Miami Quarterly

Issue date: 12/12/09 Section: Entertainment

As winter break approaches, Christmas music is playing on the radio, house decorations are hung and students are finishing up the fall semester. After a stressful week of finals, many students will disperse from Oxford in all directions to relax with their families in the cozy comforts of home. Others will be busy traveling, performing and volunteering across the country. MQ chose to profile a few students (plus President Hodge) to check up on their winter break plans.

THE POWER OF HELPING PEOPLE

Sophomore Corrylee Drozda plans on giving back over her winter break. As a member of Miami's Scholar Leader Program, Drozda will take a "Plunge" on the program's annual winter break service trip of the same name.

"This year, (the program) will be going to Atlanta, Georgia, where we will do volunteer work ... helping build homes," Drozda says.

Besides the service trip, she also plans on going skiing with family and friends. Drozda's boyfriend, who lives in Spain, also plans on visiting.

"I am most looking forward to my boyfriend coming to meet my family," Drozda said. "Being away (at college) makes me appreciate my family so much more."

Every Christmas Eve, family and friends come over for "Santa Mouse," a Drozda holiday tradition where they leave cheese on the front porch. Then, Santa Mouse comes to eat the cheese and leaves packages on the doorstep.

APPRECIATING THE FIGHT FOR FREEDOM

For Miami first-year Lacey Schmidt, winter break will consist of catching up with her brother, Alec Schmidt, who is currently serving in the National Guard and will be returning home for the holidays from Iraq.

"We are not exactly sure when he will be coming home yet, but it will most likely be at the end of December, right around Christmas," Schmidt says.

Schmidt's family usually spends the holidays at their house, celebrating with other friends and family. One of their family traditions is to go to Mad River Mountain, a ski destination near their house.

"Another thing we will be doing over break, since Alec is home, is go to the Hofbrauhaus House in Cincinnati," Schmidt says. "We usually go for his birthday, but since he won't be home then, we'll go over winter break. It's always a lot of fun to go there."

Schmidt says she can't wait to hear her brother's stories when he gets back. Along with all the holiday traditions, she's also looking forward to shopping with her brother, which they usually do for her birthday.

"I am so excited for my brother to come home!" Schmidt exclaims. "My brother and I have always been pretty close since we are only three years apart and we get along really well. I've missed him so much since he has been gone."

SINGING IN THE SOUTH

For junior Sam Kay, a member of Miami's Glee Club and Kappa Kappa Psi, winter break will be a whirlwind of traveling and competing.

The first week of break, Kay plans to go to Florida with his family, something they are hoping to make a permanent tradition. Kay can't wait to sit around on the beach, swim and catch up on some pleasure reading. Then, Kay will go to Cleveland for a week to visit his grandparents and friends. After that, he'll meet up with the Glee Club, who will be flying to Tampa. From there, they'll take a bus to perform in Naples, Jacksonville, Hilton Head and Atlanta.

"I'm most looking forward to the decompression," Kay says. "After I relax, I'll be excited to go on tour."

Most of all, Kay is looking forward to not having schoolwork for a few weeks and the chance to see his family.

HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Miami sophomore Helen Ruijie Dou is an international student from Chengdu, the Sichuan Province of China. Chengdu is in the southwestern part of the country and is known for being the most attractive city for tourists. It is also home to the Panda bear.

Since Dou goes to school in Ohio, it's hard for her to travel all the way home for the holidays. Instead, this year she plans to spend her vacation traveling across the US.

"I will go to Alabama right after final exams to visit one of my friends, Claire and her family," Dou says. "Basically, I will stay with her family for the whole winter break. We are planning to drive to Iowa to visit her grandmother for a couple of days and then fly to New York City to visit her friends."

Having never been to Alabama or Iowa, Dou is looking forward to visiting New York City.

"I'll be experiencing a real American Christmas this year," Dou says. "I am very excited about it!"

EVEN THE PRESIDENT NEEDS A BREAK

Miami President David Hodge plans on splitting his time over winter break between his home in Oxford at Lois Place and his lake house in St. Mary's.

"We have a house right on the lake," Hodge says. "I plan on doing lots of reading, watching movies and just enjoying the weather."

The Hodges are big into Christmas. They like to get up, open presents then have a nice brunch.

"One of my favorite traditions is on Christmas Eve," Hodge says. "We make homemade clam chowder and open two gifts."

But winter break is not much of a break for the president. He's still busy with work, just less meetings to go to. Hodge spends time catching up on and critically thinking about Miami's bigger issues he won't have time to think about once spring semester starts.

According to Hodge, Oxford is peacefully quiet over break, making him anxious for students to return but glad to be able to relax with his family.

"I am looking forward to thinking differently," Hodge says. "Break ... allows me to collect myself. I'm excited."

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