Monica Nair
Photos & Graphics Editor
The holidays are a time of cheery celebration, quality time with friends and family, and classic holiday tunes that get you right into the cheery mood. Along with holiday vacation, this time of year also bring overcrowded airports, busy traffic jams, and chaos that can dim the holiday spirit. Some New Canaan students shared their horrific and humorous experiences while traveling during the holiday season.
Junior Sara Wilson explained the pains of being stuck in an overcrowded airport. “During the holidays, the airport is always crowded with people coming and going, or meeting up with relatives, or saying their ‘goodbyes’ before take off,” she said. “It can be difficult to find your bags or get to your plane, and there are all sorts of additional security measures taken to ensure the holidays are safe.”
Senior Dylan Karnedy had a more positive story to share about an experience he had on a plane when traveling with his youth group after winter break. “We took a private charter plane, so it was only the kids and team leaders from the youth group, and Krissy Parrett, a senior from last year, said over the microphone, “there is a colonial woman on the wing, there’s something they are not telling us!” It’s a quote from the movie, Bridesmaids, but it was definitely ten times funnier hearing Krissy say it over the intercom,” he said.
For some students, though, traveling can be a challenge, especially if it means getting off the ground. Senior Ali Tubridy explained how one bad experience has scarred her from flying. “The last time I was on a plane when I was 4 during Thanksgiving. We had really bad turbulence. It now freaks me out to travel by plane,” she said. “After such a bad experience, we don’t travel by planes anymore. Instead we take the car to visit family for the holidays, or for long trips the train. Anything that remains on the ground!” she added.
Ali’s not the only one with flying frights, as senior McCabe Hemmers explained his on fears of being in the air. “I get freaked out when I go flying for vacation sometimes. The idea that you’re so high above the ground, that at any moment you could crash,” he said. “Especially with a plane full of people, that’s my biggest fear, dying in a plane crash, that would be a bad holiday story.” he said.
These phobias aren’t limited to the air; land can also present quite the obstacle. “I hate being underground, and being stuck in a crowded car. It’s so hard to get out, and the stops are so quick that you can easily miss or forget your stop if you are not paying attention,” said senior Emma Stracke.
Emma added how one of her worst travel experiences was actually on the subway during Thanksgiving. “I was leaning against the door to let one of my friends in but I couldn’t get in or out of the subway because it was so crowded because of the holiday season. Then the doors closed and I was in between them, and I got squished in between the door. I was freaking out, I thought that the subway would leave with me half out!” she said.
Even traveling by car can have its down side. Traffic jams and overcrowded highways can turn fun family trips into trapped car rides. “Once it took my family twelve hours to get home from Virginia during the holidays. It was miserable, and we were all cranky from putting up with each other for too long,” senior Kerinne O’Connor said.
Yet no matter how bad the traveling experience may be, once you’ve arrived at your destination, you’re at peace and ready for fun. “I like the experience that I get out of where I go. Each year for the holidays we either go to Denmark, where I have family, or we go to a surprise location every other year,” senior Katrine Reddin said. “Even if the travel experience isn’t the best, it’s worth the trouble,” senior Katrine Reddin said.
