This article was written by Mafruha Shifat.

Arriving in Fargo, North Dakota, during winter felt like landing on an entirely different planet. The snow-covered landscapes greeted me as I stepped out of Hector International Airport, the ground blanketed in white with almost no hint of the roads or walkways beneath. This was my introduction to a place I am calling home for the next few years as a North Dakota State University graduate student. Coming from a tropical country, Bangladesh, where “winter” is just a cooler breeze, I was mesmerized and intimidated to see snowfall for the first time. My first walk across campus felt like a marathon in an icy wonderland, and even the shortest journeys seemed like treks through the wilderness.

My first real lesson in navigating winter came during the short walk from Minard Hall to the Library. Not realizing how deceiving the snow-covered paths could be, I thought I was in for a long hike, only to discover it was less than a minute’s walk. A sense of humor quickly became my survival tool, and the next lesson was learning to adopt the “penguin walk,” which soon became my signature winter move. With guidance from one of my co-workers here, I learned to shuffle, arms slightly out, making my way across the campus with all the grace of a bundled-up penguin. Slipping and shuffling my way to class became a daily challenge that, oddly enough, helped me find camaraderie and shared laughs with others braving the same. Making my way across campus became something that looked like a dance only winter could choreograph.

That first semester, I was enrolled in two courses, but whenever professors or classmates asked how my classes were going, I said I was taking three courses. “Winter” was the unofficial third course, one where I was convinced I would get a C grade. From managing winter coats to keeping track of scarves, beanies, gloves and thermal socks, it felt like I had an assignment each day. One of my classmates told me to add 10 minutes to my usual prep time before my class or work to get ready and catch a bus to campus. It was a different kind of literacy learning for me, where survival skills were as essential as academics.

At times, Fargo’s winter felt like a live-action survival movie, with every snowstorm adding another chapter. When temperatures plummeted and the wind howled through the campus or my apartment’s window, it was hard not to feel like the protagonist in a suspense film, braving the elements to make it to class. Like in the movies, there is no break from the action. You are always in the scene, moving forward because there is no option to retreat. Back in my home country, where the weather is hot and humid for almost 10-11 months of the year, I would have never imagined gearing up for this kind of climate, where each step is calculated, and every layer of clothing serves as a shield. But like any great adventure, these trials make the journey memorable and deepen the sense of achievement.

Despite the snow and the cold, the warmth of the Fargo community has been my biggest happiness and joy. People here are genuinely kind, from professors who check in to ensure international students adapt well in this weather to classmates who share their best tips for staying warm. That warmth has made my settle-in process easier. I now feel like Fargo is a place I can call home. Fargo’s winter may be cold, but the people here are incredibly warm and welcoming, a combination that has made all the difference in my journey as an international student.

Looking back on these winters, I realize they have taught me lessons beyond academics. Surviving Fargo’s cold has built a certain mental grit, a resilience I did not know I had. I used to dread winter here, but now I almost look forward to it, seeing it as a unique part of my life. Each snowstorm, each icy path and each freezing gust of wind are part of a journey that has made Fargo feel like home. Today, as I step out of Minard Hall and head towards the library, I smile, knowing I have come a long way, both in miles and mindset. Winter is no longer an “extra course” but an experience I cherish, a challenge I am proud to have faced, and a season that has made my time at NDSU unforgettable.