An Oberlin Snow Survival Guide.

So apparently 49 out of the 50 states have gotten snow during this recent snowstorm. Guess which one didn't!

(Not Ohio. It was actually Hawaii.)

Oberlin is finally covered in snow, and lots of snow. It took a bit of time, but now the grounds are engulfed in at least a foot and a half of powdery goodness (And no. Not that kind of powdery goodness).

What one might wonder is this: How does one keep his or her sanity during the cold Ohio winters that perpetuate through these dreaded 3-4 months? Well, there are lots of ways! And I have several fun and perfectly appropriate ways to have fun in the snow!

1.Snow mini golf: Pretty self-explanatory. Use a white golf ball for an extra challenge!

2.Needle in the snow-stack: There is tons of inviting snow mounds littered around Oberlin's campus. To put these frosty behemoths to good use, have one friend place a needle within the depths of the snow and continue to duke it out over the prickly prize.

3.Find the biggest icicle: Give yourselves an hour or so to scour through the campus in search of the biggest icicles. Hint: The Allen Art Museum courtyard has HUGE icicles that are within reach of the average heighted American.

4.Snow-crab soccer: You have soccer. You have crabwalking, in which you walk on all fours like a crab would. And what happens when you combine the two in a foot of snow? Snow-crab soccer! Also, frostbite.

Maybe I'm not the best person to give a lecture on snow survival... After reading through these horrible ideas, it seems that I too have lost my sanity.

In all seriousness, though, Oberlin is beautiful in the winter. I can't say that winter is my favorite season (it would probably be autumn), but since arriving I have found a much greater appreciation for the cold. It's pretty! And cuddling is a much more frequent occurrence. Who doesn't like cuddling?

To revisit my original question: What's the best way to survive the winter? Thermals. Really. They help in ways that I cannot even describe.