Climate: A College Adjustment?

Am I crazy to look at the weather, see a high of 40 degrees, and jump for joy? If I were back home in Texas, where the average February high is in the upper 60’s, the answer would be yes. But here, I am not alone in my excitement.

I jumped out of bed, and slipped on a short-sleeved shirt, a skirt sans tights, and cute flats, transferred my keys and phone to my light jacket and skipped out the door into the sunlight. Days like this make me wonder why everyone laughed maniacally and wished me good luck for the winter. I’ve acclimated so well that I now laugh at them when I go home wearing shorts and t-shirts, while they’re bundled up in Uggs and North Face jackets, thinking 60 degrees is cold. But not everyone is as well acclimated as I; I guess I’m one of the lucky ones.

As a first-year, coming from Texas, I was scared of what New England winter would bring. Immediately upon arriving prior to orientation, I searched for a down jacket at the Natick mall. After settling on a cute, warm jacket that I loved, I was told that this was only the fall collection, and I should return for a heavier jacket in November for the winter months! I was also advised to get rain boots and snow boots, wool socks, lots of scarves, hats, gloves/mittens, earmuffs, turtlenecks, long underwear, and various other winter gear. Needless to say, I was scared out of my mind.

Luckily, I was in for a pleasant surprise as I was able to joke with my friends from Texas, Arizona, and California about how “warm” a sunny 32-degree day was. But I was curious about everyone else’s experience. Reactions varied widely from, “Massachusetts weather is Ohio weather on crack and turned up to eleven!” (Rachel Redmond, ‘13) to “I love cold winters!” (Hannah Gross, ‘13), and everywhere in between.

Naturally, I wondered how everyone dealt with the weather. First-year Aryanne de Silva from tropical Trinidad was overwhelmed by all the winter clothing she had to buy. Sophomore Rachel Casiano swears by one thing: Under Armor. Student Laura “Lars” Marin arrived from Florida with only a winter jacket. On impulse, she bought a cheap pair of snowboots because she thought they looked cool, and loves being able to look cute by layering scarves.

First-year Clara Kahng says it’s been difficult trying to decide what shoes to wear in this weather; general consensus suggests rain boots or snow boots. I figured it might be best to ask Massachusetts natives, but I was confounded when first-year Laura Dulude told me she had neither rain boots nor snow boots and has lived in Massachusetts for 18 years. I guess Wellesley student Leila Chaieb states it best, “the human body can adjust to anything."

While no one called winter her favorite season, and not everyone is as optimistic about winter weather as Hannah or Lars, most people agree that the first snow of the year is beautiful. Unfortunately, if the sky stays grey for too long, people start to get melancholy.