So anyone who lives on the East Coast during the winter knows that this has been an incredibly warm and mild winter. Due to the fact that this is my first real winter I have not experienced a true North Country winter but from what I've gathered, not having snow on the ground in February is a rare occasion.

So here I am enjoying almost 50 degree days in February, but I was still surprised when I see people walking around in shorts as if it was summer. Then I look at the weather app on my phone.

"Guys, it is going to snow on Monday and it's going to be -11 on Saturday." I nearly yell when I see it.

So the descent into a North Country winter begins. I break out my long parka instead of a ski jacket and attempt to mentally prepare myself now that I know it's actually winter.

The first time it really snowed was exciting. Walking to class involved many Snapchats to show all my California friends what snow looks like.

However, as the snow continues to pile up and temperatures continue to drop the walk to class, or really anywhere, in the cold becomes less and less appealing.

So as I wait for my first experience with -40 windchill I will slowly be getting used to being blasted in the face with ice cold wind and snow. But hey, that's part of the St. Lawrence experience.