Charlotte’s diary
Posted on April 13, 2022
Her name is Charlotte. This young student from Taupont left a few weeks ago for the United States. She will stay there until next summer to continue her studies. Why did you make this choice? how does she live this experience? What is his daily life on the campus of the University of Florida? What advice do they give to students who would like to have the same experience? She has agreed to share her experience with us and regularly sends us articles for this purpose which also allow us to better understand the lives and concerns of Americans. A good exercise in participatory journalism for a young girl who is destined for this profession…
She talks to us today about spring break, spring break in the United States. These are very celebrated holidays in the USA and especially in Florida.
Find Charlotte’s diary by clicking here
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Le Spring Break: American Spring Break
“Each year, American students are given a week off to relieve the pressure before the end-of-year exams. This week is called the “Spring Break” and is equivalent to our Easter holidays. Depending on the school district, it takes place between the beginning of March and mid-April. The students take advantage of this break to treat themselves to holidays in skiing or in the sun. Florida is the number one destination for student vacations. While some prefer to take advantage of the various amusement parks of Disney World or Universal Studios, the majority meet on the east coast of the state, particularly in the cities of Miami, Fort Lauderdale or Daytona Beach to party there during the many beach party organized for the occasion. In the United States, the spring break is almost a tradition and many students save for several months to treat themselves to a “dream” trip.
This year for my university, the holidays took place from Monday March 7th to Sunday March 13th. Like most University of Florida students, I decided to spend a few days with friends in Fort Lauderdale, a coastal town about 45 minutes north of Miami. We arrived Monday in the middle of the afternoon to settle down and do some shopping for the week. After a brief evening to celebrate the holidays, we decide to sleep to rest before the busy week ahead of us. The next day, we discover the real American spring break. The beach and the bars are crowded all day long with students who have come to party. Spending an afternoon at the beach allowed us to meet many students from all over the country. In the evening, we decide to eat in a small restaurant on the beach before going to spend the evening in a nightclub but the surprise is great when we discover the high price of drinks. The next day, we take the car and head for Miami for the day and join some friends already there. The beach is much quieter with mostly families coming to rest at the water’s edge. On the fourth day, there are always lots of young people on the Fort Lauderdale beach swimming, partying and playing volleyball or soccer with friends. The welcoming population imbued with great kindness marked my spring stay. Is it linked to the very present sun and this possibility of spending the days outside?
I met lots of young people my age from all over the United States and the general atmosphere is very friendly.
On Friday morning, I decide to change course and trade the swimsuit and the Florida heat for the hat and the cold of New York. After a few hours of travel, here I am finally in the big apple and the visit can begin. Stroll in Central Park and Time Square, visit the Metropolitan Museum of Arts, Columbia University or even the Empire State Building and the One World Trade Center, the weekend was busy but so intense in discoveries.
Even if it was not a very relaxing vacation, I am so happy to have been able to live a new experience typical of the North American continent. Is it worth it !
If you like to move and meet new people, I invite you to come and spend spring break in Florida! »
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