It’s a marshmallow world here in the Pacific Northwest, which typically only happens once or twice a year. This year’s snowfall has resulted in two consecutive snow days, which is extremely rare, and has I’m sure resulted in many happy children and many more stressed out caregivers.
Several years ago my partner and I decided to couch-surf most of the length of Japan, starting in Hokkaido and ending in Kyushu. To keep things affordable, we decided to travel in the winter. Now, if you know anything about the geography of Japan, you can spot a bit of a problem with that plan. Hokkaido is a northern island, and it gets very cold in the winter. As Canadians, we thought we were prepared for the cold. But as I’ve said before, we are from southwest British Columbia, which isn’t really very Canadian when it comes to climate.
Suffice it to say, we confused quite a few hardy students with our shivering and the ridiculous amount of layers we insisted on wearing.
“But you’re from Canada!” they all exclaimed. “It’s cold in Canada!”
Not where we’re from it isn’t.
In honour of the snowy conditions outside, an excerpt from a suitably wintery poem.
Winter-Time
Robert Louis Stevenson
Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.
Stay warm, cozy and safe, my friends!
At the moment it is snowing, and I am trying to improve my attitude about winter. Reading the Stevenson helps!
I’ve been feeling the same way, especially now that rain is on the way, and all the snow will turn to slush and puddles the size of lakes! It’s sometimes hard to keep a positive mindset when your nose is frozen. 😉
Thanks for sharing the Stevenson poem, Jane. Hope you’re staying warm!
Lots and lots of layers! Have a great week! 😀
I can’t believe how much snow you guys have been getting out there – stay safe, indeed! Love to see the photos of snowy Japan – when I lived in Japan, I was excited to visit Hokkaido specifically /because/ of the snow, haha.
A wonderful travel story. We learn a lot when we get outside our home space! I made a similar choice when moving to Greece for 2 years. It’s all sun and fun. Right? That’s what I saw in photos….but alas, it has winter too! And, winter is cold, my friend. Winter is cold. I love this post and seeing YOU post. Take care and stay warm.
I lived in Japan for a couple of years (my husband was stationed there with the US Air Force) and one winter we went to the northern part of Honshu, the main island, and experienced cold like you wrote about… and snow! The streets were like tunnels dug through snow six feet deep. You could walk in them because most of the cars were buried in snow! At the camp we visited, we warmed up in the ofuro … there were separate baths for men and women, making the communal experience more comfortable for “westerners.” And of course, there was tea for warming up. Tea in a Japanese-style cup cradled in your hands- so nice.
All of the assumptions in your story of travel in Japan made me giggle. Be wary of what you THINK you know!!
Jane, the ghost bike in the white snow is even more chilling. Everything about this post makes me want to know more about your trip to Japan! Happy (belated) snow day!
Love that marshmallow world! I just saw some video footage of some Canadians in DC kindly mocking us for not being able to handle the snow (it’s so true–we’re a mess). 🙂
Stevenson simply knows how to say it, and your pictures help him prove that, Jane. We had the cold but little snow, except in the Rockies where skiers celebrated! Thanks for this, new to me! Keep warm!
I’m giggling over your sturdy-deficient Canadianness. And of course I need to ask…Couch-surfing?
Fortunately the sun is blinking a little longer these days…making the cold almost bearable!
Jane, such a funny story about traveling in Japan in the winter. It is cool in southern California, and I appreciate the layers even though I know it’s nothing like most of North America is going through. Nice photos of the marshmallowy weather!
I always love a classic poem – thanks! And I’m intrigued by your Japan adventure of a few years back – wow. Nothing like learning in the moment. ;0) Stay warm!