1) Wearing sandals one day, winter boots the next, and rain boots the day after that.
2) Being 100% used to getting catcalled when you’re walking around Dinky anytime after 8pm, but still being just as disgusted every time it happens.
3) Guessing who will be at Spring Jam every year and, of course, always being wrong. (Please bring us Beyonce!)
4) What’s the only thing worse than really wanting a glass of wine on Sunday night and realizing you don’t have any? Remembering there is no alcohol for sale in Minnesota on Sundays.
5) Seeing athletes on campus and immediately being in love with, or hating, them because of their signature maroon and gold Nike backpack.
6) Waiting over two hours to caucus in Dinkytown but being fine with it because every vote counts.
7) Almost getting run over by a biker. Every. Single. Day.
8) Forgetting to pack a lunch then debating whether or not to go to Coffman because of the lines, the price, and of course the ever tempting Panda Express and Chick-fil-A.
9) Giving yourself a pep talk every time you have to go outside and brave the cold during the winter.
10) Trying (and failing) to figure out how to wear Gopheralls without looking like you’re wearing a potato sack.
11) Almost starting to cry every single time you see a dog on campus because you just really want to pet it. (HC Tip: Go to PAWS every Wednesday and Thursday. Super cute dogs, need we say more?)
12) Learning to hate Wisconsin without any questions.
13) Oh, and Iowa.
14) In the winter months, having to choose between coziness and fashion on a daily basis. (Hint: Coziness should always win.)
15) Getting a “Timely Warning- Crime Alert” email from UMPD and panicking about what happened.
16) Really wanting Sorels, Birkenstocks, white Adidas tennis shoes, Timberlands or white Converse, but fighting yourself because you know everyone has them. It’s okay, we all give in eventually.
17) Feeling like an emotionally changed bear coming out of hibernation on the first warm, snowless day of spring.
18) Asking yourself “Why didn’t I go to school in California? Or Florida? Or anywhere but here?” multiple times while you’re walking to class in a -35 degree wind chill.
19) Knowing that no matter what trials and tribulations you go through on a daily basis, being a Gopher is the best dang thing to be. Ski-U-Mah.