How to Have the BEST FALL BREAK EVER

For a lot of you college kids out there, fall break is either just around the corner or already in your face. By now your plans are probably set in stone, and I know a lot of students go home or visit family over break. Unfortunately, leaving the rejects (sorry rejects) to sit around on campus in a social haze, not knowing which of their friends are around and effectively stranding them in isolation for the weekend. Add to this the fact that there won’t be much going on on-campus, and some campuses (mine) even stop serving food.

So if you’re bored, lonely, and looking for something better to do than reading blogs on the internet, here are a few suggestions to make your fall break the best one ever.

1.  Find out which of your friends, and not friends, are available.

See who you have to work with. Check with your friends to see if they’ll be around, and even check with people you’re not so close to. It can be a pretty easy conversation starter for that cute boy (or girl) in your math class. And if you find someone who’ll be around, tell them you’re planning a little get-together for the people left behind (because that’s what you’ll be doing, as per suggestions #4 and #5). Let them know they’re free to stop by, and if they seem interested go ahead and get their phone number. If they don’t seem interested screw them, and when class resumes go sit next to the second cutest boy in class.

2. Get ahead in school work.

Ok, I know this is the last thing you want to be doing during break, but try dedicating even a few hours each day to some school work. Let’s be serious, all your friends who went away will probably be doing the same thing, albeit from a different location. You can finally try out those prize library study locations that are always crowded. And if you get your work done now, you’ll have more time to slack off when people are around. Besides, this is just during the day while everyone else is either still sleeping or logging on to Facebook for the fifth time. Once it gets towards afternoon…

3. Round up people for outdoor funness.

To do this right it’ll take a bit of work. If you want to go the easy route, you can simply find a Frisbee, find the friends you know are around and proceed to enjoy a nice day out on the quad. However, to make this the best Fall Break ever you’re going to have to get more than just your friends. Ask people you see around the dorm, tell them you’re playing Frisbee (or your activity of choosing) later on at X time and to bring some friends. Then, before you go out to play, prepare a sign. It doesn’t have to be fancy; it can be simple. As long as it says something along the lines of ‘JOIN US’ in big lettering. College kids are an adventurous sort, and you’d be surprised how many people would love to play Frisbee with strangers if they only knew that their intrusion would not only be tolerated, but welcome. Stand your sign up against a backpack, and after a nice afternoon out on the quad and after you’ve taken your shower…

4. Potluck!

Ideally you would have been planning for this a couple days beforehand. This is the event you’re inviting your econ class crush to. Gather up the friends you know will be around and tell them it’s going down at your place, and to bring food. If there’s no room in your room, use the common room. To make things easier make a list of what everyone’s bringing. For people who can’t find anything, tell them to swing by early and have them help you prepare your special-secret-recipe-passed-down-your-family-for-years main dish. If you don’t have a secret recipe, I left a fairly easy one at the bottom.

5. Bad movie night

After dinner is over head to your school library. Most libraries rent out DVDs to students. Pick out the absolute worst movie you can find (I vote Titanic 2) and invite some friends (and all the random people you’ve managed to meet throughout your action-packed day because you followed my advice to the letter) to watch it with you. See if your college has a large media room somewhere, or find an empty common room. Popcorn and drinks are optional, as by now you’ve probably shelled out a pretty penny over the course of the weekend (less than your friends who bought a ticket home for break).

As the movie starts and you settle back into your seat while subtly wrapping your arm around the lucky girl or guy you’ve been trying to impress all weekend, you can reflect on how awesome your fall break was. You can also say thanks to the one who made it all happen by commenting on their blog and letting them know how great it was, and maybe coming back every once in a while :)

DiCG

 

How to make Taco Soup:

1.  Gather cans of red beans, black beans, corn and diced tomatoes, as well as a pack of chili powder and a pack of powdered ranch. How much depends on how many people; two of all the cans and one of both the powders can feed around 7 or 8 people.
   
2.  Empty all ingredients into a large pot. Stir.
   
3.  Heat on high without cover until boiling, then put the lid on and let it simmer for 30 minutes at a low temperature.
   
4. Serve over rice, on bread, or even in taco rolls.