With only a few weeks remaining until the start of football season — and even fewer before the beginning of classes — summer break is quickly coming to an end. Whether you are returning to Tuscaloosa after a few months away or you never left, there are a few must-dos before Tuscaloosa is back to full capacity.
While the week before classes start is often dedicated to moving apartments, cleaning and readjusting to Tuscaloosa after a time away, the days leading up to the first week of classes are the perfect time to explore all that Tuscaloosa has to offer.
To fuel your long day of unpacking, my first recommendation is breakfast from Homewood Bagel Co. During the school year, especially on game day weekends, the line often stretches from the counter to the door. While I’ll always argue that the wait is worth it — particularly for a jalapeño cheddar bagel with garlic herb cream cheese — this quieter time of year offers a rare chance to enjoy breakfast at an open table.
If you need a break from assembling furniture, cleaning or planning your first-week outfits, consider getting some fresh air by walking your class schedule. This is advice my freshman-year adviser gave me, and it has consistently helped ease first-day nerves. Starting at your apartment, parking deck or the nearest bus hub, time how long it takes to walk from class to class. Not only does this help you avoid relying on Apple or Google Maps between buildings, but it also ensures you won’t stress over whether you have enough time between classes.
After all the heavy lifting is done, perhaps what I am most looking forward to in August is the migration of all of my friends back to Tuscaloosa. After a summer apart, naturally there is much to catch up on. A dinner at Buffalo Phil’s before parking on The Strip becomes difficult for gameday traffic has been in my calendar for weeks.
Depending on how long the post-summer-debrief conversation lasts, what better to celebrate the replenishing of Dining Dollars than an Italian ice from Rita’s next door?
There are a few house-keeping errands that need to be accomplished during this week as well. Looking through your syllabi, creating spreadsheets with assignments and due dates, and gathering any supplies you may need for the first few weeks of the semester will help to ease you back into the academic structure of attending classes. This is also a great time to fill out a calendar, either digital or physical, to visualize exactly what your schedule will look like with classes, work and extracurriculars.
While I have enjoyed the much-needed summer break, the transitional week between this and the start of the semester is always one of my favorites throughout the year. There is so much to see and do in Tuscaloosa that we often dismiss when life gets busy, and the prime time to embrace them is quickly approaching.
