Now that we’re at the start of the new year, it’s time to start thinking about this Winter Term. This year’s gonna be pretty different because it’s the first time I won’t be on campus for all of January. In a way, this feels a little more like I’ll be facing uncharted territory than last time. I mean, I had already gotten pretty used to the campus by this point last year. I knew what a hike it would be from my dorm at the south end of campus to Stevie, the northernmost dining hall. What I didn’t realize then was just how brutal Ohio winters can be. Of course, any midwesterners reading will know that this was completely an oversight on my part. Just know that it is COLD.
With the extreme wind, though, also come the best snow storms. That’s something I’m really gonna miss while being home all of Winter Term. We don’t really understand what a true “winter wonderland” is in New York City. The most we get is two inches of snow that turns either black or yellow within about an hour of falling (and honestly, you hope for black or yellow. Let’s just say there’s potential for every color of the rainbow out there). I’m never going to forget the time the little pond outside of the Environmental Science building froze over and my roommate dragged me over to start a mini ice skating challenge. Or the time we had a snowball fight after dinner and ran home with snow in our shoes, our toes slowly defrosting back at the dorm as we watched Jurassic Park.
The hardest part is going to be being away from my friends for an entire month. I’m already feeling it on the holiday break, texting them every day and checking in on everybody’s now entirely individual shenanigans. I think of the people I know who are going to be on campus all of January, getting to have all three meals with the people they’re closest to, raiding Walmart’s handwarmer section, and going on walks in the flurry-covered Arboretum.
It’ll be nice being home, but I have a feeling that waking up the morning after a snowstorm and not getting to run over to my roommate’s side of the room to declare a snowball war will take its toll. I know Winter Term will be a fun time even being home. Right now, though, I can't wait for February!
