“Winter Break”

Although I have graduated, it still feels like winter break! My family spent our holiday in Hot Springs, Virginia, rejuvenating in the same naturally hot mineral springs that Jefferson once bathed in and enjoying all the amenities of the Homestead, a luxury resort, while staying in a cozy bed and breakfast across the street with the most delicious breakfasts imagineable—think pumpkins pancakes with local maple syrup, homemade whipped cream, sausages, eggs, cinnamon rolls right out of the oven, and fresh fruit with orange juice. I’d read scary reviews about the Homestead’s food, so I forbade us to approach the dining halls there.

Though we weren’t staying at the resort next door, we still spent a lot of time there, swimming in their pool, skiing their slopes, hiking their trails, having afternoon tea, enjoying concerts and magic shows. This was my first time experiencing a resort, so my mind naturally compared it to other experiences I’ve had.  “Hey, this is like a cruise, except on land!” was my first thought. My mom rolled her eyes and said I had it backwards.

After hearing a university glee club give a Christmas concert, I started really missing concerts at William and Mary—a cappella concerts 10:00 Wednesday nights on the Wren portico, organ recitals in the Wren chapel, and the assortment of groups William and Mary brings in, from the Virginia Symphony Orchestra to the Ting Tings and K’naan. And I thought, “William and Mary is a much better resort than this one is!” Music’s better, food’s better, gym facilities are better, *and* you get to go to school!

A while back, I read this report that cries, “colleges market themselves like resorts, how terrible!” To that, I say, I am pretty sure we choose our school for the academics, not its resort qualities. But those are lovely too.