A Completely Outside Day in my Life

While Oberlin is a great place to get cozy during the snowy winter months, my favorite time of year is the spring (following three to four false springs), when I can spend all day enjoying the sunlit campus. This is an ideal weekend day in springtime Oberlin, which obviously can be supplemented with classes during the week!

Breakfast:
My ideal breakfast is a bagel and iced coffee from Slow Train. Living in north campus is great because of its proximity to the gym and dining hall if you’re AVI, but I also enjoy the walk through Tappan, which takes me straight into our little town. I usually go for a plain bagel with cream cheese from Slow Train, or a pesto caprese bagel if I’m feeling The Local. 

Morning Walk:
Iced coffee in hand, I then go straight to the arboretum. I love going on (near) daily walks in the arb starting at the tail end of winter. This way, I can see the ice on the pond melt away, see the grass peak out, and finally, my favorite parts, the flowers and arb cats return.

Hark Lunch in the grass:

During the cold winter months, my coop eats in our lounge or indoor dining space; thank goodness we have a beautiful field of grass right out front to eat on once the weather warms up. There’s nothing I love more than enjoying a meal while watching my friends run around, climb trees, and relax in the grass.

Bike Ride:

My ideal post-lunch activity is a long ride on the bike path. Similar to the arb, I love to watch the bike path trees and neighboring farms gradually bloom into spring. While I can go for a bike ride any time of year, it’s especially rewarding when there’s sun on my face, fellow bikers zipping by, and the occasional chicken out for a stroll. I love the friendliness of Ohio culture, where everyone says hello when passing by; that doesn’t happen so much in New York.

Reading in Tappan:

My return from the bike path leaves me a few hours until dinnertime. Naturally, the best post-bike activity is relaxing and reading time in Tappan. I like to bring a book or print out my readings, find a good patch of grass, and watch people go by.

Hark Dinner Outside:

Of course, Hark dinner has to be outside as well. I’m usually pretty tired at this point because the sun wears me out, but it’s a good kind of tired. At this point in my ideal day, I can refuel with focaccia and tofu, lie in the grass, and feel accomplished. Then, when the sun starts to set, I can bike or walk back to North Campus and finally head inside.