10B - The Mic an Daily - Thursday, Mrch 17, 2005 -.pp h Mch.
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SPRING BREAK WFFH THE FOus: THE RV
CULTURE YOU NEVER KNEW EXISTED
inety-one. That's how many days
my parents spent in their motor
home in 2004.
My dad often likes to remind me of this
fact - and his goal of surpassing it by the
end of this year.
My parents retired just after I entered
college, and like most older folks, have
found an activity that makes them happy.
In their case, it's traveling and camping in
their RV.
Part of my parents' winter routine now
includes two months of travel around
the state of Florida from campground to
campground.
So when they invited me to spend
Spring Break with them this year, I knew
the trip was going to be far from ordinary.
Let me walk you through just 24 hours of
the experience, andI think you'll see what
I mean ...
When I arrived on Saturday
afternoon at the Orlando air-
port, my parents rushed me
back to the Rock Crusher Canyon RV
Park near Crystal River, FL. We would be
spending our first three nights of the trip at
a Roadtrek rally.
OK, I know. I need to explain a few
things. Technically, my parents' RV brand
is called a Roadtrek - and don't confuse it
with a Winnebago or a Prevost. RVers are
very brand loyal. And yes, I said a rally.
v. Most every RV company throws rallies
all over the country. It's when a group of
25 to as many as 300 units (aka RVs) get
together for a few days at a certain camp-
ground. The rally coordinators arrange
for meals, entertainment and sightseeing
for whatever place the rally is held in. And
the most exciting part - the showing of
new models, complete with RV experts
who give tours of these models and dem-
onstrations about how to use and fix all
the new features in them.
Luckily, nothing was scheduled for
that first night, and I was looking forward
to a quiet evening catching up with my
parents.
But my mother - clad in her tie-dyed
"Bash at the Big House" T-shirt - thought
it'd be more fun to practice piano.
Wait, a piano? In an RV? Yes, again.
My parents have a small trailer they pull
behind our RV (it's outfitted with the same
decals as the main unit and has "trek it"
painted on the side). It houses two lawn
chairs and my mother's giant professional
keyboard.
After my dad hauled the keyboard out
and set it up next to our campfire, my
mom began to play. I sat there mortified
and thanking God that no other 20-some-
things were nearby to see this peculiar
sight when an older couple walked up.
"Nice music," the man said, "Mind if
my wife and I join you?"
Over the next half hour, several more
couples were lured to our campsite by my
mom's music - which I must admit is
quite good. And before long, we had our-
selves an all-out sing-a-along, complete
with requests being taken and "guest" pia-
nists taking their turn at the keyboard.
While my mom entertained our new
"friends," I sat apart from the campfire
circle and played games on my laptop.
"Writin' aletter to your boyfriendon the
internet?!" one of the men asked, looking
back at me and giving a little wink.
"Oh, no. Just playing games," I coun-
tered and tried hard to stifle a laugh. Hon-
estly, who elsefrom Michigan was getting
hit on by an 80-year old man at that very
moment?
At about 10 p.m., everyone had left to
walk back to their own RVs. For us, it was
(of course) time forbed, andI was looking
forward to a quiet night's sleep ... except
that our RV only has one bed. My mom,
my dad and I looked like sardines next
to one another as we dozed off on that
king-sized mattress. I woke up once hav-
ing to use the bathroom ... but on second
thought decided that maneuvering out of
and back into the bed wouldn't be worth
the trouble.
The next morning, memories of chilly
wake-ups while camping with my parents
in high school suddenly came back to me
as I shivered in my sleeping bag. It was
6:30 a.m. and my mother was already
asking me to move so she could set up the
table for breakfast.
My parents' RV is a smaller model, and
even though it has a bed, kitchen, toilet
and wardrobe, many things serve a dual
purpose - in this case, the bed turns into
a table or a couch, depending on what you
need at the moment.
"Why don't you go take a shower?" my
mom suggested. SoI grabbed a towel and
bravely set out to find the bath house.
Unfortunately, the nearest facilities
were about a quarter mile from where
our campsite was. I've always hated this
part of camping. The last thing I want to
do when I wake up is walk along a dirt
road, freezing my butt off, in my pajamas,
knowing anyone could be staring at me,
at the very moment of the day I look my
worst.
But somehow I made it through and
after a ten minute wait, finally claimed
one of the showers in the girls' bathroom.
When I got back to the RV a half hour
later, my dad was deep in conversation
with a man I assumed was camped right
next to us.
"Just how do you go about winteriz-
ing your water system?" I heard him ask.
And my dad gave some equally cryptic
answer.
"Hi," I managed quickly, and practi-
cally jumped back into the RV.
"He wants a tour in a few minutes," my
mom said. "You'd better get dressed."
If there's one thing I've learned from
years of camping, it's that RVers are
extremely friendly, perhaps even on the
verge of nosiness. No one hesitates to
approach your campsite - or your vehi-
cle. As my parents have sometimes put
it: If you're outside your RV you're fair
game.
Afterbreakfast, my parents (who let me
add, were each wearing beaded necklace
nametags to identify them as part of the
rally) set up our screen room, an item that
many RVers invest in. The screen room
is just what it sounds like - a room that
attaches to the RV's awning and creates a
bug-free extra room.
Before long, it was lunchtime, and my
parents and I joined the hundreds of other
RV owners who were participating in this
rally. After a quick scan of the crowd, I
realized that I was - by at least an aver-
age of 50 years - the youngest person in
attendance.
As we ate buffet-style food at the
campgrounds enormous picnic site, the
Oakridge Boys - a country and western
band that's been popular for at least a half
century - provided our entertainment.
Some of the women (who clearly were
once big fans) were screaming and danc-
ing near the stage.
Meanwhile, I sat and chatted with an
80-year-old Southern belle from Missis-
sippi. And even though I felt awestruck
by this curious little world my parents are
part of, it hit me that maybe it wouldn't be
such a bad reality someday.
Ellen fully appreciates Ann
Arbor's student ghetto after her
week in an RV and can be reached at
emcgarri@umich.edu.
By Doug Wemert
Daily Weekend Editor
Random: Hello?
The Michigan Daily: Hi, who's this?
R: This is Rachel.
TMD: Hi Rachel, I'm calling from The
Michigan Daily, and you've been selected
to do this week's Random Student Inter-
view.
R: Oh, whoa! No way!
TMD: Oh, it's true.
R: Oh man.
TMD: So you want to do it?
R: What do I have to do?
TMD: Answer some questions.
R: Right now?
TMD: Yeah.
R: OK, sure, why not?
TMD: Haha, OK. First question: How
are you and how was your weekend?
R: I'm fabulous and my weekend was
not as exciting as I'd like it to be.
TMD: Why not?
R: I'm in a play right now, and I had
rehearsal, so I didn't really get to spend
that much time out and about, but I did get
a lot of homework done. I don't know if
that makes me nerdy or productive.
TMD: Well, that makes you a thes-
pian.
R: Yes, it does. Perhaps an artist.
TMD: Perhaps. What's your part?
R: I play The Girl. She's called The
Girl because she can't decide what her
name is.
TMD: Wow, she sounds like a pretty
cool girl.
R: Yeah, she's an interesting character.
TMD: She sounds just like you!
R: Haha, close. But there are some dif-
ferences, though. She's a prostitute, so I
think that's where we diverge.
TMD: Yeah, I hope that you're not like
her.
R: No, not in that respect.
TMD: Haha, OK. What's a better com-
puter game: "Oregon Trail" or Solitaire?
R: Oh, "Oregon Trail"
TMD: Did you have the old-school
black and white version?
R: No, we had the color version.
TMD: Is that the one where you could
buy every item known to man to take on
your trip?
R: Yes, and then you could die of
snakebites or falling in the river.
TMD: Yeah, or getting mauled by a
bear. That's how I died a lot. How come
when you went hunting, you could shoot
all these different types of animals but
you could only bring back 200 pounds of
food?
R: Because a human being could only
carry so much.
TMD: Well, why didn't he just bring
somebody with him?
R: I don't know. I guess the people who
made that game didn't think about that.
TMD: So what are you doing for St.
Patrick's Day?
R: You know, I haven't really thought
about it.
TMD: You're not going to be drinking
at 7 a.m.?r
R: No, more like 7:30.
TMD: Yeah, you don't want to start
too early. Have you ever had an Irish car
bomb?
R: Yeah, I have. I do like them, and I
don't even like Guinness.
TMD: Yeah, I had one and I didn't
really like it that much.
R: Really? I had it in Windsor and it
was delish.
TMD: Delish? How would you spell
delish?
R: D-e-l-i-s-h. Period.
TMD: Period. OK, I'll be sure to write
that down. So what kind of guy do you
think St. Patrick was?
R: I think he was a party animal.
TMD: Haha, why would you say that?
R: That's kind of how we celebrate his
day.
TMD: Yeah, but does that mean that
Uncle Sam was like a pyrotechnics spe-
cialist?
R: Hahaha, I guess not. I don't really
know what St. Patrick did to be honest.
Probably sold Lucky Charms.
TMD: Yeah, did the guy from the
Lucky Charms ads freak you out?
R: No, but when I was little, I was
scared of the Snuggle bear.
TMD: Why were you scared of the
Snuggle bear?
R: I didn't like his eyes. They were
creepy. And it was a teddy bear who talks
and moves and touches your laundry.
TMD: Yeah, but that's like Teddy Rux-
pin.
R: I didn't like him either. I don't do
well with the animatronic bears, I guess.
TMD: Hahaha, fairenough. Wouldyou
ever wear a "Kiss Me, I'm Irish" shirt?
R: You know what? I don't think I
would. I'm not Irish.
TMD: That doesn't really matter.
What about one that said "Kiss Me, I'm a
Michigan Wolverine?"
R: That would do. It would be more
accurate.
TMD: Would you buy one of those?
R: I might buy one of those. It might
work.
TMD: If it was between that shirt and a
Buck the Fuckeyes shirt, what would you
get?
R: "Kiss Me, I'm a Michigan Wolver-
ine."
TMD: Yeah, it's just nicer.
R: Plus, how do you buck someone?
TMD: Well, it's just like a play on their
name.
R: Oh, I know. I just think it's very
uneffective. And who are these Fuckeyes?
I don't get it.
TMD: It's the Buckeyes, but just with
an F instead of a B.
R: Someone should have thought that
one through.
TMD: Yeah, I guess so. Did you watch
"Full House" when you were younger?
R: All the time.
TMD: Who would you rather hang out
with: The Olsen twins or the Bush twins?
R: Probably the Bush twins. It would
be a more exciting experience.
TMD: Yeah, with the Olsen twins,
you're always dealing with anorexia.
R: And the Bush twins like to get their
party on.
TMD: Just like you.
R: Yeah, I guess so!
TMD: Would a good pickup line for
me to use when I'm approaching a nice
lady be: Hi, I'm a writer for The Michigan
Daily?
R: Yes, but I think you should expand
on that more. Like "I'm a writer for The
Michigan Daily ... and I'm really good
dta -wch'l
in bed ... and you have nice eyes." Throw
out your GPA, maybe.
TMD: Yeah, my GPA is not really that
high, though.
R: Well, maybe she can relate.
TMD: Yeah, maybe she's dumb, too.
R: Yeah, hopefully.
TMD: Was there a movie you watched
all the time when you were a little kid?
R: Definitely. "Pee Wee's Big Adven-
ture."
TMD: Cool. When I was a little kid, I
watched "Mrs. Doubtfire" all the time. S
R: That was an awesome movie. "Hot
Jambalaya." Viet
TMD: Haha, yeah. That's not really Din
the most famous line from it, but ... What 1220
was the best "Karate Kid" movie?
R: The first one.
TMD: Did you think it was impressive
that you could wax a car and still learn
karate?
R: Those are life skills. It was pretty
impressive.
TMD: Do you know karate?
R: No, I know tai-chi, though.
TMD: How is that different?
R: It's less hitting, maybe?
TMD: And more spiritual.
R: Yeah, more meditative, less hitting.
TMD: So if I was trying to steal your
purse, you wouldn't like kick my ass,
would you?
R: No, but I might be able to will you
to stop.
TMD: Hahahaha, all right. Who was
the better butler: Alfred from "Batman"
or Jeffrey from "The Fresh Prince of Bel-
Air?"
R: I think Alfred wins. He always
knows what's going on, and he keeps that
house so clean. He would never let a bad
guy in.
TMD: I don't think Jeffrey would do
that either.
R: Jeffrey was kind of a bitch. He's a
little prissy. Alfred was just sort of British
and great.
TMD: And he was cool.
R: Does this make me cool because
you picked me?
TMD: It makes you random that I
picked you.
R: Oh, random. Fair enough.
aigon Garen
samese & Chinese Cuisine
e-In & Carry-Out
S. University (at the corner of Forest)
Sun-Thur.
itriam to 10 pm
h iamt i pm
1 Sat
11:30 am to 11 pm
734 747-7006
Market offers sDecialit
ethnic foods
By Emily Fellows
Daily Acts Writer
When walking through the aisles of The Jerusalem
International Market, the customers could hear Awni
Abukaff, the owner of the market, talking to a group
of "regulars" who were purchasing Halal meat and
other Halal foods. Abukaff quickly sliced lamb, beef
and chicken behind the counter as he let customers
sample his top quality meat, the cornerstone of his
business's 13-year success.
The Jerusalem International Market offers its
customers a variety of freshly prepared and pack-
aged food that are not only delicious and exotic, but,
also Halal. Halal is a Quranic term which translates
to "allowed" or "lawful." Halal food and drink are
acceptable for consumption by Allah. In Islam, eat-
ing Halal is obligatory for every Muslim. Accord-
ing to Abukaff, the store got its name due to the fact
that Jerusalem is a key city in three major religions
- Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
"Muslims and Jews both practice this way of eat-
ing. It is so great because these items come from the
Mediterranean and are grown natural. We don't sell
cigarettes, alcohol or pork meat. Everything here is
fresh and healthy." Abukaff said.
Selling for $3.69 for a lamb leg or a pound of lamb,
$2.69 for stewed meat and $2.29 for ground beef, the
meats are the calling card of the store.
dough, paratha bread and suji are all from around the
world," Abukaff said to his customers.
Near the cash register, there are a variety of des-
serts on display such as cookies, dried fruits and Ori-
ental and Middle Eastern candies.
"Even though I live far from North Campus, it is
really only a five-minute drive and it is worth mak-
ing a trip over here for the desserts. I bring home the
packaged cookies and dried fruits and everyone in
my sorority loves them," said LSA sophomore Jill
Burzin, holding a plastic container full of different
nuts she chose from each barrel near the counter.
The barrels contain nuts from different countries and
Mediterranean fruits and vegetables such as cucum-
bers, eggplant, oranges and olives.
In the showcase of freshly prepared food are sauc-
es, meats, hummus, mixed vegetables, freshly made
baklava fingers, and bread sticks, along with many
other side dishes, which sell for $2.19 a pound.
Many Muslim students, such as LSA sophomore
Muhammad Luqman, shop at The Jerusalem Inter-
national Market because it is one of the only places
near campus that sells these foods.
"I'm Muslim so I need to eat Halal foods. This is
the best place on campus because it is the cheapest
and the best quality," Lugman said.
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Awni Abukaff, owner of The Jerusalem International Market on Plymouth Road, displays his store's
trademark Halal meats.
As Abukaff busily prepared food behind the coun- variety of Turkish cheese than any other market in
ter, the customers browsed other sections of the mar- Ann Arbor and it is always sold out after two weeks,"
ket. Old fashioned breads, olive oils, Mediterranean said Nagwa Abukaff, Awni's wife and an employee
spices, hummus, pitas, falafel, tabouleh and cheeses at the market.
from all around the world are piled high on shelves While the majority of the merchandise is pre-pack-
throughout the market. aged, there is also a cooking area where meat and
"Everyone comes here asking about our Turkish other dishes are freshly prepared. "You can't get this
cheese. It is only $3.99 a pound and at most markets, food at Kroger's or Meijer. This food is from Syria,
it sells for at least $9.99 a pound. We have the largest Lebanon, Turkey and Greece. The cheeses, philo
Dear Career Counselor-
For the pastthree years I've used
"Beerbuddy" as my unigname.
I'm getting ready to look for a
job and my parents think that I
shouldn't include my e-mail on
my resume, what do you think?
Thanks, Tapped on Tappan
Dear Tapped -
You want your personal style to
come through to employers, but
keep in mind when you are
seeking employment you're
entering the professional world. Dear Career Counselor -
While "Beerbuddy" captures the I'm looking for a job and have
essence of a "uniqname," it my resume on Internet job
creates a certain, less professional boards, respond to newspaper
first impression. You want to give ads and other job postings, but
employers as many venues by I'm still coming up short on good
which to contact you (e-mail, cell leads. What else can I do to get
phone, addresses). I suggest a job?
setting up a separate email Regards, Mobile in May
account for your job search with Dear Mobile -
a more neutral name. Also, check Youare right on track with
your cell phone voice message to traditre hobt h strat wi,
make sure it coincides with that tit'iona jo search rategiesr
professional image. If you have but it's time to incorporate other
other questions about interacting approaches Employers rely most
with employers, drop by The healy o nsreferls from curnt
Career Center's Advising Service employeer intereststo our
(no appointment needed), they'll your cdiatee ndxteded fa iy
help you out. Best of luck in your immediae and extended family
search and friends. Don't know anyone
sacin your field? Build your own
professional network by
informational interviewing with
individuals in your area of interest.
To learn more about
informational interviewing, check
out The Career Center's Web
site, then schedule a 30-minute
appoint-ment with a professional
to get advice on entering your
field. At your first meeting ask
for other contacts who may be
willing to talk to you. By directly
connecting with professionals
you'll have the inside track to
positions that haven't even been
posted yet.
E-mail your career question to
"Ask the Career Counselor" at
careercenter@umich.edu
The Career Center
3200 tAS 734-764-7460
I
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