For most of us who were born and bred in this part of the world, in a region of hot and humid weather with scorching sun all year round, we have adapted ourselves well enough through years of civilization in acclimatizing to the weather and making full use of whatever benefits it brings along. During our childhood many of us would've dreamed about winter and the snow and what it would be like to live in a cold country. Our fantasy may go wild from running in the snow, building snowmen, ice skating, snow ball fights with friends etc. These fantasies aren't limited to children though, as adults too sometimes secretly wish for the experience at least once in a lifetime.
Hence it would come as no surprise when the seasoned house was built in Bukit Cahaya Sri Alam, Malaysia as a tourist attraction or rather for locals largely. Then, following this footstep, came the ice skating centers in major malls; the largest of which is situated in Dubai UAE.
Some of us who are lucky enough, get to experience these by going overseas to northern countries for vacation, for studies or job postings.
But winter is not just all about that, just like any other weather it has its ups and downs. Surely more 'downs' in countries associated with extreme coldness like Russia. Being a student who has lived here in Moscow for the past seven years, this is where I'd like to bring your attention to the most intricate details of my experience with winter in Moscow. Perhaps for some of you who travel regularly or have experienced winter in a foreign country this information might be a little mundane or maybe you have settled in that country for such a long time that these minor details are an everyday part of life that one often overlooks at. But I believe it would very much interest those who have never experienced the cold season.
So let us start of with clothing. During mid winter, it is a must to go out fully and properly clothed. We have to wear thick socks, gloves, snow cap and winter boots while mufflers and long johns depend very much on people; some, like me, prefer to wear few layers of thin clothing instead of long johns as I find them a bit uncomfortable. Besides, it is also a widely known fact that a few layers of thin clothing trap warmth better and keep you well insulated during the chilly months of winter. And, not forgetting perhaps the most important thing of all, your winter jacket/overcoat. This comes in a multitude of colors and designs and price ranges where one could easily be spoilt for choice. Just roam the streets of Moscow and you will know what I'm talking about; it's like a live high fashion bazaar. Even the older folks are becoming more fashion conscious and trendy. For a moment it seems like gender and age have no boundaries in Moscow.
As I would very much like to talk of the thinking and attitudes of Muscovites , their behavior and ideology, unfortunately that's a whole new ball game which we won't be touching for now. So, let us continue with the weather. The biggest misconception of all time is perhaps that 'Russia is a land filled with meters of layers of snow and everything is white all the time as portrayed by the mass media; thanks to films like Triple-x (XXX) and the James Bond saga.
NOT true at all. Russia is not covered in snow all the time, that too only parts of this vast country. Now we'll leave the precise geographic details to the experts, but, all I can say is even during mid winter, the snow fall is not constant and on going; it is very much just like our tropical rain. While in summer the temperature could be no different than in Malaysia, in which I'd like to add that the best time to enjoy Moscow is perhaps from late spring to early autumn. The weather during spring and autumn especially is very unpredictable, with noticeable fluctuations in the temperature in one single day. A windy cold spell in the morning followed by heavy rain in the afternoon and warm, sunny weather in the late evening is quite a common occurrence during these seasons.
Apart from nature, one can't help but stare in awe at the various machinery ranging from modified trucks to bulldozers which tirelessly clean up the snow every single day at practically every street to ensure a smooth and safe traffic flow. Some can be seen as early as before dawn while others work late throughout the night to beat the traffic. And the result is what can be perceived as two continuous mounds of snow along each street; some of them can be as high as two meters! And as summer approaches, the rain and rising temperatures causes these mounds to melt little by little which in turn causes damp or even wet and slippery roads and pathways when the temperature rises. The whole scenario can be quite unsightly, BUT not for long; as another group of trucks with fitted tanks take turns blasting the roads clean with water jetting out of mobile nozzles.
So, comparing to our Local County and municipal council, it is evident to what length these people have to go to maintain their cities throughout the various changing seasons with different apparel and machinery, unlike us who are lucky enough to have the same weather all year round.
Then there is also the extra time needed to change into and out of the winter garments and outfits in your home, before leaving, and at your destination. While shopping, we students tend to drag along our heavy gear in the trolley. The floors of buses and underground trains (metro) will be muddy due to the residual snow carried in by the winter boots. So bear in mind all these factors when shopping for a winter coat; a smart choice would be one that has an outer water-proof material. Trying to save money on this might result in torn gloves and leaky boots. A word of caution though; outfits manufactured in other countries might not be able to withstand Russian winter, and even if they do, they won't last long.
These kind of season-dependent temporary changes and modifications are part and parcel of life in seasoned countries and it envelopes every aspect of everything. For instance, how all vehicles and public transport comes with heaters, how each house/building comes with a hot and cold water system and a double window(two-layered). How most outdoor restaurants and eateries go indoors or adapt to winter. And for us foreign students, changing in and out of our winter boots and cloaks, running in the snow or even walking on a slippery icy pathway can be quite a hassle or even traumatic especially when late for classes. Nevertheless the experience of living and going through winter in Moscow will be one cherished forever.
http://www.wikisummaries.org/The_De_Vil_Code
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