What to Expect When Going Home vs. What Will Actually Happen When You Go Home

What to expect when going home for winter break vs reality

Congratulations! The end of the semester is finally upon us. Before we know it we will be able to relax and not check blackboard for a couple of weeks. I know we all have the ideal winter break mapped out in our heads, but there is a harsh reality that comes with five weeks of freedom. Slowly but surely our inner sloth will come out. It is only a matter of when. Here is what you expect will happen when going home for break versus what will actually happen when you go home for break.

Reuniting with high school friends

Expectation:

You’ll reunite with your entire high school class while reminiscing on all the good times you had so many years ago. Nothing is awkward; everyone still gets along like the good ‘ole days. You go out almost every night to a different friend’s house, and everyone’s alcohol tolerance has gone through the roof.

Reality:

You actually get along with about two people from high school. You don’t want to spend every waking minute with them, so your social calendar is pretty open. An ideal Friday night would include binge watching old Saturday Night Live episodes and baking Instagram worthy cookies. Your alcohol tolerance decreases tenfold by the time you come back to school.

Eating healthy

Expectation:

Finals week tore apart my body; my diet consisted of Zeke’s coffee and my own tears. Like most people, I plan on spending winter break eating right and working out as much as possible. The absence of DHOP and dining hall food will do my body some good.

Reality:

Wow, it’s great to have a stocked fridge again. Between the first week back and the end of December, a bikini ready body will not be a high priority. There will always be an excuse not to work out, and to eat more baked goods. If your grandmother hands you a piece of homemade apple pie can you really say no? By the time January comes around, you’ll realize that these sweatpants are the only thing that fits you right now, and you’ll start to get your health back on track.

Getting along with your family

Expectations:

Actually getting along with your parents and siblings. You would never admit this to them, but you actually did miss your dad’s cheesy jokes and your mom’s uncanny ability to know when something’s wrong. You realize how awful you were to them in high school, and you try hard to make it up to them.

Reality:

There is no argument quite like the one where your parents try to tell you to be home at a certain hour and you respond with “I’m twenty years old I can do what I want to.” Sadly, “I can do what I want to” only works for Miley Cyrus. Your family will drag you to family Christmas parties, and you’ll spend the entire time playing QuizUp on your phone. While it is nice to see your family, like most things it’s fine in moderation.

Saving Money

Expectation:

Working all the time over break, and saving as much money as I can so I have some spending money for when I get back to school. It’s really not that hard, what else would I be doing if I wasn’t working?

Reality:

You forget how amazing it was to not have a job, and to manage your time how you wanted to. While the money is helpful, you end up going to Target and spending an entire paycheck on bathing suits because you were “treating yourself.”

There it is; my list for what I expect to happen when I go home. We can hope and pray that things will be different come this winter break, but I know myself pretty well and I can say that these realities are pretty accurate. Don’t be ashamed, we all need some time off to get our lives back together after this semester.

• winter break