By Maya Gambhir, Staff Writer
With school doors closing for winter break this past month, many students spent their time off traveling to be with family, going on adventures, and seeing new places. From tropical rainforests and beaches to frosty ski resorts, River Hill students found themselves across the globe for the holiday season.
With New Year’s Day falling on a Thursday this year, winter break spanned nearly two weeks, making it one of the best opportunities for students to take long-distance trips.
One senior, Siana Kabaria, says, “I went to India for two weeks and got to see some family I’ve never met before, which was really nice since I haven’t been in ten years.”
Her experience was two-sided, as she got to spend time travelling to see sights in the south of India and to see family in the north. She explained, “It was really cool to see two completely different communities from the view of a tourist and then from a day-to-day perspective,” referencing the difference in amenities and attitudes in different areas.
In the south of India, she says, “I stayed in super small villages and got to spend time with and connect with really nice people and work on my Gujarati speaking.”
The trip as a whole gave Kabaria a different perspective on her everyday life and family, which is something she says she will “always remember, and [I] can’t wait to travel back to India again.”
Another student, senior Mahi Patel, spent two weeks in Thailand with her family. She says, “I like travelling to further places during winter break because it’s really long, and instead of being home in the cold, I like going somewhere warm.”
The highlight of the trip for Patel, she says, “was snorkeling and seeing so many different animals like sea turtles and baby sharks.”
For many students who have older siblings returning home from college for the break, the most important part of winter break is spending time with family. Most university breaks tend to be much longer than River Hill’s, so the few weeks Hawks have off are the most opportunity they have to enjoy a stress-free family vacation.
Senior Emily Anderson shares, “I went to the Seven Springs ski resort in Pennsylvania for four days.” She went on the trip with her family, which included her older sister, who was home from college for the holidays.
When asked about the slopes, Anderson said, “The north face slope was especially fun on Tuesday because it was snowing, but I wish we had gone a little later in the season because they had only gotten one day of snow, so only 20/50 slopes were open, which made it hard to have a fully fun time.”
For some, snow is the only way to spend the holidays, making the most of the cozy and cold winter months. Anderson says, “My family usually goes skiing during break, but I wish we could go on a warm vacation.”
This year, Hawks certainly made the most of their few weeks of well-deserved rest from school and stress, spending time with family, enjoying new experiences, as well as embracing tradition. As students return to routine, they are refreshed, many with stories of travel to share with friends, and ready to take on the second semester.