The Weather- What Else Would I Talk About?

As the topic of the weather is one of the most common in converstaions, I thought it might be fitting to start my blogging on this sight with some thoughts about the weather. One of the things that I was looking forward to when I moved to Central Asia was the promise that there were four distinct seasons. Coming from Shreveport, we dont often experience winter snow flurries and summer is best characterized as muggy and hot; so when I was told that my city would be a place where every three months the scenery was changed to accomodate the changing weather, I was very excited. But then I had to move, and I exchanged the four seasons for two. I'm living on the edge of Siberia, and now I live only either in a mild summer or a Siberian winter. Fall and Spring come, but only for two weeks; so basically if you blink you'll miss them. My first winter here was exciting, there was snow, as much as you could ever want. I got a white Christmas, as many snowball fights as I wanted, and access to skiing on a regular basis. Of course, I also got my share of frostbite, colds and flus, and the regular slip on the ice that at best left me bruised for several days and at worst left me laying on the ice hoping for some kind Russian or Kazakh man to help me into a taxi or a bus. Anyway, I for the most part enjoyed the winter last year. Nevermind the only 6-7 hours of daylight or the cold that bit you, even if you were tucked in your bed; I really did enjoy it.



But winter came back last week- with a biting vengence. The novelty has definitely worn off; its just a pain to spend 15 minutes getting bundled up to go out each time you need to leave! On more than one occasion I have found my mind wandering back to the States and to the Louisiana Fall. Taligating with some gumbo for an LSU football game, waking up early to watch College Game Day on ESPN, driving down roads that are covered in leaves that have just turned colors and fallen, throwing that jacket on mostly because it looks really great with the outfit that you're wearing- not really because you need it- thats the kind of weather that I'm longing for. So enjoy the Fall, or the last remnants of summer, for those of us who cant be there to take it all in.



I hope that through this blog you can get a taste of life overseas and maybe even a desire to pack those bags and have yourself a little adventure. I leave you with this picture- be glad you arent this poor guy who has to find his car under the snow and somehow get it working before work!
Paca (Russian for later),
Emily