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Diversity and Snow

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Clarissa

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Talking about diversity, in the wake of our historic snowstorm, I have spoken with Africans, Canadians, Mexicans, and Eastern Europeans living in the area.

Africans are understandably traumatized and feel frozen to their souls.

Canadians are complaining that their winter coats are making them too hot.

Mexicans are sad. But they always are. It’s a culture of people who looked into the abyss and will never forget it.

Eastern Europeans are joyful. Finally! A normal winter! It’s beautiful! Let’s eat! Got any new recipes? Which is the response to any life occurrence, of course.

The locals are hiding, so I don’t know how they feel.

11 responses to “Diversity and Snow”

  1. Maria Avatar
    Maria

    I must be African at heart.

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    1. cliff arroyo Avatar
      cliff arroyo

      “I must be African at heart”

      IME there are three approaches to winter in Poland…

      hate, hate HATE it (like you….) often dream of living in Spain or Italy or anywhere hot
      mostly indifferent – it’s whatever season it is and you just deal with it and have fun with it if you can (probably the majority)
      have a psychological need for winter (a former colleague-boss complains he needs a really cold winter and if he doesn’t get it he suffers).

      I’ve discovered I don’t mind the cold (it can get down to about -10 c and I’m okay with it) but I dislike snow and ice more and more, mostly because walking on snowed/icy sidewalks and steps is a skill best learned young and not as an adult… I haven’t actually fallen down in a number of years but I was a splat fest for a while….

      This winter has mostly been pretty mild except for about ten days when it got cold and snowed and stayed cold for a week…. it’s all melted now and it’s + 12 c and I’m cool with that….

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      1. Clarissa Avatar
        Clarissa

        I suffer without a cold winter, too. Many people suffer physically when there’s no sun but they refuse to believe that those who suffer without cold exist.

        I hate slippery ground, though. My balance is poor already even without the ice.

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        1. cliff arroyo Avatar
          cliff arroyo

          “they refuse to believe that those who suffer without cold exist”

          I get it now…. kind…. of. Intellectually I know it’s a thing (I’ve known enough people now who suffer psychologically and/or physically without it) but it’s not my thing…
          What I really care about in winter is dry… I actually like taking walks in 0 or lower degree weather as long as it’s dry (and a bit of sun is a big help too). Snow looks nice for a day or so when you don’t have to go outside but then it turns into the most disgusting thing ever (in the middle of a city at least).

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          1. Just George Avatar
            Just George

            A few years ago in the city in which I live, the temperature dropped to about 17 celcius, which compelled locals to unpack winter gear that was formerly only used on vacation and to turn heaters on, causing the electricity grid to become overloaded and collapse. I have no idea why people would want to live in a place where ice fell from the sky, since to me that is the kind of place to send criminals for punishment or to die of exposure.

            So, I’m with the Africans on this one.

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            1. Clarissa Avatar
              Clarissa

              You probably mean 17 Fahrenheit because 17 Celcius is very warm. 🙂

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              1. Just George Avatar
                Just George

                “You probably mean 17 Fahrenheit because 17 Celcius is very warm. 🙂”

                No, I mean 17 celcius. The temperature here is usually around 30 celcius give or take a couple of degrees during the day and 26 celcius give or take a couple of degrees at night, with the coldest average monthly night time temperature of the year of 19-20. So when there is a cold snap with temperatures of 17 in the daytime, everyone is shivering.

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              2. Clarissa Avatar
                Clarissa

                I find this absolutely hilarious. +17C is when it starts to get unpleasantly hot for me.

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              3. Just George Avatar
                Just George

                “I find this absolutely hilarious. +17C is when it starts to get unpleasantly hot for me.”

                I attended university in a city with a climate similar to the southernmost point of Italy or Greece ie Sicily or Crete.

                In all seasons but summer, I would use a hairdryer on clothing to warm it up before putting it on because room temperature was just too freezing.

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    2. PaulS Avatar
      PaulS

      Much of Southern and Eastern Africa actually has a very mild climate. This is due to the altitude of the plateaus which extend from South Africa and Zimbabwe to Kenya and Ethiopia.

      I believe the temperatures in Mexico City are very similar although the land available is much more limited due to the mountainous terrain.

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  2. methylethyl Avatar
    methylethyl

    I believe it, but I’m not one of them. Cold weather makes my nose bleed. Sunny snow cover is blinding– I don’t know how people enjoy that but they’re welcome to it. It’s about 65F here, and I’m contemplating putting a jacket on.

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