I didn't open a book or my iPad. I didn't look at my calendar (for those of you who know me, you know how big of a deal this is for me) or think about anything school-related.
I actually did everything I wanted to do, and more.
I have chosen to write about my spring break experience for several reasons:
- It's my very last break in college so it is somewhat sentimental for me.
- I am inspired by how wonderful my break was.
- There are so many memories that I want to share.
- So I can look back at this one day and relish in the happiness.
My break started off with a nice weekend at home. It was my first weekend in five weeks being home. The weekends before I was going away for Shabbat with friends (while this is so much fun, I needed a break)! Every weekend I went away I was traveling at least an hour each way, so I really felt the need to stay home and relax with my family. The awesome thing was that everyone was home and the weather was perfect. Shabbat was super relaxing and I really appreciated not needing to think about the week up ahead.
Saturday night, as soon as Shabbat ended, I went up to Rutgers University to see a Russian comedian! I got to see two of my friends that I haven't seen in almost a year! The last time I saw them both was on my birthday, last April! We had been planning to meet up for the longest time but never got until now. After the comedian, I went over to my best friend's house on campus and got to see some more friends who I had not seen the week before- but who I still really missed and couldn't wait to hang out with! It was like a mini reunion and it made me really happy!!!
The next day, Sunday, I went over to the library and got to hang out with some more friends! It is always nice going back to Rutgers because I spent two wonderful years there. I really found myself there with these people, and whenever I am there it is as if nothing has changed. I sat in the computer lab for the first time since I had left the school (little things like that matter to me).
After spending most of the day on campus, I went over to my grandparents' home. They live near campus, so it was really convenient. I got to spend some time with them, which was really nice! I will soon be sharing their stories on my blog! I spent the evening with them talking about their lives in Russia and their immigration stories! I got the idea to write about them a while ago. I think it is important to share our history and to be aware of the struggles those before us had faced. It makes us stronger and more aware of where we are coming from. Then we had dinner and I stayed overnight. The next day I went back home to spend Monday-Wednesday with the family. I took it easy.
Thursday I went to a wedding in Brooklyn with my family. It was a lot of fun and nice to be in New York. I love New York! I feel like I belong there. That night I stayed in Manhattan and the next day chilled out with my sister and her boyfriend. Then I went over to Jersey City to meet up with my friend Rosalyn for yet another Shabbaton! We ended up rooming with two other girls, and all four of us hit it off really well! We had SO much fun together! We spent Shabbat with a bunch of really nice and interesting people. The view from Shabbat dinner (we were on the 11th floor of a building in Jersey City which is right across Manhattan) was incredible. We could see the Statue of Liberty and skyline from where we were. We stayed in a building that used to house Russian Jewish immigrants before resettling them in the city, which was very interesting because it's part of my history (well, sort of, since my parents and grandparents were Russian Jewish immigrants).
Saturday night we got to spend the night in an Airbnb for free! The apartment was so nice and in the perfect location- a 5-minute walk from the train to New York, and right by a bunch of bars and clubs. We went out in Jersey City Saturday night before coming back at around 2am. The next day we went into Manhattan! We got some breakfast before going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a private pre-Passover Tour.
There was a decent sized group of us, and we became friendly with the other people in the group- even planning another Shabbaton get-together! My sister came to meet up with me and we all went out for pizza together (even our tour guide)!
Afterward, we went into Brooklyn to meet up with some other people and got to see the best view of the city from the rooftop!!
After spending most of the day on campus, I went over to my grandparents' home. They live near campus, so it was really convenient. I got to spend some time with them, which was really nice! I will soon be sharing their stories on my blog! I spent the evening with them talking about their lives in Russia and their immigration stories! I got the idea to write about them a while ago. I think it is important to share our history and to be aware of the struggles those before us had faced. It makes us stronger and more aware of where we are coming from. Then we had dinner and I stayed overnight. The next day I went back home to spend Monday-Wednesday with the family. I took it easy.
Saturday night we got to spend the night in an Airbnb for free! The apartment was so nice and in the perfect location- a 5-minute walk from the train to New York, and right by a bunch of bars and clubs. We went out in Jersey City Saturday night before coming back at around 2am. The next day we went into Manhattan! We got some breakfast before going to the Metropolitan Museum of Art for a private pre-Passover Tour.
There was a decent sized group of us, and we became friendly with the other people in the group- even planning another Shabbaton get-together! My sister came to meet up with me and we all went out for pizza together (even our tour guide)!
Afterward, we went into Brooklyn to meet up with some other people and got to see the best view of the city from the rooftop!!