デルタ紙（The Delta−大学新聞）、Vol.4, No.6、1999年3月10日付けより。中学生英語学力と辞書があれば読めると思いますが、分からない場合は、電子メールでお聞き下さい。大まかな内容を日本語で送ります。
Here come the long-awaited spring break, just one week away. Yes, spring break has been waiting for us.
For some who already have a full schedule for fun, or for others who have not decided yet what to do, there will always be something to do during break.
Family Gathering:
For some students, this one-week break brings opportunities to have time with their families and relax at home."My spring break is awkward this year," sophomore Darwin Avila said. He has plans to go back home to California. But before he heads for home, he is flying to east to see his mother.
Here's Avila's schedule: He is leaving on Friday by plane to Indiana to see his mother and will stay there two nights. Sunday morning Avila and his mother will set out on a 36-hour drive to California, and plan to arrive there Tuesday morning. Then, he will fly back from California the last day of spring break.
"I'm excited because I've not seen my family for three months. I'll go to Universal Studios, Santa Monica Beach and Disneyland with my family," Avila said. "And my girlfriend doesn't know that I'm coming home - I'll surprise my girl."
As he describes his schedule, his break is definitely "awkward." However, he will have a great time with his family and girlfriend.
Freshman Wilbur Simpson is looking to see his family and old friends in Florida. He plans on having a good time with his family and relatives the first couple of days.
Then, after relaxing, it's time to have fun. Simpson intends to go out with his friends and invite them "to have a little get together."
"Before I come back, my family and I are going to church. After church, we'll probably go out to eat," Simpson said. Then it's back to Missouri Valley for the rest of the semester.
For the future:
Unlike the other grades, senior students often turn the break into an advantage for their future.Keith Walls, an English major who is active in theatre, is heading for New Orleans with his friends. While his is there, he plans to make good use of the break and further his higher education. Since he is going to finish college at MVC in May and has already applied for a graduate school, he is going to audition for it.
Of course, Walls will have fun there with his friends for the rest of the time.
Working or fun:
It is one of the toughest things - to have work while most of the students are gone for fun."How much fun I'll have will hinge on the weather," freshman Paul Stolberg said. "My work will give me the week off. If my work doesn't, I fear that my break will be mundane at best."
However, he is planning to go to Lake Havasu, Ariz., with his roommate in anticipation of his boss' kindness. He went there last year and had "the time of my life."
There he will meet his friends from home and will be found swimming and travelling.
After he has the time of his life, he and his roommate will come back to "the cold, and hardships of work and school."
"But we'll have the memories of our break to get us through the year," Stolberg said.
Although his plan is perfect, it is still up in the air whether he will have to work or have fun.
Build relationships:
It is said that travel with friends often brings you a deeper relationship than in everyday life.Ande Johnson is heading off with his friends to a lake called Clearwater, approximately 120 miles south of St. Louis.
"It's an all-around fun place to go if you're looking to fish, jet ski or ski." Johnson said. "For me, spring is a time to get away from everything."
Steve Wilmoth and four of his friends are going to rent a car and drive to Texas. Unbelievably, they have saved around $2000 for their plan.
"The year is almost over, and stress hit us after the first eight weeks of last semester," Wilmoth said. "I think that it will do us some good to let loose and something fun."
We have been under such pressure from our classes that we really need time to refresh. Spring break will energize us to prepare for the second eight weeks.
Personally, I will meet one of my sisters in Finland. It will be nice to have the opportunity to see her and her husband and travel the area.
Travel safely and have fun!
