How West Coast Freshmen Cope with the Cold
Written by Graceanne Warburton
“I had seen snow twice in my life before—once in a miracle snow flurry on Christmas Day in 2004 and the other time on a visit to Hillsdale.” These are the words of Alexis Garcia, a freshman at Hillsdale College and a native Texan. Though she and I are from different states, I can empathize with her statement. Coming from Las Vegas (the city situated in the exact center of America’s hottest desert), I too came to Hillsdale a little snow-shy. But now that I am here, thankful for every morning above 20 degrees, I can’t help but wonder how my fellow West Coast freshmen are taking the change.
Amelia Stieren of Oregon, for one, said that the transition was a little rough at first: “It’s been hard because I’m used to most days being 40 and rainy. If we had snow, school was canceled and everyone stayed inside.” In light of the fact that the college remained open though several snowstorms, I can understand why Amelia feels a little out of place. And yet, many of the responses I got were surprisingly positive. Emily DePangher of Southern California commented, “I love the winter! My favorite part is just the diversity. You can get kind of moody, but you go with the weather. It’s cool.”
Love it or hate it, the winter is an undeniable part of the Hillsdale experience—one for which every student has to brace himself, whether from the West Coast or not. When asked how well they prepared, many of the freshmen I consulted were keen on giving little pieces of advice that they wish someone had given them. Of the wisdom they bestowed, three warnings were prominent:
Beware the ice. “You should already know from physics and just from common sense that ice has hardly any friction,” said Alexis Garcia, “but it becomes a very real struggle when you actually have to amble across terrifying, frozen expanses to get to class. It would’ve been nice to have a little more warning about how easy it is to fall on ice.”
If you have a car, drive slowly and take necessary precautions. Obviously, you should always be careful when you’re on the road. When it comes to driving in snow, however, you really have to emphasize this rule. Also, although a Midwesterner’s advice about car maintenance and road safety is often invaluable, you probably shouldn’t impulsively mimic their driving habits. Chang said, “I think I’m a better driver than all these Michigan people here, because I’m more careful. They drive as if the snow wasn’t there. I take my turns slowly.”
Get boots! No, really—get good boots. Above all else, boots will be the best weapon in your arsenal against the Michigan winter. They are first and final defense against that odious chill in your toes, that miserable feeling of snow caught in the ankles of your jeans, and of course, the infamous wet sock. To beat these demons, no ordinary West Coast shoe will do. Put the Tom’s away for the winter; you’re going to want some real boots. “I wish someone had told me that it is really important to wear shoes with traction,” said Amelia, “I thought it was no big deal… It is a big deal.”
I myself have been completely surprised by how beautiful my first winter has been. I didn’t expect to love it; admittedly, I was dreading it. Many people told me that it would be awful and that I would quickly tire of the incessant snow. And yet, once it came, I totally fell in love with it. So to any West Coast or warm climate dweller who is considering Hillsdale College, my parting words to you are these: don’t take too much heed in what people tell you about “real winters.” No one complains about the weather more than the natives, and any chance to experience all four seasons in drastic yet harmonious accord should be taken, no matter the how icy the sidewalk.
Graceanne Warburton is a freshman at Hillsdale College majoring in History, with plans to minor in either German or Journalism. She participated in forensics and theatre during her first semester, and is looking forward to picking up volunteer work at the Humane Society in the spring. She is a member of the Hillsdale College Honors Program.