Let’s be honest: Fall only lasted about 3 weeks. Many of the trees are now bare, and most have lost the majority of their leaves. Do you know what this means? Yes, that’s right. It’s getting colder, and soon, very soon, it will be that frigid time of year: winter. Now, I know a lot of you Kenyon students are from sunny places like California. I know you’re scared, but you don’t have to be. I have prepared a winter survival guide just for you, as well as provided suggestions for some fun winter activities you can engage in.
1. Wear lots of layers
The best way to beat the cold is the most obvious way: wrapping yourself in bundles of warm clothes. Ideally, if it is very cold, you should wear an undershirt, a long-sleeve shirt over that, a light jacket, and then a heavy jacket over that. Pack in those layers, friends, and don’t forget your mittens, scarf, gloves, and comfy wool tube socks. Two things I have mentioned that most people don’t think of are undershirts and tube socks. These may seem minor, but they really do help keep you warm.
2. Chug down that hot chocolate/tea/coffee
My favorite thing about winter is having an excuse to drink melted chocolate loaded with sugar, otherwise known as hot chocolate. On a cold day when your hands are numb, carrying around a nice mug of piping hot chocolate/tea/coffee will do just the trick to warm your cold heart. Hands. Hands, I mean, hands.
3. Cozy up your room and minimize your time outdoors
Now that the sun has become a stranger, you’re going to be spending more time in your room. Dig out those big fluffy blankets from your closet and bury yourself under them. Maybe organize your room and make it more habitable so you’ll want to stay there and feel comfortable. You might also grab a book or boot up Netflix. Also, I recommend you put more time into planning out your day to minimize your outdoor time. If you need to stop by Wiggins for an afternoon latte, make sure you’re picking up your cup either on your way to or from class. You don’t want to make extra trips outside if you don’t want to.
4. Take advantage of that beautiful snow!
If it is not too cold, you might want to be adventurous and explore! Have fun! Some of my favorite outdoor winter activities growing up included building snowmen, making snow angels (do not wear jeans when you do this unless you want them to be soaked through. Perhaps invest in snow pants if you want to do this), and sledding. Sledding is particularly fun because you can feel the winter wind whip by as you rip through the snow. You can also sled (and possibly scream) your way down a hill with friends, which is always fun.
Although it is not yet winter, it is already cold, and as such, I hope you will find many of these tips useful as you adjust to the weather. As a freshman, I have yet to experience winter in Gambier, and although I am afraid for the cold (even as a seasoned East Coaster, I get cold easily), I am excited to see Gambier in a new light and to have fun in the snow! But again, I’m afraid for the cold, and you should be too. Pack on those layers!