Travel

Growing up, I remember breaks being filled with visiting relatives, going to parties, and traveling abroad. However, nowadays, breaks seem to be nonexistent as they somehow still seem to be filled with school. Whether it's a class taken over the summer, an internship, or a personal academic project, I seem to never be able to catch a break these days. But even if I could, my idea of a dream vacation would be different.

As a child, Disney World was the ultimate vacation. I enjoyed the thrill of the rides, the Disney characters coming to life, the epic fireworks, and the overall magical ambiance of the park. However, now when I think about going to Disney World, all I can think about is how overcrowding the park is and the excruciatingly long lines to get on a three-minute ride. Consequently, a day at Disney now sounds like a day filled with quite a bit of suffering– not my idea of a vacation.

Therefore, as I look to take a vacation now, relaxation is the number one criteria on my list. And in place of the thrill that I used to seek in vacations, I now seek stimulating moments; learning about new cultures or traditions in what seems like a foreign land to me; trying out delicious recipes; and getting the opportunity to explore and wander without any deadlines or due dates looming over your head -- you can call it a reclamation of my time. And ultimately, that's why I sometimes find that traveling is not necessarily what I want to do during my breaks because it often comes with stress. Therefore, a week of catching up with my favorite TV shows while enjoying my favorite snacks is a break well spent in my eyes.

It is interesting how the definition of fun has changed over time for me. But ultimately, I have come to realize that growing up is simply the process of redefining the world around us.