A guide for survival (not enjoyment) of your first German winter
I have felt it coming for weeks now. The sun has disappeared, covered by a thick blanket of clouds. Going out has become an odious endeavor, with rotting leaves and an ever-present film of dew turning the sidewalk pavement into a slippery hazard. Last Saturday, a flurry of winds shook my window the whole night. It is time to gather forces and prepare for the inevitable.
To start this guide, I’ll first explain what this is not: a guide to enjoying winter. After four years living in Germany, I have yet to discover the secret to being cheerful past November. I would gladly trade back the winter I grew up with (minimum temperature of 15ºC) anytime. No, this is about you coming to Germany and not calling Mom in January, telling her to book the first flight back home for you. It is about survival.
First: you need some new clothes. Nothing against the old; they are still nice and fashionable, but they do not serve any purpose in these circumstances. I had a „winter jacket“ back home, which I used on particularly „cold“ days. You will not survive with this jacket. My advice: don’t be cheap. Spend some money, buy a really thick jacket. Ridiculously thick even, the kind that makes you look like the Michelin man. Make a German friend and take them with you to the mall; they know their stuff when it comes to winter wear. Or even better, go to a flea market: not only will you get cheaper prices, but the planet needs it!
Another expert tip: thermal underwear. My dad always said that you don’t really feel cold in your legs; it only matters whether your torso is covered. This fact was disproven to me when I went out at -2ºC with only jeans on. It’s always disappointing to lose faith in such statements. Now, long boxers may look silly and be a bit suffocating when entering a heated room, but the cold protection is 100% worth it. Get them.
Now, let’s get a bit more serious. It is not uncommon for the sun to wake up from its wintery slumber and come out for a day in February. Its shine upon the desolate wastes of mid-winter German cities is a deceitful surprise. You’ll excitedly run outside, but will quickly find out that you don’t really feel the sun in your skin; it doesn’t warm you up. Besides the disappointment, this is not good for your health. Some of the nutrients your body needs are only produced when exposed to UV light – e.g., Vitamin D. A deficit of this substance has been correlated with seasonal affective disorder (SAD – excellent abbreviation). SAD disproportionately affects people of color, as extra melanin means less UV-light can penetrate your skin and assist Vitamin D production. There is an easy solution to this: any supermarket sells Vitamin D supplements, usually in soluble pill form with a citric flavor – quite nice!
And a last one: go out. Staying in your cozy and warm home all day, every day, is tempting when snow is piling up on the sidewalks. And don’t get me wrong, it’s sometimes the right decision to enjoy a good book and a warm cup of coffee beneath the sheets. But it cannot become the only thing you do. Meeting friends, breathing in fresh air – it is essential not to get depressed. So put on some boots and visit a Christmas Market every now and then. Try to enjoy the German winter, and then please tell me how it went!