Snowed In, Yet Still Attending Class at UIC!

What a way to start the new year!

Last Sunday evening marked the beginning of what has become known as the “Blizzard of 2011” for the southern part of the country.  Before it all started,  I was skeptical; maybe it’s because I’m originally from the Midwest, but it’s usually laughable when it snows in these parts.  This time around though, things are remarkably different.  Admittedly, I’ve gotten a little stir crazy, because nothing in this town is open, and getting around is a nightmare!  Today, I managed to get out of the house over the lunch hour, thanks to my future father-in-law and his tank-like SUV.  The roads were much worse than I anticipated.  There were abandoned cars on every corner, and for the first time since moving here, I was beginning to think zombies had invaded and taken over Atlanta like the hit television show, The Walking Dead.

Of all the crazy thoughts and worries barreling through my head, I knew that there was one thing I didn’t have to worry about: school.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: If I were enrolled in a traditional education program, I couldn’t even imagine trying to get to class at a time like this (assuming that school wasn’t already canceled!).  Apparently Atlanta highways have been intermittently shut down due to icy roads.  I even heard some folks have been stranded on the highways for over 24 hours!  Not exactly something I want to be a part of.

So here I am, reading my textbook and taking notes for my Biomedical Ethics course.  Even though I can’t go to my favorite coffee shop down the street (they are closed), I can enjoy studying in the comfort of my (heated) home!  Let’s hope the headaches associated with this snowstorm aren’t an omen of worse things to come.  In the meantime, I plan on staying warm and studying.

A few pictures I took just 2 hours after snowfall.  It may not look like much, but for Atlanta, this was one for the books!


About the author

Ryan Esslinger

Ryan Esslinger is a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago’s (UIC) Online Health Informatics Program. Ryan currently works full time as an Informatics Analyst at Wellstar Health System.

2 Comments

  • I lived in Atlanta for 5 years and never saw a drop of snow. I heard they only have 10 plows in the city. So, although it looks pretty, I am glad it never snowed while I was there. But, what a great perk, you can still take your classes and not fall behind.

  • Wow Keira, not even one drop of snow? While not substantial (except for last week), I’ve definitely seen a fair share of snow in Atlanta. You are certainly correct about the plows. I’ve heard there are as few as eight, and as many as ten plows for the entire city.

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