Jon Glass / Staff Photographer

In less than a week, classes will be over and every student will walk away from the San Diego State campus to enjoy the month-long break. Although holidays are coming and “it’s the most wonderful time of the year,” the vacation is not always that great. Some relationships might have to pause for a while, because the couple doesn’t live in the same place, has to travel to see family or is just going on vacation.

Not being able to see your partner can be a nice time for yourself but it also can sometimes cause insanity. The distance may bring fear or even doubt about the relationship.

However, not every relationship has to face this dilemma. Liana Navo and her boyfriend Randy Reyes have already experienced this challenge. In the summer, Navo flew to Japan and Reyes stayed in San Diego. They didn’t get to see each other for two months, but Reyes and Navo still communicated on the phone, despite the five-hour time difference. Daily communication helped maintain their relationship and helped each of them cope with the distance.

Although some couples may decide it’s best to use the vacation as a break from the relationship as well, the time apart didn’t lead to a break because Reyes and Navo say breaks are pointless.

Some couples may live far apart but that doesn’t always mean they can’t see each other. Andrew Luu is heading home to Orange County and plans to visit his girlfriend, Erica Palmatier, in Northern California during the break.

Many assume distance is bad and will instantly cause the relationship to falter. However, many couples will go to great lengths to make it work, even if they can’t be together every day. A break like the one SDSU students are about to enjoy can be a good opportunity to challenge relationships, find out what’s really important to each person, and see if both partners are willing to sacrifice to stay together.

“Separation is good because it gives you time to miss them,” Palmatier said. “It also prevents you from taking them for granted or abusing the relationship. But too much separation can be bad because you’ll grow differently. And when you come together from a long period of time, you find that you two are strangers causing the relationship to no longer work.”

On the other hand, holidays are a great time for love. After all, “tis the season for gift-exchanging, cuddling by the fire and that New Year’s Eve kiss. Not all couples are forced to separate for the break and it could be a time of kissing under the mistletoe and sipping eggnog all month. It could be an opportunity to spend quality time together without the stresses of lectures, homework and tests.

Whether it be sweet phone calls, blowing kisses via webcam or holding each other in person, Winter break can be quality time for couples in any situation.

8212; Edgardo Bungay Jr. is a biology and journalism junior.

8212;This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of The Daily Aztec.