, but once I graduate, I will never miss a Thanksgiving with my family. That brings up another point: it makes the time with your family sweeter for the next time you visit. My mom and I are legitimately the same person, and sometimes if we spend too much time with one another, it is an actual terrible, terrible thing.
Don’t get me wrong, Lady Domers. I love my family. You can ask anyone – the love I have for my family is indescribable and I miss them every single day. However, I do believe that it is important to get the most out of your college years, which means taking advantage of your time to make memories, experience new things, and branch out of your comfort zone. Thanksgiving Break is the perfect place to start!
Remember, it’s nice to be nice!
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Images provided by author