Northlanders Love, Hate First Season Snow Storm

DULUTH - The first snow storm of the year is one of those major events that make people want to curl up in a ball, hibernate and repeatedly ask themselves why they live here. It also brings out the people who can't get enough of it. Walking outside Monday afternoon was a scene most of the Northland hasn’t witnessed in more than six months. "A lot of people don't like the winter, but it doesn't bother me," said St. Scholastica sophomore, Corey Coop. A few students on the St. Scholastica campus haven't seen large amounts of snow ever."Why do you live here? You're nuts,” laughed CSS student, Jonny Winter. “You're crazy," said Amy Davidson. You can tell by their accents, Winter and Davidsion aren’t from northern Minnesota. They're international students from Northern Ireland and England who are just visiting for the year. Both of them are foreign to the definition of a Northland winter."I heard that they plow the roads and it gets huge piles on the side of the road,” Winter said. “I just don't believe it." They've heard the stories and were warned just how bad it gets in the Northland."One of my teachers told me it's was going to be like 12 inches of snow," said Davidson, wide-eyed. Most of Europe doesn't get snow that actually sticks, so waking up to a white winter combined with seeing a crazy Canadian hockey player in shorts was quite the surprise."It is a little cold, but I was on my way to the gym,” laughed Coop. “I didn't feel like putting any pants on." While Coop is thanking Mother Nature for Monday’s snowfall, the international students are begging for warmer and drier conditions. "Please stop. Please. Please stop," Davidson and Winter begged. Too bad for those people wishing for different weather because the Northland will likely be covered in white until spring. But not everyone dreads the start to our snowy season."I'm used to it,” said University of Minnesota-Duluth senior, Brooke Peysar while shoveling. “I get some joy out of it for sure." Snow happens to be two year old German Shepard’s Dallas’ favorite toy. "She loves it,” said UMD senior Claire Radintz. ”Absolutely her favorite." While playing in the snow can be a distraction from the real job at hand, it's fun, and for some of us it's why we choose to live in the Northland.