In my life, family vacations usually go one of two ways: my brother and I fighting mercilessly, or on the preferable and rare occasion, we get along and enjoy ourselves. This being our first period of extended time together since I had left for school, I didn't know what to expect. 10 nights in Aruba sounds amazing, but without friends or activities to entertain us, my brother and I tend to get restless. I mentally prepared myself to take this opportunity to really relax and prepare so I could continue working hard next semester. It would turn out I was better at relaxing than I thought.
Touching down on the "happy island" was exciting, but the four hour line for customs was not. I immediately began to worry, does this entire island move this slow? However, I knew I was lucky to be there and kept my attitude positive throughout the entire un-air-conditioned experience. Pulling up to the hotel I was excited; it was already dark out, but the holiday lights and wreaths gave off a cheery and comforting aura. I couldn't wait to change out of my plane clothes and eat some dinner. Our first meal really took me by surprise. The restaurant was casual, the staff was amazing, and our meal was delicious. At that moment I knew I was really going to enjoy our stay. I envisioned long days of laying out by the pool, walking along the beach and snacking on the extensive poolside menu. And that's exactly what I did.
I feel incredibly lucky to have been given experiences like my trip to Aruba. I have been able to see the world and its treasures, which is a unique opportunity. Beyond that, enjoying a beachside vacation with seemingly no worries or responsibilities was heavenly. Spending quality uninterrupted time with my family reminded me of how much I had missed them, and sometimes I wish I wasn't so far away. That being said, I know they're always a phone call, or a plane ride away. Then I began to understand just how special it was to have a family worth missing.-Rachel Weisenthal, PC '15
