When I tell other Yalies that I’m from California, I almost always am met with the response: “Good luck with a New England winter.” Stories of falling on black ice in the streets, persistent winds, red noses and numb fingertips make me feel like I chose to go to school in the tundra. 

Sunny southern California rarely experiences temperatures below 50 degrees, so bracing myself for the cold air takes mental and physical fortitude each morning. I find myself standing out in a crowd with my large puffer jacket in 60-degree weather. At the same time, other native New Englanders are warm enough to have a cardigan resting on their shoulders and bravely show exposed legs. So, in order to hide my Californian sensitivity to the real winter climate, I have a plan devised for how I will prepare. 

Layering clothes is my key strategy to dressing for the winter. Long johns, sweaters hidden behind hoodies and extra thick wool socks will be my best friends for the next few months. I also recently invested in my first pair of snow boots. However, switching wardrobes based on the season is a new concept I must learn. So, for the time being, my drawer full of t-shirts, tank tops and anything that doesn’t have a cotton or wool lining will have to be locked. I can’t succumb to seasonal depression, and I can see it possibly being exacerbated by longingly staring at tops or dresses that won’t have any use until springtime. 

I savor late mornings, especially when I had a 9 a.m. the previous day. But now, time seems to be fleeting. By 4 p.m., the day is already coming to a close, with the moon high in the sky and the sun sinking at the horizon. Although this sounds easier said than done, I will take advantage of my late mornings when I don’t have class and wake up early. Sleep is important, but sunlight is even more precious to me. 

The next step is to not remind myself of what isn’t here. Checking the weather app for Los Angeles won’t transport that sunlight to New Haven. I long for Thanksgiving Break so I can bask in the sun again, which is becoming an infrequent experience here. If I focus too much on what I don’t have, I won’t be able to enjoy the real New England winter experience to its fullest. Despite my fears of contracting frostbite or hypothermia, there are many ways to romanticize this weather. Even though there might be mornings where I’ll have to trek to Science Hill with my eyes watering from the ice cold wind piercing my face, moments of curling up in the Buttery with friends and sipping on warm drinks thaws the frost on my fears of winter. 

Lastly, gathering with other Californians who also miss the yearlong sunshine will help me get through this winter faster. Commiserating and sharing our struggles will help us envision the light at the end of this tunnel of darkness. 

My plan has yet to be tested since winter hasn’t reached its peak. Will I survive? Obviously, but I need to make sure that I thrive and that I’m not thrown into a period of hibernation. Mother Nature is a force, but she’s a force I can bear.