I am not spending my Winter Term in Oberlin. Instead, I decided that the best thing to do was to actually experience winter. After all, I spent last Winter Term in the tropics, so a little balance wouldn't hurt. For this Winter Term, I'm researching the Japanese Occupation of Malaya and allowing the winter weather of Upstate New York to toughen me up.
Because, believe it or not, winter can get significantly worse than it is in Oberlin. I guess because I grew up under these harsh winter conditions, I'm always a little surprised when people express their shock about what I plan (or don't plan) to wear outside or when the high school gets so many snow days. I wear my same coat at home, where it gets colder, and my little brother never gets snow days.
Now, I don't want to give you the wrong impression. Winter at Oberlin is by no means balmy. It's just balmier than winter in other places. There's still snow, but it often gets warm enough that occasionally the snow will almost all melt, so there isn't that much build up, and when there is, it doesn't last for too long. This, actually, is my least favorite kind of snow, because it means the bottoms of my pants get the grossest. Still, if you're worried about the weather from everything my fellow bloggers have been saying, don't be. Really.
And I'll admit it: my biggest concern about winter in Oberlin is that I'll lose my ability to endure winter back at home and be mocked endlessly by my high school friends. So far, this hasn't happened, but who knows? I've got another two years to soften up.
