By Diya Kapoor
Winters with snow, heavy parkas, and packed ice have been only something I’ve seen in movies. Coming from California, my Novembers to Februaries have been full of 60-something degree weather, a light jacket, and maybe some rain on occasion. So when I chose to go to Boston, I wasn’t sure I would be able to survive the nail-biting sub-20-degree weather.
Boston winters are rough, but I don’t want that to scare you off from considering BU or from being in Boston already. As the ice begins to melt and the weather changes, I have a lot of thoughts about my first winter in Boston, especially if you’re considering BU and you’re from a place that doesn’t get snow.
- Get the gear early.
In this case, I got a puffer jacket from REI and ordered gloves and a beanie from Amazon around October, knowing that the fall crisp was going to turn into something else completely. Starting mid-November, it will get cold. 40-degree days will start turning into 20-degree ones fast. It’s good to have all your gear so you can stay warm while walking down to your next class on Comm. Ave. I’d recommend wool, fleece, or down for your clothes and layers!
- Bundle up, regardless of what the weather app says.
You may run really hot, or find putting on layers a drag, but trust me, it helps. There was an instance during my fall semester when I woke up ready for the new day, checked the weather app, and saw it was 36 degrees. Perfect! I’ll go without my gloves. Little did I know that later in the afternoon, the weather would decline rapidly, and by the time dinner time hit, I had to walk back to my dorm feeling like my fingers were going to fall off. I was about to call myself a victim of frostbite! I also recommend covering your ears when you’re cold, as that can increase your risk of getting sick.
- Take in the sight!
We recently had a snowstorm that led to BU’s first snow day, so I put on my boots, bundled up, and walked around campus while it was snowing. I found myself at the Riverway Park, slowly going through Beacon Street, and then the campus! There are also many places that offer cool snow experiences, like sledding at Boston Common. Even then, it was an awesome break, and I felt the snow falling on my face. As someone who doesn’t ski or really hasn’t been around snow, it was such a cool thing to experience!
It may be scary, but winter is fun if you look at it with a positive light. Have fun!