(Late Post) Winter has come!

As of November 29th, Aomori City has "finally" started getting snow on the ground. Granted, on November 29th, the snow only stuck during the morning and turned into slush after, the real snow that actually stuck started on around December 4th.

My impression of snow while walking home from the BoE on Friday Dec. 4 - the first real day of snow.

Honestly, it really hasn't been that bad - yet. The sleet (みぞれ; mizore) is honestly worse than snow as each step you take goes into a slushy mix of ice and water. After Friday, thankfully, the clouds have been giving us snow that sticks rather than sleet. Temperature-wise it's been lingering at around 0 to 5 degrees Celsius, which is only bad when there is only wind to accompany it. My apartment is fairly cold, but just like everyone else, I stay under my kotatsu right when I get home. For those who don't know, a kotatsu is a Japanese style table with a heater underneath. Add a blanket to the mix and you are able to trap all the heat to keep your body warm. I also have an electric blanket that I use literally every night.

As I mentioned early, the weather is really only a pain in the neck when it's windy. However, if you're dressed for the weather (Insulated underpants and undershirt, thick sweater, scarf, hat, gloves, boots), even the wind isn't a problem. Many of my Japanese co-workers at my visit schools worry about me when I don't bring an umbrella, but honestly on the windy days it's better to leave it at home since the wind changes direction all the time and you'd end up being down at least 500 yen when, not if, your umbrella breaks.

The local "Universe" which is our grocery store that is about a 3 minute walk from home normally. This photo was taken Sunday Dec. 6th and the visibility due to the wind and snow was basically reduced to zero. Don't worry, I dressed warm!

 So yes. It's only been snowing for about a week now. I'm still generally enjoying the weather when I have time to enjoy it. I have made a snowman already, though mine are pretty sad. The first and only time I made my snowmen so far was on my walk home from Karaoke at around 1AM. The streets were blanketed with a sheet of powdery, white snow and I was literally the only person on the road - No cars, no people. I made 3 snowmen on that walk home as I sobered up and left a little gift for the other friends who would come back home a little bit later.

Snowman and a message that I made around 1AM after walking home from a prolonged karaoke session.

There is, however, still the issue of SNOW SHOES. The only shoes that I have at the moment are the casual, everyday black shoes with no real support or traction. The sidewalks and rounds haven't really become icy yet, but they will soon. Thankfully Papa Ludwig and family has a package with the gear en route, so I just have to survive this week and I will (should) be all set!

1 week of snow down,

~5 months of snow left.