Spring Break
Staying in town
International students find alternative ways to spend winter break
By: Matt Woolbright
Issue date: 1/21/09 Section: News
As the fall 2008 semester came to a close and Aggies finished final exams and left for the winter holidays, the campus became scarce of student life.
Though most students were not in College Station to experience this scarcity of people, others stayed for the break.
Anurag Verma, a graduate industrial engineering student from India, is one such student.
"It was kind of boring, last year I came here for the first time and had to stay here the whole time and that was pretty bad," Verma said. "There was absolutely no one on the campus, quite understandably, but still boring."
With typical international flights costing upwards of $1,500, many international students cannot afford to return to their homes. Although they did not get to see their families, some said they kept in contact with home.
"I was able to talk to my family every week, sometimes twice a week," said Yuping Yang, a graduate math student.
Mei Yang, another graduate math student, was not only able to call her family, but also spend time with her daughter who lives in College Station.
"I talked to my family every two or three days through the phone and through the computer. It was like twice a month," Yang said.
These students did take advantage of the break from classes.
Verma said that he was able to visit some other places over the break with friends.
"This year was much better because some of my time was spent with different friends who invited me to their homes over the holidays," Verma said.
Yuping Yang and some of his friends made their own travel arrangements.
"I spent time with Chinese friends," Yang said. "I traveled to other cities with my friends to see the other parts of America."
Verma said he and some friends spent time playing games in College Station.
"We played some cricket matches, maybe some [basketball] here and there and we went to the [recreation] center a few days," Verma said.
For Mei Yang, the break was very productive because she spent all her time that was not with her daughter preparing for her qualifying exams in January.
"I stayed to my studies and my daughter," Yang said.
Though most students were not in College Station to experience this scarcity of people, others stayed for the break.
Anurag Verma, a graduate industrial engineering student from India, is one such student.
"It was kind of boring, last year I came here for the first time and had to stay here the whole time and that was pretty bad," Verma said. "There was absolutely no one on the campus, quite understandably, but still boring."
With typical international flights costing upwards of $1,500, many international students cannot afford to return to their homes. Although they did not get to see their families, some said they kept in contact with home.
"I was able to talk to my family every week, sometimes twice a week," said Yuping Yang, a graduate math student.
Mei Yang, another graduate math student, was not only able to call her family, but also spend time with her daughter who lives in College Station.
"I talked to my family every two or three days through the phone and through the computer. It was like twice a month," Yang said.
These students did take advantage of the break from classes.
Verma said that he was able to visit some other places over the break with friends.
"This year was much better because some of my time was spent with different friends who invited me to their homes over the holidays," Verma said.
Yuping Yang and some of his friends made their own travel arrangements.
"I spent time with Chinese friends," Yang said. "I traveled to other cities with my friends to see the other parts of America."
Verma said he and some friends spent time playing games in College Station.
"We played some cricket matches, maybe some [basketball] here and there and we went to the [recreation] center a few days," Verma said.
For Mei Yang, the break was very productive because she spent all her time that was not with her daughter preparing for her qualifying exams in January.
"I stayed to my studies and my daughter," Yang said.
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