Well hey there!

Up until a few months ago I didn’t even know there was such a thing as winter. If it got below 50 degrees in Southern California we went into a state of panic. Now, if it is 50 degrees I am getting ready to go tan. I guess you could say the Midwest has changed me. Even though the first thing I always heard when I told people I was going to Iowa was that it gets cold there, nothing prepared me for below zero temperatures and winds that could literally blow you away. So now that I am mostly accustomed to this fourth season, I thought I would share some tips and tricks.

1. Buy a winter coat. Don’t be like me during the first few days and pretend that walking around in your denim jacket will keep you warm. You don’t look cool you just look like that crazy California girl who thought it would be fun to get frostbite.
2. Get winter shoes, whether you are into Timberlands (whoop!) or Beanie Boots buy a pair. It’s much better to have a pair of those than to be minding your own business walking to class and then end up on the cold, snow covered concrete because your shoes didn’t have traction.
3. Your ears will fall off… Ok, maybe kidding, but they will become numb
4. Finding clothes to wear for a night out on the weekend is not easy. A dress and cute sandals just won’t cut it any more.
5. They don’t cancel school for anything. Yeah sure, in high school you got snow days, in college you don’t even get blizzard days.
6.  If you thought your motivation to go to 8am classes was hard in the fall, let me tell you it is 10x harder to get out of bed in the middle of winter. Mentally preparing yourself to roll out of your nice warm bed and face the arctic tundra outside is not easy
7. Cabin Fever is real. I think the worst part of winter is that you really are stuck inside most of the time. It’s hard knowing just how nice it is to walk around campus and downtown Iowa City when it’s warm and not being able to do it. Walking around outside is a mode of transportation in winter not a causal stroll in the park.
8. CAMBUS IS YOUR FRIEND. Remember Blue to Burge, Red to Rienow. Download the Bongo app and use it. Those buses will be the difference between you having 10 fingers at the start of spring and ending up with 8 because you lost a couple to the cold.

Hope this helps anyone,  who like me is completely inexperienced with the idea of winter. I also want to say that it really isn’t that bad. Yes, I just went on a six hour rant, but yes, I still love Iowa and the University more than anything, even when it is 80 degrees and sunny at home right now.

Until Next Time

Stay Warm Hawks!