Here are some interesting winter break anecdotes from Krop Students, brought to you by The Strike Staff. Check them out below!

Dylan Hopen:
During this year’s winter break, sophomore Dylan Hopen visited South Carolina to explore the state’s rich militaristic history and take part in New Year’s Eve festivities. Hopen and his family toured the Charleston Air Force Base, a United States military facility in North Charleston. They were able to see aircraft carriers used during World War II.

“It was really interesting to learn about the history of the United States’ Air Force and their involvement in World War II,” Hopen said. “It sparked a sense of nationalism and appreciation to be in such a great country.”

They were also able to ring in the New Year with the Festival of Lights, a major light show in one of Charleston’s town parks.

Alan Gutman:
Over winter break, sophomore Alan Gutman visited the town of Waynesville, North Carolina. During his trip, Gutman and his family went snowboarding in the city’s mountains.

“I had a blast,” Gutman said. “The trip gave me an opportunity to release my inner snowboarder and bond with my family.”

Stefanie Gottfried:
Over this year’s winter break that seemed to pass by in the blink of an eye, junior Stefanie Gottfried traveled to New York City with her family. Gottfried saw the Broadway plays “Something Rotten” and “The Lion King.”

“Something Rotten was hilarious,” Gottfried said. “I liked it because it wasn’t your typical love story.”

Aya Takidin:
Sophomore Aya Takidin went to a place out of the ordinary over winter break: Beirut, Lebanon.

After the 12 hour flight from Miami to Turkey then to Lebanon, she landed. She stayed with her mother while there. Takidin went to many tourist destinations in Beirut. These include Verdun, Hamra Street and Jbeil. She learned about the culture and history of Lebanon.

“I learned a lot about the unique culture and the breathtaking views added so much to my experience,” she said.  

While there she decided to help Syrian refugees who got asylum in Lebanon. This is very important to Takidin  being Syrian herself. She provided the refugees with food, blankets, clothes and other necessities.

“Being able to help them in any way possible made my entire year,” Takidin said.

Rene Balderas:
Sophomore Rene Balderas went to Atascadero, California. After landing in California Balderas was ecstatic to see his family that he’d missed.

After a four hour drive from Los Angeles to Arascardo he was able to surprise his little brothers for Christmas.

“It was great to surprise my brothers,” he said. “I rarely get to see them.”

Balderas favorite part of his winter break was eating with his family at his favorite restaurants, In N’ Out and Sylvester’s. While in Atascadero he volunteered at a local soup kitchen with the rest of his family. He also donated some old clothes to charity.

“Me and my family find it very important to help our community,” he said. “It was also a great learning experience for my brothers.”

Alexis Goihman:
Senior Alexis Goihman traveled to Colombia where she visited Anapoima and Cartagena.

“I went with my family to Cartagena and then I went to Anapoima with my family and the President of Colombia’s family,” she said.

While in Cartagena, Goihman took an excursion off the coast of Colombia on a small island called Baru. On this island, Goihman ate food that was caught out on the sea right in front of her eyes. Along with this, Goihman tested the waters by jet skiing and visiting the Castillo de San Felipe, a fortress monument in Cartagena. While staying in Anapoima, Goihman’s sites may not only have been set on the beauty of the city itself, but the fact that she was with the president of Colombia with whom she ate lunch with surrounded by about 50 Secret Serviceman.

Bruno Wesley:
Traveling the coast of California, junior Bruno Wesley took the “tourist” route of state, going to San Francisco, taking the Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles, and then back up to San Francisco. When saying the “tourist” route, Wesley, along with his family, traveled to many of the major attractions in the cities of San Francisco and Los Angeles. Those include seeing the Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz and traveling across Rodeo Drive.

Bismarck Corrales:
While other students went away on trips or volunteered over break, senior Bismarck Corrales got his hands dirty fixing up a 1967 Mustang coupe. Corrales liked classic cars for most of his life and wanted to learn how to fix one up, and so since his old car broke down and needed repairs that added up to 2,000 dollars, this was the perfect opportunity to buy a Mustang, fix it up and fulfill his dream.

Simon Assouline:
While other students may have been studying for the SAT or watching Star Wars: The Force Awakens for the fifth time, junior Simon Assouline had other plans. He, along with his NCSY group, travelled to Stamford, Connecticut to participate in Yarchei Kallah. An annual event, Yarchei Kallah attracts hundreds of students from all over North America to teach them biblical texts. “I wanted to go on this trip very badly,” Assouline said. “I want to be apart of NCSY as much as I can before I graduate.”

Max Kurkin:
Miami is an urbanized mosquito-infested city occupied by diverse cultures that follow all of the latest trends. But Tri-Cities, Tennessee might be the place to settle to get away from the Miami warmth. Junior Max Kurkin spent ten days during his winter break there riding ATVs, blowing up fireworks, and dancing off the year with family and friends at a family home owned for generations. At Tri-Cities, you are 20 miles from the nearest store, yet centimeters away from over 50 acres of freedom land the house has to offer. “Although there was much to do,” Kurkin said, “I really missed my friends during this festive times period.”

David Alter:
People travel all over the world whether it’s for seeing family or for vacation, but Junior David Alter traveled to Argentina and Uruguay this winter break to see a close friend. Alter first went to Argentina to see his family but that was not his main destination. He then traveled to Punta Del Este, Uruguay for ten days to see an old friend. Although his main goal was to see his longed friend, he made more friends and memories to last a lifetime. Punta Del Este is known for their weather, beaches, and culture as Alter took in every part of that. “It’s amazing,” Alter said. “It’s the culture, the beach. the food. It’s like we’re one big family.”

Emilee Tennen:
Watching one of the biggest fights in the last year and a half, Junior Emilee Tennen traveled to Las Vegas to see the Welterweight (weighing between 156 and 170 pounds) Championship between Carlos Condit and Robbie Lawler. Tennen was in California to see family for Christmas but her main goal in her travels to the West were to see the fight. Tennen has been to some local fights but admits that after watching many big events on TV, nothing will compare to her experience in person.

“I used to fight competitively in taekwondo from when I was eight and stopped when I was 13 so me and my dad always used to stay up watching UFC back when it first started.”

Anthony Flores:
With enough time on his hands, junior Anthony Flores began training for the 2016 Cross-Fit Games during his winter break. Flores devotes two to three hours a day running, doing handstand pushups, leg squats, and sit-ups in hopes to build on himself.

“I decided to spend my break working out because I enjoy the physical challenge it provides,” Flores said. “Exercising gives me the energy I need to work through everyday life.” Flores doesn’t plan to stop and even anticipates the next break so he can do it again.