BY LIANA KATZ

In print | November 29, 2007

When I was in high school in Western Massachusetts, there was a large contingent of students who insisted on wearing shorts, t-shirts and flip-flops in the winter, despite the biting cold and constant snowfall. Their failure to accept reality seemed odd to me. Why ignore the season? Why not embrace the chillier months in all of their frostbite-inducing glory?

Although it is always difficult to stash away summer clothes in favor of bulky jackets and gloves, winter can be one of the most beautiful and fun seasons of the year. Here are some of my favorite ways to enjoy Swarthmore in the cold.

The bright and clear winter sky offers a perfect opportunity for stargazing. If you don’t have access to the astronomy department’s telescopes or even a pair of binoculars, there is no need to worry. Plenty can be seen with the naked eye. The easiest winter constellation to spot is Orion, “the Hunter.” Look to the south (in the direction of Upper Tarble and Wharton) for four bright stars that represent Orion’s limbs and three smaller stars in a slanted line that make up his belt. A complete guide to the night sky can be found at www.astroviewer.com.

Once it starts to snow, it is the perfect time to revisit childhood pastimes, or if you grew up in sunnier climates, to enjoy them for the first time. Purchase a sled or create your own makeshift contraption by borrowing a Sharples tray and sliding down Parrish Beach. For a more intense ride, scout out some of the icy hills in the Crum. Be sure to watch out for the pine trees, though. Or, ambush your friends and unwary passers-by with a frigid barrage of snowballs. Start an all-out war and don’t surrender until everyone is sufficiently coated in snow.

Often, the best part of the cold is warming up. Nothing embodies the spirit of winter like hot chocolate. Forgo the cloying sugary mixture that spurts out from the Sharples machine and make your own. Purchase a bar of dark chocolate from Essie Mae’s or one of the coffee bars and melt it into a mug of hot milk. Cradle a cupful as you walk between classes to keep you warm on that “exhausting trek” from the Science Center to Kohlberg.

If the winter grey seems overwhelming, give yourself something colorful to look forward to in the spring by planting bulbs. Although traditionally planted outdoors after the first frost, bulbs can be forced to grow in indoor planters (crocuses, daffodils, hyacinths and tulips work the best).

Fill a plastic pot with packed soil and a bulb and store it outside or in a cool place. If you remember to water it periodically, the bulb will take root and bloom in the spring. More detailed directions for planting bulbs can be found at www.plantideas.com/bulbs.

While you are out reveling, remember that colds and frostbite are no fun. The close quarters of dorm life make catching something almost inevitable.

Keep sickness (and scurvy) at bay by downing plenty of orange juice or other vitamin C-filled foods and by washing your hands. Prevent frostbite from attacking your extremities (trust me, blackened and swollen fingers are not attractive) by wearing moisture-repellant gloves and socks. Avoid tight, restrictive layers as they can cut off circulation, encouraging frostbite.

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