As Mr. Brit Lit (as I occasionally call blogger Matthew, see the previous post) has intimated, the seminary has settled down, and most men are already away from the house on break. The rest of us will be leaving soon, while a couple (particularly the "late-vocation men," i.e., the old guys) have no other home than here and live out of this place, even on break. Of course, the vast majority of the priest-faculty live here as well.
Probably much to those same faculty's delight, the house is quite settled and quiet. We have left this place, this building of study, this building of prayer, and have ventured out into the world. 
We have, in a very peculiar way, a small taste of what it one day may be in the future, for even though we're not yet priests, we are yet recognized as somehow representing the Church. We've already gone through a significant amount of formation and so we all recognize that regardless of what another might think of us or how much we might like to have some time completely "off," there is no "off" anymore.
This is a usual homily or conference or piece of advice that we receive just before these extended breaks. "Yes, men, you are on break from class, from the prayer-life of the seminary, etc... but you're not on break from God. You still have to be good. You still have to pray - daily." At this point in our formation, we wouldn't have it any other way. We have come to recognize that our whole life - were we in the seminary or not, were it our future "job" or not - must revolve around God. And so we continue what we've already been doing here: preparing the way for the Lord.
Of course, finishing a stressful semester, a grueling Finals Week, and getting away from the seminary on break creates quite a bit of added excitement. This excitement does risk spoiling our Advent preparations; we do risk a premature celebratory joy which detracts from the joy which ought come with Christmas. But, I don't think this is the case. Rather, we go forth from this place converting our excitement - by way of prayer - into even greater anticipation of the revelation of our God, our Emmanuel. Come, Lord Jesus, and do not delay!
