Oberlin is beautiful in the summer. The trees bloom, goldfinches flit from tree to tree, and on any given day, a number of bicycles can be heard whirring through Tappan Square. With that comes the heat of summer, and unfortunately, many dorms at Oberlin don't have AC units. At first, this was a major disappointment to me, but I quickly found ways to get around it. Here are my top ten tips for staying cool in an Ohio summer and looking awesome while doing it.
First off, it's really important to find a fan, but if you're like me, you're pretty cheap and don't want to spend $40 at a department store. So this year, I decided to go hunting at Goodwill, which is right next to Walmart and only a five-minute drive away. At Goodwill, I found many fans, and they were all incredibly cheap. When I put a few in my dorm, I found that after I came in, I could turn them on, blast them on my face, work on homework, and it was like I had an AC unit after all.
Two, I live in Johnson House, which is widely considered one of the most beautiful dorms on campus (and I'm not just saying that because I live there). Unfortunately, some of the rooms don't have screens. While I could file a work order and ask facilities to install them, that would mean moving my 40 houseplants from the windowsill, so I decided to tough it out and live with no screens. This means my windows have stayed open for almost two months now, until the weather drops cold enough that I'll need the heating system. It may sound annoying to lose window screens, and yes, the occasional mosquito or cricket does come in, but it's been more than worth it to have cool, fresh air. I love when it rains—I can light candles, turn on my fan, and read a book while the perfume of fresh earth incenses my room.
Three, there are so many events on campus that happen in air-conditioned buildings, and not only that, but there are so many events on campus that offer free watermelon or drinks. For example, when I came into work on my first day, Career Exploration and Development was having a watermelon social with lemonade and popcorn. This is a great way to cool off between classes, and I love how the staff appreciates us and knows exactly what we need to make our day-to-day lives easier and more comfortable. It's not exactly easy wading into 85° heat sometimes, but fresh watermelon makes it better.
Four, this one is for my friends who can drive, or my friends who have a car, or my friends who have friends who have a car. Just a 17-minute drive away is a beautiful creek between the Vermilion River and Plum Creek, where you can enjoy waterfalls, forested hikes, and the luxury of getting out of Oberlin for a day. This is a great escape for me and my friends to show off some of the hidden beauty Ohio has to offer. Everyone loves to complain about the cornfields, but really, if you look a little closer, Ohio is gorgeous, with so much nature and so much to explore.
Five, if you can't get away in a car, why not get away in the Arboretum? Again, I may be biased because I basically live inside of it, but the Arboretum is this gorgeous, huge park with so many trees, hiking trails, streams, and it even borders an old cemetery. It is a gorgeous late-night walk, which is one of my top recommendations for when it's hot out. Your dorm may be stifling after a long day, but if you can go on a walk with one of your friends, enjoy the cool night air and the moonlight, it can be a lovely escape—not only from your room but also from the heat.
Six, who knew that your Connect Cleveland shirt would make for such a great way to stay cool? And not only because you look awesome wearing it. That swaggy, free t-shirt is going to keep you sweat-free when the weather gets hot. Thanks, President Ambar!
Seven, make sure you're drinking plenty of water. Oberlin just instated a plastic water bottle ban, which means we have more access to water bottle fillers all around campus. This is one of my favorite ways to stay cool because when it feels despairingly hot, all I have to do is drink water and remind myself that my body can cool down all by itself.
Eight, This one is for the brave of heart, but our gym opens at 7:00 in the morning, and I think it's a great idea to go to the gym at 8:00 a.m. before the heat hits. That way, I can get my workout in, take a cold shower, and by the time class starts, I'm engaged and locked in. Not to mention, I've already worked out before it gets hot. And if you need more perks on why working out early is best, just think about how few people will be there at 8:00 a.m. The only people I see are a few of my friends and a number of old people who are going there to get pumped.
Nine, did you know that fruits and vegetables help you stay hydrated? But Natalie, you tell me, I don't have a way to get fruits and vegetables. Well, not to worry! In front of the AJLC, our environmental building, there are a few apple trees in addition to pawpaw trees and a persimmon tree, where you can grab free fruit from. I also love to grab their apple-pears, which are a sweet, juicy way to stay cool.
Ten, if you can find grapes at ALDI, frozen grapes are a fantastic and healthy way to stay cool. It's like chewing ice, but better because it's like dessert.
But honestly, the coolest and best way to stay cool at Oberlin is simply being here. Oberlin students are super cool, and there's no better way to finish off my summer than being back here among all my friends and enjoying all of these awesome bonding activities.
Fine, summer in Oberlin isn't 90 or 100°, but it does get hot. When my room gets too hot, my favorite thing to do is pick out a good tree in Wilder Bowl, lie down underneath it, and wait for one of my friends to come find me. I hope that you try these tips and see which one works best for you.
