The Joy of Seasons
It's almost fall! McKenna shares what she loves about each season in Minnesota.
It's almost fall! McKenna shares what she loves about each season in Minnesota.
In Virginia, where I’m spending my summer, it’s been pretty hot. To say the least. I’m not a fan of the heat, so almost a month of 90+ degree days was not something I enjoyed. One day, yeah. A week? Maybe. But a month is a little much, I think.
Today, though, it’s a balmy 70 degrees and it seems the hot streak has finally broken! This change in weather reminded me about one of my favorite things about Carleton’s Minnesota location. We consistently get four distinct seasons! According to some of my friends in Duluth, they have additional names as well. Here’s an overview:
Sweat/Mosquitoes (Summer)
Because of our schedule, I’ve only really experienced summer at Carleton during the first week of fall term and the last two weeks of spring term. That being said, it’s a toasty bookend for my academic year. It’s really quite warm and you’ll work up a sweat tossing a Frisbee with your friends on the Bald Spot.
Leaves (Fall)
Fall is one of my favorite seasons. The leaves turn vibrant colors and it really starts to feel like a new school year. Like I said, I hate the heat, so I’m much more likely to want to eat lunch outside now. I’ll also try to study outside as much as I can — the weather is just perfect! Fall is also apple season, so I usually spend a month or two craving apple crisp.
Snow (Winter)
Winter in Minnesota ROCKS!! And I’m not just saying that because of the recent Virginia heat wave. I love playing in the snow, drinking hot chocolate, and seeing some of the beautiful snowy creations around campus. Plus, at Carleton, you get to experience only the good sides of snow — no digging your car out every morning (almost everyone lives on campus) and the pathways are always cleared (with a crazy sweeping machine thing)!
Mud (Spring)
By the time it warms up again, you’ve gotten used to the cold. That means that even 50 degree days are an occasion to break out the shorts. Spring term is also time for our annual Spring Concert, affectionately shortened to “Sproncert” by students. The flowers are blooming and more daylight means a return to outdoor lunches!
Honestly, I think Minnesota weather gets a bad rap. While each season brings its challenges, there’s also something I love about every time of year. The gradual change of temperatures always finds a way to sneak up on me. I’m always pleasantly surprised when the weather changes and I really love that variety.
McKenna is a Russian and Psychology double major who is suffering from major Minnesota-withdrawal (her favorite season is, in fact, winter). On campus, she’s often designing lights for a student performance, speaking Russian in Parish house, or grabbing a meal with friends. She’s also a proud member of the Carleton Equestrian Team and is currently playing Witcher 3: Wild Hunt in her free time. Meet the other bloggers!