Lady Whistledown’s (Abdullah’s) Journey as an International Student in Minnesota Winters.

Dearest Gentle Readers,

This author is back with yet another one of her stories. It is often said that the grandest adventure begins with a single step into the unknown. For this author, however, that step was an eleven thousand mile leap from the sun drenched, sweltering lands of Pakistan straight into the embrace of Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota.

While my dear readers in Islamabad and Lahore are well acquainted with a heat so fierce it slows thy very blood, Minnesota offers a climate of an entirely different… temperament.

Allow me to present a definitive guide, or might I say, an outline, if you will, for the incoming gentle scholars of Carleton College, capturing how an international student survives, thrives, and ultimately loses their heart to the Northfield cold.

Act I: The Illusion of Autumn

The Pakistani Winter, Made Flesh: Upon arriving on Carleton’s campus in the fall, this author was struck by a delightful familiarity. The crisp, cool autumn air of Minnesota felt precisely like the absolute depths of winter back home. A comfortable wool sweater, a brisk walk across the Mai Fete island, how utterly charming was this sight for this author.

The Maiden Snowfall: Then came the first frost. To witness the campus transform into a pristine, white wonderland was nothing short of a romantic triumph. The trees dusted in powdered sugar, the lakes reflecting a pale blue sky as it was a scene ripped from the finest poetry.

Act II: The Great Freeze & The Knight in Layered Armor

The Cruel Descent: But, oh, how quickly the romance turned to desperation! The temperature dropped, and dropped, and dropped further still, until this author was quite convinced that my vital organs would freeze entirely before the next morning lecture.

An Unexpected Savior: Enter my roommate, Mr. Owen Caucutt, a true gentleman of Minnesotan stock. Seeing my distress, he offered a piece of wisdom so profound it changed the course of my season: “The secret, my friend, is not a thicker coat, but the art of layering.”

The Revelry of Winter: Once properly armored in thermals, flannels, and wool, the true brilliance of Carleton revealed itself. We ventured into the town of Northfield, borrowing contraptions from the local Sled Library to slide down snowy slopes. We took to the Ice Rink on the Bald Spot, spinning (and occasionally tumbling) under the winter sky, revived only by the weekly campus tradition of steaming hot cider and rich hot chocolate.

Act III: The Town, The Tradition, and The Triumph

The Splendor of Northfield: A true member of society does not stay cooped up inside. The annual Winter Walk in downtown Northfield proved to be the social event of the season, illuminated by candlelight, laughter, and a community so warm it could melt the thickest ice.

A Scintillating Competition: And what is life without a bit of sport? This author was invited to partake in the most thrilling event of the year: the Minnesota Department of Transportation’s Snowplow Naming Contest. A chance to match wits against the elements and leave one’s mark on the very machines that conquer the drifts!

My dearest readers, if there is anything this author wants everyone to know, it is not to let the rumors of the northern wind deter you. Carleton College and the town of Northfield do not merely endure the winter; they celebrate it with a warmth of community that no thermometer could ever measure.

Yours sincerely,

Lady Whistledown (Definitely not Muhammad Abdullah… again.)

Meet Muhammad Abdullah (he/him), a rising sophomore from Islamabad, Pakistan, who is successfully bridging the gap between Studio Art and Mathematics. If you wander into Boliou Hall, you’ll likely find him crafting giant, life-sized 3D sculptures or just daydreaming about what everyday objects look like in higher dimensions. 
Outside of academics, Abdullah stays busy. He’s a campus RA who loves meeting new people, a dancer with various dance groups, and an avid baker currently trying to eat his way through every single restaurant in Northfield. 
Abdullah is also Carleton’s unofficial trivia captain; if you ever want to know the coolest secret facts about campus, he’s exactly who you should ask.