Behrend on
Blowing Rocks Preserve
Break trip
The Alternative Spring Break trip took place at Blowing Rocks Preserve, a Nature Conservancy. Blowing Rocks is a 73 acre preserve dedicated
to restoring its natural coastal habitat and helping to rescue endangered sea turtles if they become stranded on shore.
Throughout the week Spring Breakers and the trip leader, Jan Caffie, worked on a variety of projects including designing and building a stone
patio, putting trail log boarders and fences in place, and trimming trees along the preserve's entrance. Behrend students also worked on picking up trash
along the shore line and mulching the new nature trail that is going to be used for educational purposes and enjoyment. Jessica Dißacco 04/Psychology,
who was a participant on the trip, said "some might say that the work might be comparable to that of a chain gang but, it was fulfilling and worthwhile."
Penn State students ended their volunteer day at the Preserve around 2 p.m. which left time for the Spring Break crew to soak in the sun at the
private beach on the preserve and plan what they were going to do during the evening. Heather Greene 04/ Marketing said "going to the beach gave
everyone a chance to unwind from the day while lounging and swimming on the clear blue Florida coast." Some of their plans included cooking out at
the campground, going out to eat, or having a night out on the town. Evening highlights included a trip to a street party at West Palm Beach, an all-you
can-eat Italian buffet for $2.99, and a cookout at Bruce's house, the King of Maintenance at Blowing Rocks Preserve. Suzie Klinger 04/Business
Economics felt " the night life was kicking from dancing on the street to exquisite gourmet dining including smores, franks, and Spaghetti O's."
Other noted events that went on throughout the week included a field trip to a Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility. Also, another trip was taken to
a natural wetland where Penn Staters were able to sight some baby alligators. Caffie, who is the director of educational equity programs at Behrend, said
"the Alternative Spring Break trip is not only beneficial for students but faculty as well. It's a fantastic experience that allowed me to see students'
dedication to service and get close to them outside of the classroom. Everyone should take the opportunity to participate in Alternative Break trips." If
you would like to be a part of Behrend's exciting Alternative Break experiences, please contact Shawna Polasky in the Office of Student Activities.
Skiing in Norway... Maine that is
When one is looking for a spring break trip, two things come to mind: it has to be cheap, and it has to be fun. At least, that's my take on
things; not everybody can afford to go to the Bahamas or even Florida for Spring Break. But it seemed I was the only one to really hit the
slopes up north, because someone told me it was a strange choice to fly to cold weather during Spring Break. Only the die-hard skiers go
north or west for some real skiing, but if any of the Behrend students cared to read "Me vs. Sunday River" last week, you'll know that I was
a die-hard skier gone badly.
With luck, my aunt and uncle lived in Norway, Maine (which is about an hour from Portland). Since it's been awhile from the last time
I went to Maine, my aunt and uncle sent my boyfriend and I two tickets to fly up during Spring Break. Not only did I have a good excuse
to escape the house during Spring Break, but I was also going to spend it with my boyfriend and some of my family I rarely see.
The view from my aunt and uncle's home is spectacular it's on top of a hill that overlooks a huge backyard and a lake in the distance.
This backdrop is blue sky and mountains tons of mountains. The home they live in is made of all cedar; the large, triangular window that
nap* up one wall of the house provided the excellent view. Except for a wasp and ladybug problem (it's still a new home with some
problems to work out), it was a couple's dream home.
' , There's something you need to understand about my aunt and uncle: when you go there, plan on another vacation from your vacation.
'le lt*T"is so much to do in Maine (for real!) and they've found it all. As a couple with no kids (yet), we got the creme de la creme of Maine
144:Late nights, early mornings to get the most out of each day...but by Monday of my vacation, I was ready to take an all-day nap from
aU the stuff we crammed into the weekend.
;Tie early mornings aren't anyone's fault, though -- they own a cockatoo named Conway who woke us up at 7 a.m. each morning. Easy
6r-him, because Conway's bedtime was around 8 p.m. the previous evening. And each morning, he would squawk loudly until my aunt
finally got up and took him out of his cage to give him a piece of cheese yes, a cockatoo that loves cheese. And he can say plenty of
phrases, too "Hello baby" and "Peek-a-boo" and "Becky" and "Papa" and "Ah-ah" (that actually means Mama, because he can't say M's
ilgry well.) He can say "apple", too, but he only says that when he's mad at someone my aunt thinks he learned this inappropriate phrase
*Jim his previous owners.
; They also own two long-haired guinea pigs (named Oreo and Peanut) and have a makeshift aviary for my aunt's twenty-something
*urning doves, until my uncle can build a real aviary for the birds underneath their porch. The mourning doves start singing around 7
00., too, and the guinea pigs would start running around in their cages when they heard the doves.
go, our days mostly started at 7 or 8 a.m., depending if it was cloudy and, during this particular week, the average weather was 55
degrees and sunny.
• We'd usually decide what we were doing during breakfast, and we squished plenty into the eighteen hours we were out of the house
there was skiing fiascoes every other day (at least, in my case) and plenty of eating out. I will tell you this right now: if you want to eat
good food, forget the Olive Garden. Maine's restaurants leave Erie's restaurants in the dust everything is fresh (as in, picked or caught
just that day) and the coffee shops are delicious. Downtown Portland is buzzing with people of all ages (mostly college students) and
unlike State Street in Erie, there is next to no crime in Portland.
So, we got the five-star treatment at any of the restaurants we went to. There was one restaurant on a boat that sets out into the ocean for
the ultimate dining experience on the water; lobster dinners available right and left at any food shop you went to; and, best of all, Maine
boasts a five-star restaurant. The White Barn Inn is ranked up there with the best of the French and Italian restaurants overseas along
with the prices. A dinner for two is close to $l5O-$2OO. Needless to say, the only way we experienced the White Barn Inn was from a
distance.
Even though we flew to Maine, my uncle took us all flying in a little
else; we went over all the major skiing resorts and saw the
Washington. The top of Mt. Washington disappeared into
place it snowed all week. That day, it was extremely
thankful for our steel stomachs. If you get nervous
imagine an itty-bitty four sea(
nothing under you. Very fun.
That was my trip. We did
warm up the house, and
vigil:There) but those are just
Ivitatie, though, make sure yoi
reaporants. Even the Subway
Alternative Spring Break
Wake Up Call, 6 a.m. on a Monday. Nine Behrend students unzip their tents on a warm Florida morning during the Behrend Alternative Spring
Why I Went North for Spring Break
by Becky Weindorf
by Sarah Edwards
four-seater Cessna. That was something
highest mountain in New England, Mt.
the clouds, and usually, that was the only
boyfriend and I were
ige, safe 747 Boeing,
a roller coaster with
fires every night to
istures the last night we
you want to visit
the slopes and the
in Maine is better
Panama
CIS
People continue to ask me where I went for
my albino pigmented skin actually took i
Panama City, Florida. Yet, this is one
I have retained my journey. Spring B
4, what I can remember, every morning, m
to wake up around noon, and stumble
healthy breakfast of beer or alcohol, we would .
Treat people who would chase you down all week long
this point in my life I don't ever want to see a Rice Krispi
onto the beach at midday, we would either A.) pass out B.
watch wet T-shirt contests at La Vela, or D.) attempt to Pla
much of what was done during the day was blurry, but I
usually consisted of everyone slamming as much alcohol
possible. This would make the lines to get into clubs no
were longer than March of Dimes movements. When w
would attempt to move our bodies to the beat to impress
drunk we couldn't even function. The ladies at these club'
and oh we weren't complaining. I wish Penn State vaujsl
Behrend. Some of us attempted to socialize with ladies
concerned with getting belligerently drunk. A select few
they were or Where they were and had to be carried out eve
We all had fun and I highly recommend going to flori.
never gone before.
...m a
Opt
*
Drunken Mess