My blog, my rules: what to bring to college (pt. 4)

After growing up in a snowy mountain town in Oregon, one of my best childhood friends decided to move up to Spokane, Washington to face the snow for another four years. As a student at Gonzaga University, my friend Geneva has only perfected her approach to snowy weather. Read what she has to say about packing for college in a snowy environment!

My freshman year at Gonzaga University in Spokane, WA taught me many valuable life lessons. Possibly the biggest lesson I learned was how to deal with the climate. We are North; North enough to encounter the clutches of my biggest enemy: snow. Now, don’t get me wrong-- I’m from the Pacific Northwest so I’ve experienced this frosty foe before, but Spokane took snow and cold to a whole new level. We are talking two layers of pants, people! And don’t be fooled by the coined term, “Spring” Semester. Spring doesn’t exist until the last month of school. Until then, it's still a brutal winter. So how do I deal with these Arctic conditions that last until the late months? Heated tissues to wipe my frozen tears. In all seriousness, I will give you a list of my top five must-haves in order to survive the frozen tundra of an arctic campus such as Gonzaga University.

1. Leggings: Besides the fact that they make any booty look great, they are perfect for layering. I remember days where I would compete with my friends to see how many pairs of leggings we could wear at the same time. Although this seems like a silly competition, it was mainly an act of survival. Layering is key in the cold and leggings are the perfect medium to do so. 

2. Rubber-sole snow boots: My favorite brands are Sorel, Merrell, Columbia, and even LL Bean. Ditch the Uggs. Seriously, those in the snow are just a wet, furry, death trap. At this point it's not about fashion, it's about function. What is going to get you across campus with the least amount of slipping on ice? Nobody will judge you for your clunky boots, but they may, however, laugh a little at the wet stain on your butt if you slipped on the way to class because you weren’t wearing appropriate footwear. 

3. Tank tops: This may seem weird, but it all goes back to the idea of layering. In the winter, professors tend to crank up the heaters a little excessively at times. I always found myself sweating by the time I walked three flights of stairs in all of my snow gear. This allows for you to not overheat during class. Just remember to layer up before you head outside again.

4. Sunscreen and sunglasses: Do you think I’m crazy yet? There is actually research showing that the UV rays from the sun can be more intense when it is overcast. I’m not going to get into the science of this, but just trust me from experience of being the girl to have many awkward goggle sunburns from skiing in the winter. Also, snow is white, so it reflects light, therefore you walk outside and are blinded. I saw more people wearing sunglasses during the winter than during shorts and flip flop weather. 

5. Moisturizing and waterproof makeup: Moisturize. A lot. The cold air dries you up, which can cause flaky skin and acne, so lather up. Same goes for your poor wind-burned lips. Get some good chapstick: my favorites are Maybelline Baby Lips, Dr. Rescue, and Burt’s Bees Refreshing Lip balm Grapefruit. The wind can cause me tear up so I always go for waterproof eye products.