MU Students Adapt to Frigid Conditions
Carlos Argueta
Winter is quickly approaching at Manchester University: the temperature is starting to drop, snow is beginning to fall, and for many students, this will be the first time they will experience the brutal winter climate of the Midwest.
Many students from different countries and states will have the difficult task of adapting to the cold weather. “This is the first time I have seen snow.” said Leo Rees, first-year, who lives in Florida. “It is cool to see the snowfall and experience it.”
Adapting to the typical winter will be difficult for many students who are not used to this type of weather. Many students had to stock up on warmer clothes and boots because they have never owned winter gear, and for many, it will be hard for them to get used to layering up every time before they go outside. “In Florida, it does not get below 40 degrees, so going outside is very different because now I have to bundle up every time.” Rees said.
Many students are worried about the weather that is to come. They are afraid of the extreme weather conditions in the middle of the winter, where temperatures drop to the negative 20s to 40s. “I am scared because other students have been warning me about the really cold temperatures, and I do not know if they are exaggerating how cold it can be,” said Meron Lemma, first-year. “I do not know if our bodies can handle or withstand that type of weather, so I am frightened.”
With the frigid temperatures, students are also wondering about potential class cancellations. “I have heard from other students that they cancel class because of the temperatures, so I am excited over that.” said Jesus Aguirre, first-year.
Students are also afraid that the cold weather will cause them to come down with illnesses, and especially students from a warm climate, because they are more likely to get sick compared to students from places where winter is similar to Indiana. “Going from the freezing cold outside, then going inside where it is scorching, makes me worried about getting sick,” said Naomi Taddesse, first-year, from Ethiopia.
Among all the worries, the students have so far been doing an excellent job of adapting to the weather. Students are even looking forward to the rest of the winter. “I am excited about the snow because I have never experienced it.” Aguirre said. “I am excited about adjusting to the weather because I like adjusting to new areas, and this is going to be a challenge for me, and I love challenges.” Due to the mild weather so far this academic year, students have slowly grown accustomed to the weather, which has not caused significant problems for the new students. “So far it has not been as difficult as I thought it would be,” Rees said. “I just have been wearing warm clothes, and it has not been too bad.”