| Summary: | January 26,2001 www.cord.edu/dept/concord OPINION 9 Make Minnesota your 'hot spot' for Spring Break 'Minnesota has many intriguing options to partake in during our mid-sem' Springbreak will be here in a lit- spot where the gigantic Paul, seated in his lumbered tie over a month. It is during this throne, greets visitors with his usual, "Well hello, time that a large portion of the col- (insert name here) of (insert hometown here)! It's sure lege population migrates to warmer nice to see you, yah sure ya betcha!" Though the park climates and relaxing atmospheres, is unfortunately closed for the season, locked gates and In fact, maybe you've _ _ _ _ ^ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ city authorities have never kept you already been hearing j ]JKP]V nnfjnrj j* *n ^TOm sasquatch-sized Paul and his fellow Cobbers plan- ^ ^ trusty blue ox before, have they? ning their sunny get- burrOW yourselfinto Although, at the risk of gaining a mis-a- ways for their springtime festivities. a couch for Q week demeanor charge, one might rather fall But, what about the few of us who aren't !—u ~ *u~ ~——»« ^*A~™ «„•;„; traveling with the Habitat for Humanity group or simply don't have the means (money, money, money) to take a vaca-tion? Have no fear! Minnesota has many intriguing options to partake in during our mid-sem break. of MTV's Springbreak. back on the numerous outdoor activi-ties Minnesota has to offer. Throughout this beautiful state are opportunities to ski, snowmobile, ice fish, skate, etc, which are all activities that are excellent for one's health and state of mind After all, nothing is more invigoration In fact, with only a few stops at Pump 'N' Munch, than Minnesota's brisk winter air and gentle snow flur-you could travel to Brainerd and experience one ele- ries. Then again, without notoriously frigid weather, ment that gives Minnesota legendary fame. (That's one may find that, while our frolicking in their snow-right, the site of the hallowed Paul Bunyan.) It is in this shoes, nostrils shut and that their toes have transformed into numb little blocks of flesh. In the case of the frozen limb, a likely option is to burrow yourself into a couch for a week of MTV's Springbreak. After all, what girl can resist the tanned, bare chested men busting their moves? (Of course there's always the alternative: rounding up a bunch of pale, big-bellied friends and ask them to shake their thang to the "Thong Song." However, if a week of Carson Daly is just too much to handle, this may not be a viable option. So, on the other hand, I suggest getting yourself a fake bake, cranking the heat up while eating some pineapple and attaching some seashells to your ears for an audio effect. But then, my friend, I advise you to start saving money. Because next year, when the Brainerd police drag you from beloved Paul once again or the thought of your buddies' fleshy bodies' bouncin' to "That thong-tha-thong-thong-thong" doesn't sound too bad, Cozumel will be calling. Ordinary American customs are a pleasant surprise 'It amazes me how much we change after coming to live in the US' I've been at Concordia for almost three years, and in the United States for almost four. Yet, I am still sometimes amazed how much I change from day to day. I'm also amazed how much tolerance I have for behavior that is not customary in Europe. I am talking about American friendliness. Every day, as I am walking across the campus to class, work or a meeting-many people pass me by. Nothing new, right? There would be nothing unusual about it if it wasn't for the fact, that most of those people are totally unknown to me. Yet, still they yell, "Hi Aleks," from the top of their lungs. Don't get me wrong. I love being a public figure; although it does make me feel a little guilty since I do not know those people. What amazes me is that back home, in Europe, people are not that friendly and willing to help people that they bare-ly know. It also, amazes me, how much I've changed since I left the good Old Continent. I used to be such a . nice, and timid person. And now? There are not a many people who can beat me on the decibels scale. When I first came to America and someone would yell "Hi" to me, I didn't just think that this person was just weird, but I would also immediately want to enroll them in the mental institution. And I would also think. "Why on in. Quite amazing, isn't it? And I am not Earth are you telling everybody my saying those are extremely painful adjust-name!" Now everybody will know it! ments either. I am just saying, that What will I do? It amazes me,that over this time I have been living in the US, not only have I gotten used to my name being publicly known, I have also start-ed talking to some people that I barely know on the first name basis. It amazes me how much we change after coming to live in the US. It is also inter-esting how much we have to learn com-ing to the US, in order to feel like we fit ".I would also immediately want to enroll them in the mental institu-tion, " nobody ever told me about it. I'd learned — ^ — many things about American culture before coming here, but no one ever told me about the "hi" rule. - Forego fashion and listen to Mom. 'Wear a coat' Perhaps in your s e m e s t e r break trav-els, you were privileged enough to experience the unfortu-nate holiday weather. Snow, wind, negative temperatures and even colder wind chills graced much of the north, while we tried to get home without sliding into the ditch. Maybe this comes as a surprise-after all, the past few winters have been rela-tively mild. But let's not forget just what winter is. Winter is cold. Cold is dangerous. Combat cold. Put some clothes on. This isn't just a rant against the styles of the day, although it could easily become that. For some rea-son, highly educated college stu-dents are walking across out tundra of a campus wearing little to noth-ing, at least by 40 below standards. And not just no hat, scarf or mit-tens like your mom would like—no coat, no pants, no long sleeves, no shoes. Why? It seems pretty logical. When weather is cold, you need to put something on. True, cold weather does not directly result in disease, as studies have shown. However, cold weather does result in frost-bite, windburn, drop in body tem-perature and susceptibility to ill-ness. By covering yourself when you go out and remaining at least mostly covered indoors, you can easily prevent this. Forget fashion or convenience—it's just smart. Your mother's not here right now, probably, so she can't check you before you go outside. And perhaps that's liberating for you— no authority figure to tell you to put a hat on, young man. And maybe a coat will wrinkle your dress or a hat will muss your hair. Sure. Those seem like good rea-sons if you're completely misguid-ed as to the result clothing has on your constant shivering. Or have we forgotten what a real winter is like? Have El Nino and La Nina sheltered us too long? Maybe last year, when there was less snow in December than there was in April, you could walk around in January in your sandals. Not today. It's cold; Or maybe you just don't know how cold it is? There are free papers in the dorms. Hardly any-one is without internet access. Most of us either have cable at home or in the dorm lounges. You don't exactly have an excuse. It may take you five minutes to check, but it'll likely be worth it when your fingers don't turn into icicles. Or maybe you like being stub-born? Maybe you think you can outlast winter. Well, sorry dear friend. If the past snowfalls have been any indication, winter's tough and it's here to stay. After all, winter's been around a lot longer than you have. Show it some respect. Put on a coat. Got a beef? Maybe you're a vegetarian. We're not picky. 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