Spring break provided a glimpse of post-grad life. I'm not talking about the use of controlled substances to combust brain cells, sunburns that peel twice, wandering across our nation's porous borders unchecked, blackjack, or polyamorous interactions. Unless the pointless objective line in your resume says cruise director somewhere those things will be scarce in post collegiate life. I'm talking about random Marquette mafia run-ins.

Everywhere I've gone I've bumped up against another one of us. I've done the family trip, the price was right. I've visited friends in Europe, can't beat free lodging. I've bunked in my high school buddy's black mold encrusted frat house; living in squalor means more money for flammable liquids (gasoline).

This year I bucked the cheap skate trend and went on a cruise.

Some of the best memories are from the unexpected encounters of the MU kind. Here are a few tips for tracking down fellow students when traveling in lands where Miller is but a prince and the King of hops reins supreme.

First, wear your Marquette gear. This isn't North Carolina or Notre Dame so if someone sees you wearing a Marquette hat they will know you're the genuine artifact. Yes, I am expecting royalties from the Golden Eagle.

Second, offer a seat to your new companion. Whether it be a bar stool, a beach towel, a roller coaster harness or a couch without any padding due to years of rotten decay and a cold beverage go a long way towards building new friendships.

Third, start rattling off names. If you already don't know each other, chances are you have a common acquaintance. Talk about said person behind their back, hopefully in positive terms.

When we abandon our frosty wonderland for lower latitudes we also leave behind our home. The people we run off with are our friends for, but the members of our shared experience we meet along the way contribute something extra. They shed light and provide perspective on how we feel about our university.

Here's to hoping that as we blast hither and fro in this cosmic soup in the years to come that we have many more of these blissful collisions that give off such a pleasant glow.

This article appeared in The Marquette Tribune on March 31 2005.