Pulse Editor
Jacquelyn Lewis
jacquelynlewis@dailyemerald.com
Monday, March 17,2003
Oregon Daily Emerald
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Spring
Spring break plans
prompt honesty
with ‘rents, frugal
road trip spending
Dear Nat: I’ve been planning to go to Gancun for spring
break with my friends. We have the tickets and everything,
but my parents still don’t know about it. They’re really strict
and I’m sure they wouldn’t let me go. My friends and I are
flying out of Portland, my home town, so my parents are go
ing to notice when I pack up and leave. Should I just leave
without saying where I’m going or lie or tell them I’m going
somewhere they would approve of? I have to go on this trip
without my parents finding out!
— Seeking Non-Parental Spring Break Fun
Dear Seeking Fun: Whoa! Hold on a sec! Do you hon
estly think your parents, who most
likely can detect alcohol on your
breath the minute you walk in the
house, won’t be able to see right
through a lame lie about why you’ll
be away for a week? The first idea
you’ve been contemplating, leaving
without an explanation, would surely
set your parents’ nerves on fire.
They’ll assume you’re doing some
thing incredibly unthinkable, like
joining a cult or porn modeling, and
they’ll spend spring break wallowing
in worry and fear. Your second tenta
tive plan, telling them you’ll be in a
tame location for a week of wholesome activities, won’t ex
actly fly once they find out you were actually drinking
half-naked on the beach. They might just decide never to
trust you again. And, worst case scenario, if they don’t
know where you are, they won’t be able to contact you in
case of an emergency.
How about calmly presenting your vacation plans to
your parents and seeing how they feel? Tell them Gancun
is a common spring break destination for college students,
and you’ll be going with people you know and trust. Ex
plain the crazy stories they may have heard about teens
escalating to drunken madness in Gancun does not mean
that everyone who travels there goes nuts. Give them the
idea that you intend to relax, spend time with friends and
keep out of harm’s way while in Gancun, and you might
gain their approval.
And if they absolutely refuse to set you free for the week?
Well, you could go anyway. But then who knows how ugly
things might get when you return home. So anticipate how
badly your parents could hold this decision against you be
fore stepping on the plane. If you can picture your family re
lationships becoming extremely wretched as a result, it’s
time to decide if a week of carefree, youthful fun is worth
sacrificing two lifelong relationships. If you want my opin
ion, I’d say it isn’t.
Natasha
Chilingerian
Ask Nat
Dear Nat: I’m going on a road trip with some friends for
spring break, and I’m low on cash. What are the best ways
we can save money and still have a good time?
— Poor Road Tripper
Dear Poor Road TVipper: Kudos for choosing a road trip
in the first place — it’s a travel method that’s definitely
friendly on the wallet! Gas will be your primary expense,
so I recommend keeping your tires at the proper air pres
sure to score the best gas mileage. Bring some extra emer
gency cash, but leave your credit cards and checkbooks
at home so you won’t be tempted into a vacation shopping
spree. Treat yourselves to the greasy, crispy, rich (and
cheap!) tastes of fast food and pancake diners. Scour trav
el guides for the cheapest hotel rooms, and even if there’s
a bunch of you on the trip, share the smallest room avail
able — the coziness will lead to complete bonding, which
is what road trips are all about!
Contact the columnist at natashachilingerian@dailyemerald.com.
Her views do not necessarily represent those of the Emerald.
Send questions to advice@dailyemerald.com.
Martial arts
in flight
A new extreme brand of
student martial artists is taking
to the air with ‘eclectic new style’
Jacquelyn Lewis
Pulse Editor
Extreme sports have become in
creasingly popular in recent years, and
extreme martial arts are no exception.
University students who study the discipline
are adding a myriad of new elements to their
techniques. From stunts they’ve seen on television to
gymnastics to break dancing, anything goes. The
eclectic new style allows extreme martial artists to
hone their existing skills and take their moves to new
heights — literally.
Eight University students study extreme martial arts
at Best Martial Arts Institute, located at 1235
Willamette St. The students also take Physical Activity
and Recreation Services senior instructor Lani Loken’s
aerial maneuvers course, where they practice difficult
skills with the safety and security of a trampoline.
Best Martial Arts Institute owner and level five black
belt Allen Best said extreme martial arts can be loosely
defined as “taking martial arts moves to the extreme
with an emphasis on dynamic body movement.” The
jumps and kicks are higher and the rotations have more
revolutions.
Senior Rachel Bryan, who has studied martial arts for
Turn to Bounce, page 9A
Senior Nick Wolfgang
practices martial arts on
a trampoline at
Gerlinger Annex.
These moves can be
practiced in the aerial
maneuvers class
taught through the
University.
Jeremy Forrest Emerald
Meditation focuses mind, body
Local centers and groups seek
personal harmony through
meditation and Aikido
Ryan Bornheimer
Senior Pulse Reporter
Modern American life seems to grow
more stressful everyday. Terms such as
“road rage” and “anger management”
have become common in the English lex
icon. People who have become all-too-fa
miliar with these terms might find solace
in a number of local meditation centers.
Meditation entails far more than sim
ply sitting quietly on a yoga mat in
hopes of reducing stress. The practice is
part of a specific spiritual lifestyle, with
meditation acting as an essential com
ponent in a larger understanding of
mind, body and life.
The Eugene Zendo, at 2190 Garfield
St., is a Soto Zen Buddhist temple offer
ing zazen (or sitting) meditation classes,
lectures, services and weekend retreats.
Resident priest Ejo McMullen said
there are many benefits to Buddhist
meditation. Increased clarity, calmness
and a peaceful sense about life are posi
tive side effects but not the organization’s
central aim.
“Our main focus is in putting our
selves in the presence of the divine truth
Mark McCambridge Emerald
Michael Wilson, Skyhawk Faulkner and teacher Tenzin Gurmey La meditate at the Nyen Gyud
Samten Choe-Ling Tibetan Meditation Center.
very directly and allowing our life to align
with it,” McMullen said.
McMullen adds that for many partici
pants, regular Soto Zen meditation
can result in an important spiritual
transformation.
The Eugene Zendo offers regular
Turn to Zen, page 13A