By Brendan Ulmer
Staff writer
Anybody who frequents the weather section of a newspaper, or goes outside at all, knows that Kansas weather is a moody, unruly and unforgiving beast. Especially during this time of the year where winter is winding down, and dreams of spring are dashed weekly when the average temps drop from 60 to 20.
The climate and weather is probably the most common colloquial punchline in Kansas. The summers are an oven and the winters are bitter and biting. It begs the question, what’s it like for people not from here, people who grew up in a climate where the wealthy elderly from the midwest spend their winter months.
“It was pretty hard to fathom the air being cold enough to snow, because even the rain in Arizona was more like steam,” said sophomore Kaya Adams who moved here when she was 5-years old. “We moved to Kansas during the warmer months so imagine my surprise when it started getting cold for the first time.”
Her reaction to the Kansas winter and it’s trappings was different than what many may assume.
“I definitely remember the first time I saw snow, it was probably the best day of my childhood,” Adams said, “I remember my parents making a big deal about bundling up, but I could hardly wait to play outside, we made several snowmen and I even saved a snowball in the freezer for summertime, which is something I still do when it snows.”
While it’s quite apparent that there is joy to be found in the winter for those who reside, or are to reside here, what about the people in Hutch temporarily to pursue the opportunity
“I’m from South Florida, it’s humid, it’s hot, it’s over 80 all the time, it’s always sunny,” said freshman Fletcher Marshall, who also plays football. “The first time I came out here, the snow was different, it’s very different. It’s pretty cool at first until you realize this is a constant thing you’ll have to deal with.”
The burden borne by those who come to Kansas from warmer climates doesn’t stop at Jack Frost nipping at their nose – he begins to nip at their pockets as well.
“It was just pretty bad off the rip”, Marshall said. “I had to buy clothes to match here, cause I was freezing all the time.”
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