The Turkey Drop: everyone knows what it is and no one wants to be a part of it. For the lucky ones who have no reason to know what this is, it’s the act of being dumped or dumping a long-distance significant other because of the “strain” of being so far apart over the Thanksgiving holiday.
Some people are blind going into their break, thinking they’ll get a chance to stuff their faces with turkey and cranberry sauce and spend time with the ones they love. However, when "the drop" occurs, the spiral of depression and regret spins into the last few weeks of school, making them almost unbearable until the next break comes around. This unholy occasion is a misunderstood event, and sufferers from it have varied opinions about its consequences.
“I actually helped a friend break up with his girlfriend over Thanksgiving break. He was falling for his ex and called me in to help break the news to her. It was a really stressful time for everyone and they were both really upset about it, but everything turned out for the best," said Zach Daniel, a sophomore at the University of Notre Dame
The turkey drop usually has the same timeline for most long-distance couples going to college:
- The first few weeks aren’t so bad; there may be a few visits here or there.
- Fall break is for more time spent together or possibly mending a few arguments.
- As October and November roll around, however, the distance becomes more and more of a strain on the relationship, so many individuals will choose the seemingly comforting holiday of Thanksgiving to do the deed and cut ties.
- The weeks following are extremely difficult, with looming exams and lingering feelings of post-breakup sadness. Though it is hard at the time, many couples don’t regret breaking up when they did.
- After powering through the last weeks of school, their winter breaks allow them to recuperate and look forward to the next semester.
“I broke up with my girlfriend over break, but my university is pretty close to home so being in my hometown didn’t bother me or bring back old memories. It was hard as first and I felt bad that she would have to go back to school like that, but eventually it worked out for the best," said Andrew Gabor a senior at George Mason University
The kindly named Turkey Drop has many negative connotations, but the repercussions of the feast-day break-up fade as winter comes, finals arrive and you remember that Christmas is around the corner.
Image: Dominica News Online
