So its cold yet again. It snowed yet again and yet again I am frozen to the very core of my bones. Before I came to the US I used to love winters but those were the winters of Islamabad. Where covered in a shawl you could sit endlessly under the sun eating oranges and only come inside to cuddle in front of a gas heater along with the rest of the family. It was so cozy and comfy and fun. Romantic even :)
But here, life is all about waiting for the summers. The sun doesn't comes out but twice a month, or so it seems. It rains and rains and then rains some more. And then it snows. I love the snow, it is so pretty, but what comes after snow is unbearable, bone breaking freeze. I hate that feeling. I wonder how people lived under such conditions before electricity and gas were discovered and all they had was wood and fire. No wonder they hardly ever reached the age of 40.
The year I came to the US, Northern California experienced an unusually cold and wet winter. I remember being cold, all the time throughout the first two semesters. I was the idiot sitting inside the class in a thick down jacket, gloves and scarf, still shivering and complaining about how cold it was. Those days, I had to wake up at 6:30 to catch the train to work everyday. It was torture. Most days I cried as I walked the 20 mins walk from the train station to work and 30 mins back, under unceasing rain, with cars splashing rain water on me. I felt like some desolate Dickens Character.
Summer came and I got a job On-Campus and I fell in love with California all over again. Since then my body has acclimatized to the weather here but I really don't like the winters anymore.
And after spending almost an year in Seattle, I really don't enjoy rain anymore either. I, like all my American hosts, love the summers and live for the days when it will be warm and sunny. When people will walk around the streets happy and cheerful. I get it now. We used to think the white people are insane for hating the rain and loving the sun so much specially since their skins wrinkle and burn under it. But I get it now.
Of course, last summer when I was visiting Miami and the place was hit by a tropical storm, I was the only one going crazy, happily jumping up and down under the warm torrential rain along the beach. People were running for cover and all I could think was about how much it reminded me of the monsoon rains of Karachi. People thought I am insane but I didn't care.
So I guess given the right circumstances I will enjoy all things nature :)
Meantime, please God let it be spring in Seattle, this cold is torturous.
But here, life is all about waiting for the summers. The sun doesn't comes out but twice a month, or so it seems. It rains and rains and then rains some more. And then it snows. I love the snow, it is so pretty, but what comes after snow is unbearable, bone breaking freeze. I hate that feeling. I wonder how people lived under such conditions before electricity and gas were discovered and all they had was wood and fire. No wonder they hardly ever reached the age of 40.
The year I came to the US, Northern California experienced an unusually cold and wet winter. I remember being cold, all the time throughout the first two semesters. I was the idiot sitting inside the class in a thick down jacket, gloves and scarf, still shivering and complaining about how cold it was. Those days, I had to wake up at 6:30 to catch the train to work everyday. It was torture. Most days I cried as I walked the 20 mins walk from the train station to work and 30 mins back, under unceasing rain, with cars splashing rain water on me. I felt like some desolate Dickens Character.
Summer came and I got a job On-Campus and I fell in love with California all over again. Since then my body has acclimatized to the weather here but I really don't like the winters anymore.
And after spending almost an year in Seattle, I really don't enjoy rain anymore either. I, like all my American hosts, love the summers and live for the days when it will be warm and sunny. When people will walk around the streets happy and cheerful. I get it now. We used to think the white people are insane for hating the rain and loving the sun so much specially since their skins wrinkle and burn under it. But I get it now.
Of course, last summer when I was visiting Miami and the place was hit by a tropical storm, I was the only one going crazy, happily jumping up and down under the warm torrential rain along the beach. People were running for cover and all I could think was about how much it reminded me of the monsoon rains of Karachi. People thought I am insane but I didn't care.
So I guess given the right circumstances I will enjoy all things nature :)
Meantime, please God let it be spring in Seattle, this cold is torturous.
2 comments:
Make a trip to west Michigan and you will fall in love with Seattle once again!
Gimme Seattle, anyday!
:) Lets just say I feel your pain...this is as cold as I can bear
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