An UP-Staff Snow Day
- UP MAGAZINE
- 11 hours ago
- 3 min read
By Kaitlin McDowell
Edited by Taylor Morgan
“I smell snow,”- Lorelai Gilmore, “Gilmore Girls”, 2000
Miami students returned this week to negative temperatures and many inches of snow, not exactly the warm welcome I had hoped for upon returning to my home away from home.
The weather conditions brought cancellations and closure announcements all throughout Oxford. Unexpectedly, though, the storm also brought a sense of childhood play and excitement.
There is almost nothing more nostalgic than a snow day. As a child, I would wear my pajamas inside out, flush ice cubes down the toilet and even put a spoon in the freezer in hopes of a visit from Jack Frost and a coinciding school cancellation.
Since moving to Ohio for college, the magic and anticipation of snow has somewhat faded away as snowfall is also met with icy sidewalks, cold temperatures and layers upon layers, which are less than ideal for students who have to walk practically everywhere.
However, something about these snow days reminded me of the magic one feels when it snows. Despite the cold and news broadcasters' warnings to stay inside, the streets of Oxford were as lively as ever with students making snow angels, sledding and having snowball fights. Instead of hibernation, Miami students embraced the winter wonderland around them.
To avoid cabin fever, my roommates and I walked around Oxford before our fingers began to freeze, admiring the sparkling blanket of snow that grew all day Sunday. I couldn’t help but smile to see all of the students outside in their colorful and chic, may I add, scarves and hats.
“My house spent the snow day sledding, watching every animated movie and simply spending time together for our last semester,” UP Publisher Elizabeth Maher said.
These days off are particularly special for Miami’s seniors, myself included, as we all try to soak up time with our friends and college homes, which look particularly cozy in the snow, as we can before graduation come May.
Another UP member and photographer, Liv Smallcombe, reflected on how meaningful this time has been for connecting with friends.
“I’m lucky enough to live super close to my friends,” Smallcombe said. “We spent the day together outside and even tried making ice cream in the snow. I had the best snow day with the best friends.”
Reminiscent of the popular Frozen song, “Do you want to build a snowman,” Event Planner Sylvia Eastman shared the snowman she built with her roommates.
The snowman or woman is clearly a Miami student as it dons a cowboy hat and bikini across its chest. Keep an eye out for this character at country night on Wednesday.
Amid the renewed interest in analog, screen-free activities, the snowstorm allowed Oxford students to take a break from academic routines, spend time outdoors and embrace a sense of childlike joy.
No matter how you may have spent these cold yet whimsical days off, they were a gift allowing all of us to unwind and slow down before starting another hectic semester.
It’s not often that a town of twenty-something-year-olds can all find the time to play outside or stay inside with all of their friends and reminisce on what a snow day meant to us as kids.
The idea of being trapped in my college town with practically everything shut down was daunting to me; however, as the days went on and classes continued to get cancelled, I slowly discovered there was no place I would rather be.