Snow Day Survival Guide
If you haven’t noticed—by some miracle or, perhaps, by having only online classes—BSU is covered in snow. The weather is cold; the wind whip wildly; and our campus pretty much requires you to walk or drive to get anywhere. So, in honor of needing summer to come faster, here’s some tips for the snow.
For my fellow commuters, we’re always told to drive slow, warm up our cars, and leave an hour earlier, so I’ll skip all those and give you some real advice. It’s good during this time of year to check your Google/Apple maps routes before you leave since there might be an accident or closed road that will cause you to run late.
If it’s available to you, public transportation like buses or carpooling will help to not only get you somewhere warmer but reduce pollution in the long run. If you are driving alone, be sure to start your car in between tasks getting ready so that by the time you’re done with your morning routine, your car is ready to go, especially if you’re like me with an older model.
One trick I learned for frost on your car windows is to take a clear bag, like a ziploc, and fill it with warm or hot water (as silly as it sounds) and gently swipe the closed bag across the window. This will cause the frost to melt quicker without getting anything wet and frozen again.
For the rest of us walking around campus, whether it’s for classes, food, or on campus jobs, make sure to dress warmly, even if we sometimes think its ridiculous to layer or that we don’t need it. Carrying hand warmers, taking short cuts through the different campus buildings to stay warm, and buying hot drinks to carry around are some ways to keep yourself portably warm—though, of course, cozying up in your dorm with a heated blanket is always preferable. Just make sure to unplug it before you leave.
