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Congratulations, everyone. We have officially made it to the final week before Thanksgiving Break.
Nights have been wild, tests have been studied for and procrastination has ensued. The countdown is in the single digits now. We’re tired, burned out and ready for the reprieve from work.
This Thanksgiving create some new traditions with your new friends if you cannot make it home for the holiday. (CU Independent Illustration/Josh Shettler)
In high school, Thanksgiving was all about spending time at home and being with the family. But college changes things a little bit. Some students end up staying here on campus or somewhere else entirely over the Thanksgiving holidays. This can be slightly discombobulating and a little sad for some people.
The question becomes: How do you make Thanksgiving special when you aren’t in your hometown or with your family?
The answer: You improvise.
Sometimes not going home can be a blessing. The concept of “home” changes for many when they go away to college. Of course, where we come from will always be important to us because we reside there on a deep, personal level.
For about eight months out of the year, however, Boulder is our home. This is where we sleep, where our friends are, where we learn and where we grow. If you happen to be staying here over break, take the time to become intimately acquainted with Boulder. I know I’m always advocating exploration, but seriously – now is the time to really do it.
You’ve got a week – learn the town backwards and forwards. Find awesome coffee shops. Make it a point to get lost on the bus. Take advantage of some serious alone time. If your roommate is gone, savor nights where you can go to bed as late or as early as you like. Seek out other people that might be on campus over break. Make new friends with people in your hall. A Thanksgiving in a new place means opportunities you would never expect. So go for it!
The highlight of Thanksgiving, really, is the actual event. The turkey, your mom’s mashed potatoes, being with your family – it’s all very warm and sentimental. But just because you aren’t with your family does not mean Thanksgiving can’t have the same connotations. Start making your own traditions, like baking cupcakes or watching a favorite movie. If you’re lucky enough to have access to a kitchen, then start cooking.
Enlist the help of some of your new found friends to go grocery shopping and start preparing your own feast. Or find a nice restaurant and go out to dinner – lots of places, like Boulder Cork, do Thanksgiving dinners (which often include discounts or deal meals). Invite as many people as you can find, and have an “Orphan Thanksgiving” – you’ll get some serious bonding time in with people you never could have met otherwise. Plus, you’re truly celebrating the meaning of the holiday – sharing with and loving one another.
If you are on campus or at a friend’s house for Thanksgiving, make sure to call everyone you love on Nov. 24. They’ll appreciate it. Plus, it’ll be nice to connect with the people who matter – your old friends, your parents, grandparents and neighbors back home. Don’t forget the new friends you’ve made in Boulder. If you’re scattered all over the country, make sure you hit them up and find out how their break is going.
Thanksgiving is a time for family and friends. It is a time of self-reflection as well. Think about the amazing opportunities we’re getting as college students. Not only are we getting a top-rate education from some of the most qualified people in the country, but we’re doing it in one of the most beautiful places on earth, surrounded by amazing people.
Now that’s something to be grateful for.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Hannah Morrison at Hamo7004@colorado.edu.
