As a Wisconsin Badger, you know the exact reaction I’m picturing when you answer the question, “where do you go to school?” Sometimes it’s the shock, “Wisconsin?! It’s so cold in Wisconsin!” with bulging eyes. Sometimes it’s the sympathy, “Wow, you must really look forward to your spring breaks” with a slight empathetic head-tilt. Sometimes it’s even admiration, “I don’t know how you deal with those winters,” a headshake in disbelief. Either way, we all know it’s pretty freaking cold here. So after the long, brutal and frigid winter, when the first blade of grass emerges from the frozen ground, you bet we’re ready to spring into spring. Here’s when you know it’s officially here…
1. Shorts in anything above 30 degrees
The second our weather app shows us a big 3-0, you can be sure to see students showing some skin. We’ve long awaited this day. After weeks of hiding, our pale, deprived, vitamin-D lacking legs are done with hibernation and ready to emerge into the world. You can’t be surprised can you?
2. Spotting your friend more than two feet away
In the winter, essentially everyone is a blob of fur and down-feathers. With more layers than Trident, walking down the street becomes a real-live game of Clue. You can’t tell your best friend apart from a random guy walking on State Street until you’re faces are practically touching because of the layers of clothes that shelter us from that Wisconsin cold. Finally, as spring arrives we can slowly shed our layers and show the world our true colors.
3. Catch ya later, Elsa
One of the most exciting signs of spring is when iceberg Mendota finally lets out a cry, “I’m melting, I’m melting!” Yes, it’s kind of a bummer that we can no longer walk on water because let’s be real, it’s cool every time, but I think we can all agree we missed the lake a little. And seriously, where do the ducks go?
4. Lakeshore path
Finally we can walk down the path with our friends and step away from the city for a minute. Walking on the Lakeshore path is just the best escape sometimes.
5. Spring with a Capitol S
With the start of spring, the walk to the capitol isn’t so bad. There are so many delicious and fun restaurants to try and a lot of entertaining people-watching to do.
6. I scream, you scream
We all scream for…ice cream! Famous for our dairy products, it’s no surprise we have the best ice cream too. As the weather gets nicer and the wind chill no longer makes us feel like we’re being pelted with ice cream, it’s the perfect snack. Whether it’s the Daily Scoop or the Chocolate Shoppe, you can’t go wrong. A cone a day keeps the doctor away, right?
7. We see them rollin’
What’s square, serves food, and on wheels? Food carts! There are endless options of food from Vietnamese spring rolls, to Panini’s, to smoothies, to fried Oreos, to falafel—the list doesn’t end. A different cart every day and you’ve essentially traveled the world.
8. Bye icicles, hello bicycles
Why can’t the chicken cross the road? Because there are too many bikes! Spring weather means more traffic. Make sure to look both ways before you cross the street because bicycles are back.
9. Of course, the chairs
Anyone and everyone knows that the ultimate sign of spring are the colorful chairs near and dear to every Badger’s heart – the terrace chairs. There is no better feeling than sitting overlooking Lake Mendota in a terrace chair. Whether you’re sharing a pitcher with friends, doing homework, or just there for the view, you know you’re lucky to be there.
10. Hey mom, I made it
When spring arrives, everyone just knows it. We can feel it in the air. Spring is our trophy after surviving days on end of cold. Yes, we may need a Camelbak and towel to walk up Bascom, and it may be a whole lot harder to sit in the library, but we can’t complain. There’s no place like spring in Madison.
The Wisconsin cold can be brutal at times, but no matter what the temperature, everyone knows we’re at the best school on earth. The lower temperatures will never lower our spirits, but we all can agree that when spring finally comes, we are more than ready for it! Feet dangling in the water as you sit by the terrace, taking a walk to Picnic Point, watching the sun go down behind the capitol—there’s no place we’d rather be.