Even though spring literally just started, college students have been enjoying spring break season for about a month now. My school is included in this group. We had our break at the very beginning of March. Many of my friends spent their breaks at home or at the beach, but I am the exception. I spent my vacation living on a tour bus and singing with my college choir.
Ya know, now that I think about it, I've actually never had a normal college spring break because I've always been on tour. Don't get me wrong, I love being with my ensemble, but I've often wondered what everyone else does on break. I decided to ask them, so that I could see what the differences are between a normal student's break and a choir member's. Here are my findings.
1. Nap Time
When you go to the beach, you lie out on the sand. Things are quite a bit different when you are on a tour bus, though. On a bus, nap time happens when you lie down on the floor in the middle of the main aisle. It actually really isn't all that bad.
2. Sleep Schedules
Normal students apparently sleep in until 11 a.m. every day. Yea, that so does not happen on tour. Some mornings we have to be up between 6 and 7! That is earlier than I have to get up for school each morning. On the bright side, we do get to go back to sleep on the bus, and nothing beats a good bus nap!
3. Housing
I'm betting that you most likely know the people you are staying with during break, but that is not how it always works for choir kids. When we wake up in the morning, we never know where and/or who we will be staying with that evening. Each night after we sing, we are given host homes. My choir sings at churches, so our host families are always members of the congregation. These incredible people open their homes up to us, a group of college kids they have never met before, and allow us to move in for night or two. Going to a host home is always a bit awkward because you are seriously staying at a stranger's house. The good thing is that no choir member ever goes to a host home alone, so that makes it a lot easier. I've had some pretty fantastic host homes and families throughout my time in choir. Even though the experience has its awkward moments, I love staying at host homes, and I appreciate all they do for us!
4. Laundry
I know for a fact that my friends who go home have access to washing machines. On the other hand, laundry machines are not promised on a choir trip. It is extremely important to pack enough clothes for eight to 10 days because we may never see a washer or dryer.
5. Travel
Choir kids travel way more than their non-choir peers. My friends tend to go to one location. This spring break, my group went to four different states and Washington, D.C! It is a lot of riding, but we get to see so many awesome places.
6. Schedule
Breaks are meant for relaxation unless you are a choir kid. Over break, while most people were lying on the beach, we were singing in nine services. It is a lot, but when you have a passion for something, it doesn't matter.
7. Body Condition
In one of my classes, my professor pointed out how tan all of my peers were. I, on the other hand, came back as pale as I was when I left. I might have actually been a bit paler, to be honest. Even though I wasn't sporting a lovely tan, I did have some very sore legs. You see, I'm not in your average concert choir. No, I'm in a worship ensemble called Campus Choir, and we really like to dance and jump. One time someone described us as "magic jumping beans." I would say that is a pretty accurate description. We do get a full-blown workout almost every time we go on stage. It's pretty great, but the pain is so real. You might come back with a tan, but at least I come back looking fitter than I did!
8. Suits
9. Transportation
I would so rather be on a bus with 50 other people playing Mafia and watching Disney movies than cramped in the back of a car...
10. Family
Most kids have the opportunity to see their biological family over break. Choir kids do not have that luxury. Thankfully, though, your choir becomes your family. In my choir, we even call our director's wife mama. I love every single person in my group. They are incredible people and they always have my back. They are my "other" family, and I do not know what I would do without them.
As you can tell, my spring break was way different than my peers', but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Yes, my entire choir was absolutely exhausted and in need of a break from our spring break when we returned to school, but no matter who you ask, we will all say it was totally worth it.
