With the holidays quickly approaching, going home is all students can think about. But before leaving town for an extended period of time, we cannot neglect our home away from home at school. We want to come back to our dorms and apartments in the same condition that we left them in, which requires preparation on our part before we head off to break. In between packing and last hangouts with friends, take a moment to make sure your place is clean and ready to be empty. Returning to find ant infestations or valuables stolen will not be a good welcome back if you do not prepare.
For those traveling a long distance to get home, the last obstacle is the airport. Avoid a stressful flying experience by knowing flight procedures – from checking in to boarding and how to handle unpredictable circumstances. Choosing to be an informed traveler and being responsible for yourself and your luggage will ensure a smooth and safe trip to your destination.
At your apartment:
1. Take out the garbage – Empty out the garbage in all of your rooms, especially the kitchen where the trash can create an odor and attract unwanted pests
2. Clean out your kitchen – In the fridge or on the counter, any leftovers, milk, eggs, and food that will spoil during vacation should be eaten, taken home, or thrown out, or just like with the garbage you could have unexpected visitors. Plan the appropriate amount of grocery shopping accordingly up until the week you leave.
3. Hide or take valuables with you – While away for a week or almost a month, store belongings in a safe place in your room or take them with you. Do not risk leaving things out in the open unprotected.
4. Create a list of items to take home and bring back with you after break – Need a heavier sweater for the winter or extra batteries from your parents? Have too many sweaters or old batteries to recycle at home? Manage a list of items with one category for things to take back home to ease move out packing later, and another for things to take from home that you need back at school.
5. Create another list for things to do when you come back – Start fresh by listing what food and living essentials to buy and things check on in your apartment when you return to school. A list will help remind you about what to do in order to easily transition back into life away from home.
Going to the airport:
1. Follow check-in rules – Follow your airline and email instructions for checking in online or at the airport desk. Whether you printed it out or received it from the check in counter, keep your boarding pass with you at all times!
2. Prepare your ride to and from the airport – Do not be left stranded on the day of your flight! Ask an available friend with a car, call a taxi, or plan to take a shuttle ahead of time to get to the airport and picked up. If you are driving yourself, plan for the cost and parking in crowded long and short-term garages.
3. Check the status of your flight – Flight departure times are subject to changes throughout the day, so make sure that you have email or text alerts about delays and unexpected circumstances. Your ride to and from the airport should also be aware of changes because it could affect what time you leave and arrive back home.
4. Early is better – Airports during the holidays are busy and crowded. Stay on the safe side and arrive at the airport at least an hour and a half before the departure time on your itinerary. Leave yourself enough time to check in bags and print your boarding pass if necessary and get through the security line. In any case, frantically running to find your gate before the doors close is worse than the boredom of waiting to board.
5. Know the drill going through security – Be aware of the rules once you arrive in the airport security line. Have your boarding pass and your driver’s license or California ID in hand while waiting for the Transportation Security Administration officers to check. At the baggage check and body scanners, wear shoes and outer layers that are easy to take on and off. A plastic bag of your liquids, laptops, cellphones, and iPods should be in an accessible place in your bags to take out and put in its own tub on the conveyer belt.