Pristine snow stretching through the distance, and the flutter of intricate flakes – today, a Canadian winter sounds inviting.
To
day, I woke to a thermometer that read 9 degrees celsius. No, not outside – the thermometer is at my bedside.
I don’t forget Canada’s months of cold, the icy roads, and stir-crazy afternoons, nor do I forget sitting by the fire, sipping hot chocolate after an afternoon of skating, and the burn of cold against my cheeks while sledding downhill. I remember being cold outside, but warm inside.
Here in China, it’s been below freezing this past week, with only a few flakes of snow. No fire to warm ourselves by, not even central heating. With concrete walls that soak in the warmth, and no insulation, space heaters take off the edge, but they don’t warm our home. All week I held the belief that today was the day the cold would go away. Today the sun would come.
I’m covered from head to toe in wool, yet still my toes are cold and I’m wondering how I got out of bed.
As I pause to warm my fingers, I look out the window, beyond myself, to buildings colder than ours. Our apartment is high, and south facing windows, unblocked, captured warmth from last week’s sun, carrying us through the first half of this cold.
My mind stretches farther to people in village homes, that are cool on a warm day and frigid on a cold day – a friend, now moved away, lived in one such village. We were making winter plans. “Your place, or mine?” “Yours,” she said, no hesitation, “then we can be warm.”
Her clan piled in and this home, now so cold, filled with jokes and laughter, stories and smiles.
I feel your pain. When I’m there I try to keep one room warm, close the door, heater cranked on high, and sit bundled in layers of clothes, hot water bottles, blankies – trying not to shiver. Hang in there – this too will pass.
Yep, the kids and I have been in the same room, nearly all day every day! Sometimes even within arms reach, as we all try to get close to the space heater. Spring will sure be a treat! Enjoy those heated homes in Canada, while you’re there;)
I think I would have to pretend I was camping in the outdoors with a tent, to handle temperatures like that. I remember camping in Jasper one year (in the summer) and we forgot about the temperature change in the mountains. It was a cold night I’ve never forgotten. Hopefully warmer days will be there for you soon.
I love Jasper! It can get cold, there. And this is a bit like camping, but instead of sitting around the fire, we’re all huddled around the heater;)
You will have to start new traditions since hot dogs and smores are out. Maybe you already have some?
The cold always gears us up for the fireworks on Chinese New Year’s Eve. We’re seeing them now, out our window.
That would be hard to handle. I get cold easily as it is. Exercise and hot tea help me…hoping your winter is short!!
I get cold easily, too. I love that whenever I see you, you have a cup of tea in your hand. I’ll go make one now;)
I wouldn’t deal with that well at all. I get cold super easy. Why don’t they heat their buildings in China?
I get cold easily, too. Our buildings are made of concrete and there is no insulation, so heating is impractical. We usually heat one room and we all huddle up together;) Thankfully, our winter is short!