I always forget that the U.K. is an island, but the weather here is not exactly like Hawaii or the Bahamas. Instead of breezy sunny days in the 80s, we have very steady weather in the worst way possible. Most days are windy, cold and rainy, hovering in the 40s. It has been like this since October and will continue to be this way until March. At first, I did not mind the weather much. But after going a few weeks without feeling the sun on your face, it starts to affect you more than you expect. The constant gray becomes heavy. On top of that, the sun sets around 3:30 p.m. because of how far north Manchester, and the U.K. in general, is. I had to start taking vitamin D pills so I would not slowly turn into a vampire. Not going outside until it is already dark has become completely normal. Getting used to this climate takes extra effort. Lately, I feel like a bear preparing for hibernation and bracing myself for a long dark winter. The worst part is that because the weather is so consistent, it never actually gets cold enough to snow. It is just endlessly gray. Moments like these make me miss Columbia weather. Is it steady? Absolutely not. Do we get random 60 degree days in December right after snowy blizzards in November? Yes, and that is the beauty of it. At least there is sun.

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Learn more about this blogger’s study abroad program: University of Manchester