Something has inspired you to sign up for an Intersession course. But after spending a few days on campus, you'll find yourself actually missing those guys down the hall who blast techno after midnight, or you'll wish your roommates were still around, even though they never wash their dishes.
Instead of regretting leaving home early, where you would still be eating mom's meatloaf and potatoes and watching Real World marathons on MTV, you should take advantage of the unique environment provided by Intersession and try occupying your time with some creative fun, Hopkins style.
One option for budding entrepreneurs or, well, anyone who's a little short on cash, is to find a temporary job during Intersession. Since your one class will be consuming just a few hours a day, you're left with plenty of time to wait tables at a local restaurant or to help the admissions office during the peak of application season. Check the Student Jobs Web site for openings, or go out there yourself and fill out a few applications.
Another way to spend your free time productively is to actually follow that New Year's resolution and head over to the Rec Center. There aren't nearly as many people fighting over elliptical machines, and the weight room is much less intimidating for a beginner when it's not packed with really big guys. Plus, you'll look hot when everyone else gets back, still carrying around those extra five pounds acquired over the holidays.
Okay, so maybe you aren't quite that ambitious -- this is still supposed to be vacation time. The possibilities for leisure and enjoyment at Hopkins over Intersession are limitless -- well, almost limitless. This is the optimal time to actually explore Charm City a bit, instead of just complaining about it. Grab together a few other bored friends, hail a cab and check out a new destination.
Skip out on the blockbusters for once and check out a lesser-known film at The Charles Theater (1711 N. Charles St.). While you're there, go next door to Tapas Teatro for a snack. Or try taking a $1 or so cab ride to the nearby Ottobar (2549 N. Howard St.) and catch a concert, then branch out to other Baltimore venues like The Talking Head (203 E. Davis St.) for obscure bands or The Recher (512 York Rd.) to see a national act. Post-holiday shoppers should, of course, scour the Towson Town Center or Arundel Mills Mall for after-Christmas sales, or wander along 36th Street in Hampden for a variety of vintage shops, boutiques and kitschy trinket stores.
Dining out is another obvious time-passing option. Now's your chance to stop going to The Cheesecake Factory for every friend's birthday -- granted, the cheesecakes are delicious, but there are so many restaurants in the nearby area that have a lot to offer, without the inevitable three hour wait. Fell's Point isn't just for Halloween -- it is home to a bunch of restaurants that are worth checking out. And Baltimore boasts its very own Little Italy, just waiting to fulfill your tiramisu cravings. The list of restaurant-filled sections of town to visit could go on -- part of the fun is searching for the ideal one to suit your tastes on your own.
Intersession is also an ideal time to spend a long weekend in D.C. Sophomore John Zuckerman took several trips to D.C. with friends during Intersession, which is something they wouldn't have been able to coordinate as easily during the regular semesters. "We were able to check out some of the main tourist sights in D.C. -- the Capital, Library of Congress and the National Museum of Art," Zuckerman said. "Plus, we went to some awesome restaurants while we were there."
Getting away from campus every once in awhile is certainly nice, but cab fare, ticket prices, meals, and tips add up quickly. That's when the true test of your creativity and ingenuity comes into play -- coming up with offbeat things to do on campus in order to occupy your otherwise idle Intersession mind.
It's likely that campus will be covered with a sheet of glistening snow in January, and this means it will be time to revert back to childhood and play in the snow. Build a snowman -- no excuses about having to study for finals this time. Do whatever it takes to incite a snowball battle -- pelt one at a friend from across the quad, shove a handful of snow down your buddy's pants, and enjoy the gleefulness that follows. Just remember that you're all a little bit stronger than you were a decade ago. Snowballs can really hurt when they're thrown by a 200-pound varsity athlete, or sometimes even a scrawny BME kid, so beware.
Your blocks from the first semester meal plan carry over to Intersession before mysteriously disappearing forever, so plan on putting some more of your parents' money to good use. Even if you're just grabbing a mug of hot chocolate post-snowball battle, mom and dad will appreciate knowing that you aren't wasting their cash. "Since my friends and I were on the 1,000 pass meal plan, we spent a lot of time in the cafeteria," said sophomore Bryan Balin, who stayed on campus over Intersession last year. "I would have breakfast, brunch, lunch, afternoon tea, dinner and an evening snack at Terrace."
Unless all of your friends made some creepy pact to all attend Intersession together, like how the cast of Saved by the Bell would do it if they attended this fine institution, you're probably lacking the usual amount of social stimulation that the regular school year offers. This, in addition to the large amounts of free time on your hands, can make life pretty lonely. Instead of moping around and using IM even more than usual, step out of that comfort zone and meet some new people. Odds are they're lacking their usual cliques too, so it's pretty easy to break the ice and start hanging out with a new group of people over the course of a day or two. "Intersession is a very good time to actually get to know the people around you very well," Balin said. "It's the chance to bond that mattered more than the activities and classes."
