It’s crazy how fast time flies. It feels like the semester only just started up again, but Spring Break is in exactly one week. Regardless of what your plans are, be they really awesome — Caribbean, Europe, nude beach, etc. — or really sad — staying here — I’m sure we’re all excited for a week of rest, relaxation and time off from school.

But just in case you really need a ‘Cuse fix while you’re on vacation, and because I love compiling lists, I have helpfully made a list of Syracuse-related things to ponder while on Spring Break:

1. After Spring Break, there are only 43 days of drinking left. (That’s not counting Mondays because Mondays are depressing.) Fun fact: If you get blackout drunk about 25 percent of the time you drink, then you will find there’s really only 10 more times you can black out this semester.

2. If you are a senior, consider the fact that after Spring Break, your future is shortly upon you. Chances are it’s probably looking pretty grim. But on the bright side, being unemployed and living at home does give you ample opportunity to catch up on the past four years of parental bonding.

3. Snow. Just thought I’d throw it in there for good measure. Who doesn’t love those white droplets of happiness eternally falling from the sky? You know you’ll miss it while you’re stuck somewhere warm and sunny.

4. MayFest! Even though it doesn’t really exist anymore, its watered-down replacement is something to look forward to.

5. If you are a freshman, try not to die on Spring Break. But also consider the fact that all those cradle-robbing seniors you lust after are graduating soon, so now is the time to throw your dignity to the winds and make a move.

6. Going back to the snow. In 1996, it snowed on graduation. Talk about the most unique and special graduation experience ever! If only we could get so lucky…

7. If you are a junior, why in the world aren’t you? (Haha, get it, ‘in the world’?) But seriously, if you were embarking on Spring Break in Europe right now, you could be kicking it in Cannes with a couple of celebs. But I’m sure your planned road trip to differentiate between the two Dakotas will be just as fun.

8. If you are a sophomore, I really don’t have any specific advice for you. Have I mentioned the snow yet?

But don’t think about any of this too intensely. Try not to think at all if you can help it. Try to get lucky on St. Patrick’s Day. Try to find a pot of gold. Try to imagine your real-life self is a lot more like your vacationing self, and you’ll feel a lot better about the multitudes of unfixable problems waiting for you immediately upon your return.

Enjoy Spring Break, my loves.

Marina Charny is a senior English and textual studies and writing major. Her column appears every Monday. She can be reached at mcharny@syr.edu.

Published on March 5, 2011 at 12:00 pm