Welcome to Issue #16 of The Naked Roommate Newsletter: Alternative Spring Breaks. Winter break is over and that means the next big break is Spring Break ‘07. Some of you have made plans to go to Panama City and cover yourself with whipped cream while dancing in a thong in hopes of appearing on MTV (not that anyone ever plans on this, it just happens, at least that was my excuse). For those looking for a more dignified spring break, consider going on an Alternative Spring Break (ASB). ASBs are about giving of yourself and sharing in an experience that helps the world. The best part -- most of the volunteering ends by 5 or 6 p.m. so you still have time for whipped cream. If you haven’t made your ASB plans, consider starting now. Time is ticking.

REMINDER: Rejection Awareness Week is less than two weeks away. Send in your risk taking stories and start planning THE RISK you’re going to take this Valentine's season. And please, do your part and spread the nakedness via The Naked Roommate Facebook Group, TheNakedRoommate.com, and by forwarding The Naked Newsletter.

NEXT ISSUE: YOUR BEST & WORST PROFESSORS
What is the most surprising thing a professor said to you, did to you, or did for you? Send your BEST and WORST stories. Only your college and year in school will be included. If you want to remain anonymous, just let me know when submitting your stories. Sending your stories means that you grant Harlan permission to use your stories in The Naked Roommate Newsletter, online, in books, and anywhere else Harlan's writing appears.

THE STORY:
ASB has been one of my favorite and one of the most rewarding parts about being at college thus far. Last spring I went to Denver, Colorado and this spring I'm a part of a "Mystery Trip." We're receiving clues as to where we're going, but we won't actually know our destination until we show up on our departure day.

In Colorado, my group worked at Harvest Farm, a long-term drug and alcohol rehab facility. We worked right along side the residents, doing farm work, such as feeding the cows and pigs, building fences, shoveling manure, etc. and doing general maintenance work around the farm. The experience was incredible, because for me it was a new way to look at serving others. At the farm, we worked alongside the residents as equals, and found that the greatest service we could provide for these residents, paradoxically, was to allow them to serve us. The way we most helped these men that society considers outcasts as they battle with their addictions was to allow them to help us, being open and accepting of their assistance where many others would not be. The cost varies for the different trips depending on whether it is an international trip, over 12 hrs. away (we then fly there), or driving. For Colorado, the cost was $300, with $200 of that coming from fundraisers, and this year's Mystery Trip costs $200, $100 of that from fundraisers.

Alternative Spring Break Whipped Cream

Some people clean up trash over their alternative spring break, other people get trashed on their spring break. Some people wear T-shirts, swing a hammer and work on volunteer projects while on alternative spring break, other people wear wet t-shirts and volunteer to get hammered over their spring break. Some people will take home memories that will last a lifetime from their alternative spring break, other people will take home herpes and genital warts that will last a lifetime.

While I’ve never participated in a wet T-shirt contest or brought home herpes from spring break, I’ve also never been on an alternative spring break (ASB). It kind of irritates me that I never experienced it (I'm talking about an ASB, not herpes). The closest I came to an ASB was a trip I went on with a friend to Sarasota to see the White Sox in spring training and then to Disney World (although I did visit 10 countries in Epcot). If I had to do it over, I’d go on an alternative break. I’d take a week, drive to some place I’ve never been, and ride in a van with strangers for hours. We’d all talk, we’d all laugh, and we’d all marinate in the odor of a van headed down to spring break. I imagine that when we arrived at our destination, we’d all have bonded.

The next morning after our travels, I’d get up early with my new friends, build a house, paint a fence, clean up a disaster and help someone who needs it. We’d make a difference in a matter of a few days. Maybe, during the trip I might meet a girl. We could sweat together while we worked during the day and hang out at night to work on another kind of project. Then we could do it all over the next day and night.

If you haven’t thought of going on an Alternative Spring Break, consider it. The cost is minimal; the experience is life-changing. Check out the following ASBs and find one that fits your personality. One request -- if you do decide to go on an ASB, share your story in The Naked Roommate forums when you get back in town.

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STORM CORPS
MTV and the United Way teamed up to help people in neighborhoods in Biloxi, Mississippi, and Foley, Alabama last year. The 2006 projects undertaken by the volunteers assisted the Southern Mississippi AIDS Task Force office, the Deaf Center and the Moore Community House, where five buildings that housed day care facilities were destroyed.

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BREAK AWAY: Alternative Spring Breaks
Break Away's mission is to train, assist, and connect campuses and communities in promoting quality alternative break programs that inspire lifelong active citizenship. See if your school is part of the break away network.

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HILLEL: Alternative Spring Breaks
Over the past year, students from over 40 Hillels have taken part in alternative breaks in El Salvador, Cuba, Argentina, Uruguay, Mexico, the Czech Republic, the Former Soviet Union and various sites throughout the United States.

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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Habitat invites people of all backgrounds, races and religions to build houses together in partnership with families in need.

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AMIZADE Amerizade includes trips to Jamaica, Northern Ireland, India, and other locations inside and outside the United States. One Amerizade trip takes volunteers to Brazil to build centers for at-risk Youth (cost $1470)

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USA FREEDOM CORPS
You can use the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network to find volunteer opportunities at home or abroad. Just enter geographic information, such as zip code or state, and your area of interest, so you can access service opportunities near your home or office, across the country or overseas.

Dear Harlan,

Over spring break, I went to Mexico with a couple of friends and had a blast. Unfortunately, I cheated on my boyfriend. I only kissed the guy but felt extremely guilty. I told my boyfriend when I got back and he took it quite well and has forgiven me and says he can trust me now. My boyfriend understands that I did it to test myself to make sure I don't have feelings toward anyone else. My boyfriend is really the only guy I have ever kissed or done anything with.

Since then, I have been e-mailing the guy I cheated with, but just as friends. I do not want to lead this guy on or hurt my boyfriend anymore. Should I still email this guy as friends or not?