Push

Last week's break in the school schedule brought a few days of down-beat in a semester that's been very up-beat. With the school lounge, library, and dining commons closed, the McDonald's around every corner was a very capable substitute. With its second and third floors, smoking section, light speed service, and bossa nova in the background, it would seem completely unrelated to its American twin if it weren't for the food. Some people sit for hours, punching into a laptop, flipping through stacks of folders and books, or thumbing away on a smart phone. This atmosphere is subject to change of course, as it's not uncommon to find throngs of high school students doing lots of talking and very little studying. Business professional, studying student, or high school chatterbox, it's pretty clear that quite a few people go there to do something besides eat.
My first November break in five years is followed by the nostalgic short push through the weeks leading up to the holidays. A push through lengthy assignments, cold morning bike rides to school, late night rides home, and everything in between. Beanies, scarves, instant noodles, and slow-cooked broths should do the trick. No sign yet of the first snow of the season, but the temperature will be down to 0 Celsius a few days this week.