After a fairly dry winter season last semester, the rain has finally picked up and I think it is safe to say that Berkeley is now in its rainy season…which means that rain boots are once again trending! While the rainy weather can be quite miserable for most people, here are some tips to make it at least a little bit more BEAR-able (ahahahaha…okay, that wasn’t too funny…)>>>

1. Stay warm and bundle up! It’s one thing to be wet, but it’s another to be wet AND cold. Not to mention that you might get sick if you’re cold and wet for long periods of time. I usually wear a second jacket under my raincoat and maybe a scarf if it’s especially cold, but the main idea is that you should layer up not only because it will keep you warm but also so you can take off your wet outer jacket when in class and be left in a dry jacket.

2. Rainboots are are almost a necessity during the rainy season if you want to keep your feet completely dry during the whole day. Trust me, walking around in wet shoes isn’t the best feeling in the world. If you do not own a pair of rainboots, my advice would be to wear the most rain-resistant shoes (gym shoes would probably be a last resort since they get wet easily) AND an extra pair of socks in case your shoes do happen to get soaked. Also, make sure to step lightly when you walk so you don’t “kick up” the water every time you take a step.

3. Soup is great for warming you up (in fact, I’m having some right now as I type this post)! SF Soup Co. on Bancroft + Telegraph (about a 2 min walk from Sproul Plaza) is convenient if you’re on-the-go, but if you have some time on your hands and live in an apartment, you can make a home-made soup (just boil water and add whatever ingredients you wish plus a sprinkle of salt. I usually make a vegetable soup with tomatoes, carrots, celery, onions, beef, and maybe potatoes.) which would warm you up as well as your apartment!

4. Avoid walking on the metal sewer grates and any metal parts on the sidewalks and on campus! They are very slippery when wet! (Today I saw someone almost trip because of it)

5. Hold your umbrella close to your head (as opposed to higher up) and at a tilt (in the direction that the rain is falling) to lower the chances of getting your umbrella inverted or blown away by the wind. You could also try holding the umbrella closer to the top to stabilize it better on really windy days.

6. Berkeley is notorious for its crazy hills and uneven sidewalks/streets, so be careful when walking through puddles. Also, when you’re waiting to cross a street, don’t stand close to where the sidewalk meets the street since there will most likely be puddles that cars run through. In some areas, the puddles are so deep that if you are standing close to the street and a car runs through the puddle, you’ll get soaked at least knees down!

7. Change your view on the rain and see it as a time to relax and maybe meditate and listen to calming music or read a book! If you keep telling yourself how the weather is horrible and how you feel sad and down, then you will be!