During the first month of classes, there are many activities to keep students busy, and, of course, there is a little studying as well. By the second month, the assignments are stacking up, finals are coming, and homesickness is setting in. Judging by the laundry baskets in the back seat of many of the trucks in the parking lot, students are suffering a shortage of clean clothes as well.
There is nothing worse than being away from home for the first time and being sick. The Friday absences are exacerbated by Thursday night activities. In order to fight off homesickness, students often gather at a local watering hole to compare notes on school projects. (At least I think that is what they are doing?) Waking up on Friday morning, feeling sick, missing Mom or Dad, and facing an 8 o’clock CAD class are ingredients the combine nicely to make a long weekend. This explains the absences before Thanksgiving.
The “real” long weekend gets longer for a different reason: Turkey Poisoning. I am sure that the reason some students don’t come back after the Thanksgiving holiday has nothing to do with them reevaluating if college is where they want to be. I don’t think it has anything to do with them feeling like they are missing out on what their life used to be when they had friends, family and familiar places. I think it is a little-known medical condition I like to call Turkey Poisoning. This condition most often lasts 2-3 days with complete recovery occurring a week after onset. Symptoms include lethargy and a melancholy demeanor. Recovery can be aided with large doses of humor and a pinch of understanding. If left untreated, Turkey Poisoning can be fatal for a college career. So students, if you find yourself afflicted with Turkey Poisoning, get back to school as soon as possible; your instructors are much funnier than your parents. Or try a preventative approach and eat ham instead.
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