Tuesday 27 January, 2004
Cold weather
I remember, as a kid watching American programs where when it had snowed heavily the kids didn't have to go to school. And how bitter I was that no matter how cold it was, no matter how much snow there was, no matter how dark it was, I still had to be at school at 8 o'clock.
When the English talk about cold, as a Finn I can't but help smiling a bit. The temperature rarely goes below zero here, and when it does the consequences are catastrophic. The weather forecasts have been promising cold weather for days now, and its finally here. Immediately followed by accidents, since people don't understand the cause and effect of cold weather and how you should react to it on the roads. If it continues for longer, people will start dying because they don't realise that they should be heating their houses more. Last January people were stuck on motorways and had to sleep in their cars overnight when it suddenly started snowing and traffic grinded to a halt.
Apparently tomorrow is going to be even worse - snow is expected around the country, although we on the south coast will probably avoid it (which is good - I don't think our palm trees would appreciate it... and yes, that photo was taken in the park outside our house last January). Anyway, I'll be working from home tomorrow since my new computer is finally going to be delivered - and I'm painfully aware that my little car isn't equipped for icy roads as it's got what in Finland would be called "summer tyres". Of course in this country they are the only tyres, used all year around.
Posted by kolibri at 27 January 09:59, 2004Wow, I had no idea the climate of Finland was that way; I'd just assumed that since it was really far north it snowed a lot. See, I really do learn something every day! ;)
I can relate to your bitterness as a kid, though. There's no such thing as a snow day in Florida. :P
# 2 - rannva (on January 30, 2004 04:55 AM):
I understand exactly what you're talking about, since I also grew up in Finland. I never, ever, had a snow day. Not even if the road to my parents' house a few times was covered thigh-high in snow and the snow-ploughing truck had to clear the road before we could pass. We still went to school.
Now I live in L.A. and it still makes me laugh out loud when kids freak out when it rains more than usual. People become incapable of working, moving, or doing any kind of traveling.
And I'm still bummed out - because now that I live in L.A. I probably won't have a snow day anytime soon...
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