Snow: a spectacle or rare sighting for a Californian. Snow is an exciting experience and one that rarely rears its head. For Californians, snow is a celebration not a commonplace. For New Yorkers, Washingtonians, and other North Easterners, snow is a hassle, a delay, an annoyance. This gap is interesting to examine and see, especially on a college campus. When the Winter Storm Jonas hit D.C., there were two perspectives: the happy and jovial West Coasters who were happy to frolic in the snow and the North Easterners who just sighed once again at the sight of feet of this wintry substance.
Snowpocalypse Now: A Californian Perspective
Friday, January 22nd (Afternoon): First Dusting:
As Friday afternoon emerged, the light dusting commenced. I was excited and pleasantly surprised. I had seen snowfall last year in D.C., but it was still so exciting and new for me. As Friday afternoon continued, I found the dusting of D.C. quite therapeutic and beautiful. Fresh powder is quite unlike any other natural phenomena.
While rain is a beautiful thing as it tap, tap, taps against the window, fresh powder paints the town white with beautiful, crystalized snow powder. It truly is quite unlike anything else. Snow is interesting because it plays for both sides. Its devilish because it can wreak havoc on a city and its people through the decimation of roads; however, on the flip side it is angelic and truly transforms a scenery. The first dusting is always the "calm before the storm" and I had absolutely no idea what was to come from this powerful storm, Jonas.
As D.C. is notorious for its handling of snow, almost all stores closed before the initial storm hit. I scoured D.C. looking for options to eat, constantly disappointed as each restaurant had the same "We are sorry, but we're closed" sign.
I had never experienced anything like this. Sure, I had lived through thunderstorms and earthquakes but this was unlike any other natural event. The world around me seemed to stop as the storm was quickly approaching. After witnessing each of these store closures, I started to quickly understand what this storm was capable of. I had never seen feet of snow, and the thought if it spawned my curiosity.
What will D.C. look like adorned with over 2 feet of snow? Considering this thought further, I headed to the only open restaurant in the vicinity, Bertucci's.
Normally, this would never be an option as the food is consistently dry, flavorless, and cold, but it was the only viable meal source, and I had to oblige. Upon eating my pizza, I started to quickly realize that even Bertucci's was about to brace for the storm as the waitress ran to my table and exclaimed that the kitchen was quickly closing up. The first dusting was coming to a close and the real storm was soon to make its way into the city limits of Washington.
Friday, January 22nd (Evening): The Commencement
As I walked to work, all I could hear was howling. The sound was wild, uncaged, eerie. The familiar D.C. began to look more and more like another planet. The snow started to accumulate into distinct piles. Pathways became invisible, once familiar steps become buried under the shroud of snow.
I finally started to realize that this was a STORM. The winds brought down more snow than in the afternoon. The landscape became snowy and the world became colder. A once confident Californian become worried, anxious. What was this foreign substance invading my once familiar arena? I liked the snow, but, at the same time, it worried me. I looked around and saw cars now buried under the snow, snow plows stuck on the roads: this was just the beginning with more difficulties to come.
As the night progressed, so did the snow. The winds began to pick up and drop even more snow than before. Walking outside was like walking through a frozen tundra.
The students from the West were in awe, excitement. They ran out with plastic pins to sled on. They were excited, jubilant. Never before did these students have the capabilities to sled. It excited them and made them realize that there were people in this country, this world: Ice people (North Easterners) that lived a life of snowy treks every winter. Now, these Westerners had been "knighted" so to speak. Knighted with the honor of living through a snowstorm. They now knew the struggles and the trials and tribulations the North Easterners faced every winter.
Saturday, January 23d (Morning): The Hoth System
As the sun rose on the Hoth System, the civilians exited their homes. Amazed with the new findings, students rejoiced. The once established city of Washington had been transformed overnight into the infamous Hoth System. This transformation was a deadly one, as Vader and the deadly Empire were informed of this immediately. As Luke Skywalker, it was my responsibility to ensure safety and stability of both GW and the Hoth System. After leaving work, I went to refuel my body and lightsaber with a Galactic lunch. Hoth, overnight, had been decimated with over two feet of snow. It was a barren wasteland. Leia had been stationed in Potomac Residence Hall overnight were a lot of snow had fallen. Han Solo was nowhere to be found. The once familiar White House had turned into the base for the Empire. With Vader and his troops assembled, I had no idea what would be the outcome.
As the morning progressed, I trudged through the miracle of snow still amazed and amused. In my entire life, I had never seen this much snow. It intrigued me and bewildered me at the same time. My excitement was cute short as I witnessed AT-AT's in the distance. This "snow day" was seemingly cut short. The Empire had found both me and the base at GW and our cover was blown. It was only a matter of time before this seemingly perfect snow day would be destroyed and GW would be in the hands of the Empire.
