When I went to the University of British Columbia (for many, many years), we had 1 week off in February, known as Reading Week. In 2010, because of the Winter Olympics, we got an extra week off (!!!), supposedly for students to be able to volunteer during the Olympics, which were (in case you have been living under a rock) held in Vancouver, Canada.
The extra week off made a lot of sense, because Olympic events were being held on campus, and there were dorms and other facilities available for visitors to use. With all the chaos/busyness around the Olympic event in the city, Greg and I decided to leave the city to go to Mexico City for a little over a week, during Reading Week. Though I had mixed feelings about the Olympics being in Vancouver, I love celebrating events, holidays and what-not, generally. Part of what I did when I got back from Mexico City was visit the Olympic venues, country pavilions, and city-run celebration sites.
Right, so – what can you do in this city when the Olympics aren’t going on? First, it should be noted that there is no such thing as Spring Break here – Reading Week is in February, and the school year ends in April. I was just reading (on wikipedia) that many universities/colleges in the USA have tri-semesters, so fewer classes and shorter semesters – which sounds wonderful! I would have loved to not have to take 5 courses twice a year, plus 3 during summer semester.
I was going to write about things to do in Vancouver for Spring Break, but, it turned in to a tale of Reading Week, 2010 – which was pretty memorable.
What are your favourite things to do in your city during Spring Break?
May says
You have me curious about Reading Week. Is it meant as a break for indepth study and are mid-terms held the week after you return?
My recent post Mother’s Dreams
tazimd says
Hi May – yes, many of the (mean) professors set up mid-terms the week after Reading Week – the rest are the following week, but with 5 classes, it's hard to schedule study time. 😛
Tiffany C. says
I'm not really sure. I guess when Spring hits around here we like to have a crawfish boil. Spring marks the start of crawfish season here in Louisiana. Thanks for sharing about Canada, Reading Weeks sounds nice. Wish we had that here stateside.
My recent post Li’l Helper Bottle Holder Giveaway
Nikki says
Wow, school ends in April? That's so early! I like the idea of reading week, it's a great way to give students time to cram for all those exams.
My recent post Nobody Has to Know Book Tour: Bump the Stickers
tazimd says
Yes – it is nice to have some time to study – but wish we had spring break to just relax and have fun!
Angela says
I never heard of reading week, but the timing of it does make sense. When I lived in Florida, the beach was always a fun thing to do during Spring break.
My recent post Easter Chic Gift Bag Pinata
janekinpis says
reading week – that sound more scholarly and appropriate then spring break, which sometimes is before spring and has become a crazed drunken-filled wild abandonment thing. I never had money for spring break and always worked during mine.
And Mexico City I went there on winter break when I was a teacher (In NY we have winter-spring and summer break!). loved it so much was really surprised how metropolitan and european it was. Maybe I'll make it to Vancouver one day.
tazimd says
I agree with what you said about Mexico City. It was an unexpected surprise for me, too.