First snow day. My first snow day! I have grown up in Los Angeles’ climate all seventeen years of my life. The chances of seeing snow are very very low, I had never seen it fall from the sky with my eyes. At Amherst College, I was aware I would be experiencing all four seasons. Summer, fall, winter, and spring are all on my checklist. Therefore the first snow is always exciting to see! It all feels so magical, like the set of a movie.
Before going into the fun activities Amherst’s campus has to offer, it is important to note that in New England weather there can be sudden shifts in temperature from 65-degree weather one day to waking up to twenty degrees the next day. Layering becomes essential. It can seem simple but it is a game changer, trust me! It will do the job and allow you to interact with many of the activities Amherst and Amherst’s campus has to offer during the cold season.
One of the most popular activities takes place on Memorial Hill. Groups of students come with friends and plastic bin tops to sled down the big hill. One person after another you can hear the laughter and screams at every moment. After getting to the bottom of the hill you see people lying flat on the snow beginning to move with their arms and legs, they form snow angels. Yes, just like I said it looks like a movie set if you have never seen snow! Everyone enjoys the company, the cold, and the holiday feeling.
Another one of the most admired activities on campus is hosted by Amherst College Orr Rink. It is located right next to our Wolff Gymnasium Center passing Memorial Hill. It is where our ice hockey players practice, but it is open to all Amherst students on certain days. Ice skating is a nice space to enjoy indoor activities to enjoy with your friends. Although I am no expert with ice skating, it gets you in the holiday spirit. It may or may not be a coincidence, but the first day was open on the first day of snow, so many students are enjoying these activities.
Having the first day of snow opens all of these opportunities for the Amherst community to enjoy. The entire campus burst from their dorms to see the season’s first snow. Playing around with the coated snow, creating miniature versions of snowmen, ice skating, and more, you usually get chilly from all of this. It is your lucky day when the first snow falls on late-night days because our Valentine’s Dining Hall becomes a space to decompress from the snow and enjoy hot chocolate and tea. The first snow day is always memorable.