Grapes were important, or so it would seem; important enough to change the way people lived. In the 11th century William the Conqueror ordered time off to harvest this fruit. Eventually the law courts made summer the period when no cases were heard. Universities followed and wealthy families took advantage by spending time in second homes or country estates, thus leaving the principal residence vacant. To vacate became the term in the US when wealthy New Yorkers -the ones with depression-causing quantities of money- left the city in the summer to visit the Adirondacks. Irregardless of whether people could partake, having the Vanderbilts, Carnegies, and Rockfellers do something made it fashionable which is why today people in the US 'vacation' while the rest of the English-speaking world 'holidays'. You know you're influential when your lifestyle alters the way people speak. For more normal family economies, Puritan work ethic saw idle time as space for vice. There was particular fear of adultery and this meant, according to Cindy Aron's book Working at Play, the development of the first campgrounds and resorts with spiritual ends, prohibitions on alcohol, and activity-filled days. Ironically it was exactly the idle-wary lifestyle that produced the wealth which enabled people to have time for idleness.
This is, of course, a summer story and we're not quite there yet. Over the centuries university life has developed rhythms of increasing and relaxing crescendos of tension. Spring break is meant to be a moment to pause and relocate focus after one stressful period and right before the build towards the next. As the story above suggests, this was a privilege. The fact that only a quarter of the US population earns a Bachelor's Degree means spring breaking continues to be a luxury. Despite the marketing that has created a reputation as a time for party, many students use the time to work extra hours in their job(s); a symptom of higher education and its vacations continuing to be territory for the fortunate.
Whatever the plans, it is important not to underestimate the need to unplug. With this I do not mean the technology vacations that have become popular, but instead the idea of not thinking about school for a short period. It is important. Work has accumulated and many students make the mistake of leaving things for vacation. Experience suggests that few of them will meet the demands of the to-do list. This is terrible because it means re-starting classes with a feeling of having failed; not a productive mindset for the semester's most difficult period. Be realistic. Now, vacate.
This is, of course, a summer story and we're not quite there yet. Over the centuries university life has developed rhythms of increasing and relaxing crescendos of tension. Spring break is meant to be a moment to pause and relocate focus after one stressful period and right before the build towards the next. As the story above suggests, this was a privilege. The fact that only a quarter of the US population earns a Bachelor's Degree means spring breaking continues to be a luxury. Despite the marketing that has created a reputation as a time for party, many students use the time to work extra hours in their job(s); a symptom of higher education and its vacations continuing to be territory for the fortunate.
Whatever the plans, it is important not to underestimate the need to unplug. With this I do not mean the technology vacations that have become popular, but instead the idea of not thinking about school for a short period. It is important. Work has accumulated and many students make the mistake of leaving things for vacation. Experience suggests that few of them will meet the demands of the to-do list. This is terrible because it means re-starting classes with a feeling of having failed; not a productive mindset for the semester's most difficult period. Be realistic. Now, vacate.
