Preparing for Providence to look ugly
When you arrive on campus in early September, you’re greeted by a beautiful foliage of green, and as the weather starts to cool down, that foliage becomes a romance of orange, red, and yellow that creates an atmosphere perfect for cuffing season. However, that beautiful appearance of Providence only lasts for a flashing moment. What occupies Providence for a great portion of your time here is a state of ugliness: bare trees, grey cement, brick building upon brick building, minimal blue sky, and a frigid coldness that turns into an ugly cold sweat every time you walk up a damn hill. If you don’t prepare yourself for this horrifying change, then you’re sure to fall into some degree of seasonal depression. So, here are some tips to stay away from that wretched period of 4 to 5 months:
1. Walk with your head down
If you can’t see the surroundings, then you can’t get sad. Period. It’s simple logic. So just stare at your feet when walking from Point A to Point B on campus, and never look up. The added bonus of this is that you won’t have to see the equally as “Wow, it’s really ugly around here” faces of your peers that could add to your discontent. (And don’t worry, most cars should yield for you. New England drivers are very polite.)
2. Dress up
Speaking from experience, this one really works. There’s no color outside? Fine, cool, make color outside yourself. This is even more effective if your friends also wear color. Sure, neutrals are “mature” and make you look “cool, calm, and collected,” but they won’t make you happy during winter.
3. Wear yellow-tinted shades
Make your eyesight become covered in yellow, and ta-da! everything is sunshine around you. Better yet, wearing these shades can protect against those 100mph winds that Providence has. Do you want Providence to look ugly AND have your eyes red, irritated, and watery? Nope. Wear the yellow-tinted shades.
4. Stay in the library
If you can’t see the outside, then you can’t get sad. So, grab all of your stuff, and make a home for yourself in the SciLi or the Rock. The added benefit of this is that you will hopefully be more likely to study for your classes. Hopefully.
5. Hibernate
Just go to sleep and don’t wake up until daylight savings time starts in March—or maybe until mid-April when the weather is slightly manageable. Similar to staying in the library, you won’t have to gaze upon the outside world, but hibernating lets you catch up on your beauty sleep AND gives you a chance to really think through your future.
Really, it’s just kinda super-duper sad to be in Providence during the winter time. Cement, buildings, no sky, and extremely strong winds biting into your blood vessels. Still, even if it’s difficult to get through Providence’s ugly period, it’s worth it when spring finally hits: trees colorfully blossoming, flowers in bloom everywhere, and sunshine that eases stress and anxiety and replaces it with a lighthearted skip in your step.
Image via Elliana Reynolds '22.
