Your guide to LUMS Winters

I belong to the group of people in LUMS who are characterised by their bathroom do patti chappals come whatever season. I belong to the group of people whose comeback to every argument is ‘haan magar sea view hai tum logon k pass?’ I belong to the group of people whose hoodies come out at the start of October. Unless you haven’t guessed, I’m a Karachiite.

Perhaps the biggest adjustment in Freshman year was surviving the winter. Coming from a city where winters meant, at maximum, a cute shawl when sitting outside, I was severely ill equipped and thrown in the deep end for what was to come.

Here’s how I got through it.

1) Invest in thermal shirts. Get them in basic colors like black and white and wear a cardigan on top to change up the look. They’re designed to retain body heat and so you don’t have to wear too many layers or bulk up in clothes that engulf you until you’re looking like this

2) You don’t have to always camp out at the student lounge. The khoka is perfect for winter night hangouts but just make sure you have a cup of green tea with Joshanda if you feel a cold coming on. Buy a tiny jar of honey and keep that in your room as well for some ammi- type healing.

3) SOCKS. The superstore has good cheap invisible socks which are amazing for people who have perpetually freezing feet (read: me)

4) If you love toasty beds and never waking up for an 8 AM this is for you. Although hostellites aren’t allowed to have rod heaters in their rooms because of fire risks, you can definitely buy a fan heater. Go to Packages or even Al- Fatah (you can order it online too[1]) for good quality heaters with warranties. They can cost you an average of Rs. 4000. Turn it on for about half an hour and warm up your comforter or blanket and enjoy the night.

5) Stay away from sick people! Don’t share water bottles, pillows, or bodily fluids (you know who you are) with people who are sick. You’re going to realize how homesick you can get when you’re stuck in bed with a headache and blocked nose.

6) If you do get sick, go to the health and wellness centre. You can buy medicine from the pharmacy above the superstore. Other pharmacies close to LUMS include Servaid and CSH Pharmacy and they deliver.

7) Beware of smog. Jammin is going to give out these surgical masks but they don’t really do anything. Just try not sitting outside when it gets very bad and use a scarf to breathe through. Do NOT go on drives when visibility is low because the likelihood of accidents is very high. When walking alone, turn your flashlight on because you will feel super scared. And if your friends try to take you to the football field, do NOT go because they will take you in too far and then run away leaving you alone in a blanket of fog from which there is no escape. I exaggerate but at that moment, you wish for the sweet release of death.

8) Get a windbreaker. The freezing cold and penetrating winds are not a good combo. Hoodies and sweaters are no match for the winds, so you should definitely have one windbreaker for nights like those. There are lots of good winter sales right now and they won’t be too expensive. Check out outlets like Cambridge, Outfitters, Splash for good quality products that will last you the four years.

The first few weeks are going to be hell, but winters are the time when campus life is at its best. Make the most of it, because winter is coming.