Thanksgiving break. We’ve all been anticipating it, especially us out-of-state students who rarely get to take the trip home. Free laundry services, home-cooked meals, family time and seeing everyone from high school. Some may consider it the dream lineup. But, with the government shutdown cancelling flights, the hopes of that dream are beginning to fade away…
There isn’t a whole lot to do other than to try and look at the positive side, make the best of the situation and crack some whole-hearted jokes along the way.
Stuck In State College
As people begin to roll out, the streets will get emptier, and dare we say colder. We don’t have many options for dinner guests, so get well acquainted with the fellow out-of-staters you find roaming the streets. It’s looking like they are your family this holiday season. Some may say this is the “thanks for nothing” year of Thanksgivings, but with a positive mindset and a quickly-thrown-together Thanksgiving feast, we will survive. I mean, hey, at least we’re stuck together.
The Lineup
Since this is probably your first Thanksgiving away from home, let’s get the perfect Thanksgiving spread going. Pick up a rotisserie chicken from Target, a pumpkin pie from Sheetz and put on the Gossip Girl Thanksgiving episodes to reminisce what Thanksgiving could have looked like. Nothing beats the holiday blues like a nice warm glass of cider. Catch up on any missing assignments or studying that have been put on hold with all the extra time you have on your hands — your future self will thank you even if your current self isn’t.
The Silver Lining
This Thanksgiving, we are being put to the test. This time can be a good way to think about what you are seriously grateful for. Be grateful to have a home and family that you will miss going to see. And hey, State College Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be as bad as it may sound. No flight means some extra money back into your bank account, no travel day stress or horror stories and time to hang out with yourself. Try taking yourself on a date this Thanksgiving!
Hope For Better Days
At the end of the day, all we can hope for is to try again during winter break. The government may have won this round, but we will get ’em during the Christmas holidays …
How are you going to spend your State College Thanksgiving? Let us know on Instagram @VALLEYmag!
