by Sam Barrett
[The information in this article has since been updated.]
Thanksgiving break is just around the corner — and for some students, it can’t come quick enough.
But for out-of-state students there’s the normal stress of figuring out how to get home for the five-day break and a new stressor — and the risk of catching the coronavirus.
“It’s a little scary,” said freshman letters and sciences major Cali Foster. Foster is driving nine hours home to Massachusetts and will have to wear a mask at every rest stop.
Some out-of-state students take a train or plane home.
“I feel better now knowing that most people are vaccinated,” said freshman journalism major Madeline Arcaro, who’s taking a train home to Connecticut. But she said she’s concerned that riders might accidentally spread the virus because Amtrak doesn’t require anyone to show a negative test to board the train.
Cameron Hoff, a freshman chemistry major from Vermont, decided to fly home for break.
“The plane ride is like an hour and a half, so not that long of a trip,” Hoff said.
He said he’s a little concerned about the lack of restrictions on the plane since seats aren’t blocked off to allow social distancing anymore.
“I’m a little nervous about coming into contact with so many people on the plane, but with masks I think I’ll be fine,” Hoff said.
By car, the trip could take more than ten hours, he said, depending on traffic and stops — so that’s not really an option.
These concerns about catching the coronavirus are on top of the usual stress about getting home for the five-day break.
“It takes a full day to travel each way, so we barely have any time at home,” said Katharine Wilson, a freshman journalism major from Riverside, Calif.
Wilson is taking a plane home and expects that her trip home will take at least 5 hours, not counting travel to and from the airport. With travel time added in, she said, there’s not going to be much of the break left for her.
Sophomore criminal justice major Willow is driving back to Boston with her parents — a trip that could take as much as 12 hours.
“They’re gonna help me bring some stuff back since I can’t fit it all on a plane,” she said.
Once Thanksgiving break ends, Golden plans to fly back to UMD.
Dorms close Tuesday, Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. and will reopen Sunday, Nov. 28.
Those closing hours posed challenges for Arcaro because she wasn’t sure she’d be able to catch a train before dorms close on Tuesday night.
Students in a similar situation have the option to stay until 9 a.m. Wednesday, as long as they request it. There is no extra charge for the one night request.
Most north campus students who want to live on campus during the break can pay $65 and stay in Elkton Hall’s common areas. Those students are housed with with a few other students staying on campus over break. South campus students can request to remain in their regular dorms and pay $130.
Overall, out of state students feel prepared for the trip home.
“If everyone’s wearing a mask I think it’ll be safe,” Arcaro said.
Featured image: Cameron Hoff of Vermont on Oct. 26. Photo by Sam Barrett.