"My parents like me to come home," said Ryan A. Riess '99. Riess, who is going home to Florida for spring break, will also be vacationing with his family at Disney World. "They take care of everything and you don't have to worry about finances," said Riess of his parents' vacation planning.

Other students have extended extracurricular commitments during spring break (read: work). Joseph R. Ciollo '99, captain of the Crimson track and field team, will go to Houston with the team for spring training.

"The main point of the trip is to train, but we have time to enjoy the warm weather," Ciollo said.

Students may also take the opportunity to visit friends during the week's vacation. Jessica R. Taylor '99 will be visiting her boyfriend, Michael A. O'Mary '99-'00, former Vice President of the Undergraduate Council, who is taking time off to work as a researcher and speech writer for Hillary Rodham Clinton. While the first lady is in Africa, O'Mary will be helping with a Congressional campaign in Arkansas.

Visiting new places can be difficult to plan for, Taylor said.

"I have no idea what the weather is," she said. "El Nino is putting everything out of perspective."

"Packing is problematic," added Taylor, whose vacation requires both business and casual wear.

Some students, in particular seniors with thesis deadlines to meet, will stay at Harvard for spring break. But because a small minority of students stay in the houses, Riki Yamakawa '98 said the College is not very accommodating.

"The shuttle stops, the dining hall closes," Yamakawa said, noting that, "not too bad, though."

Regardless of vacation plans, most students look forward to a break from the usual hectic schedule of classes and hours spent poring over books and problem sets.

Jeff R. Gu '00, a Crimson Editor, is looking forward to seven days and nights in the Bahamas.

"I'm excited to be in the sun, to be surrounded by beautiful women, and to get off my butt and get a tan," Gu said.