I've been thinking a lot about weather lately. Perhaps because the transition was hard to ignore, from a foot of snow and ice in Salem to the hot thunderstorms of Kampala to the icy cold and bleak of Philadelphia.
Did you know that people outside of Europe and America dont identify with all four seasons? Ugandans told me they only distinguish between the rainy and hot seasons. What fortune.
Apparently I am not cut out for cold winters. To begin with, I am a bit naive about what cold is. I got off the plane in NYC in my flip flops. Unfortunately, my connecting flight to Philly had been canceled and I was left to my own devices, and insufficient winter clothing, to get back to my apartment. I can't tell you how many people gawked at my bare feet. I kept telling them I had just come from Africa and they seemed to be satisfied. But what I really wanted to tell them was that I have grown up in a place where winter does not mean you cant just throw on a pair of shorts and flips to grab something from the car in your driveway. Perhaps there are 4 and a half days during Salem's typical winter where it would seem ridiculous to do such a thing.
In this weeks forecast the high is not rising above 27 degrees. Tomorrow the high is 15. (I might be less dramatic about this temperature if I wasn't walking 3 miles every day back and forth to school.)
Some funny things that happen during winter in less temperate climates like the Northeast:
-people have to think about climbing snowbanks.
-the roads and sidewalks are a chalky white from the de-icing material - adding to the winter wonderland look. just don't get this chalky white on your clothes from climbing snowbanks.
-there are people who are employed to plow roads rather than the city just relying on volunteers.
Let me just leave you with this last picture. I wanted to be warm today. So I dressed in two pair of sweatpants, three sweatshirts, a knit hat, and mittens. This seemed to suffice until the wind picked up. No amount of clothing can combat this wind. So I began to jog home. I think I looked a little like Rocky. I'm going in true Philly fashion I suppose.
3 comments:
Get some slip-on rubber thingies with spikes on the bottom for ice-traction. outdooor stores should have them
"Two pairs of pants is foreign to me."
I understand you completely! I thought I would be ok also, thinking ya it rains a lot in London but im from Portland. And ya its winter but it is pretty much the same temp! Ha we are fools!!!!! I wear about three thermal shirts a day then a turtle neck, and then a sweater. Leggings tights and pants. And of course two pairs of socks with any pair of shoes. And sadly I am never over heated not even when I am in a school for 8 hours or on the Tube, that is how freaking cold it is. And amen to who it all depends on how far you have to walk and wait for the bus. I completely understand you here. You pics are amazing as always, and I am so envious of your travels! I want to hear all about it. Are you going to be in Oregon at all this summer. Also where are you going to be for the fourth of July we are going to be in D.C. so if you are in Philly you should come down, or over Im not sure. Ok hope you are doing well love lots ang
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