We don't often see snow on the ground here so this morning's snowfall came as a surprise. It never ceases to amaze me at how snow can completely transform the landscape. The yellow witch hazel blooms and the pink camellias were the bright spots in the gardens around the village. Nobody was out - it was so peaceful and calm.
So unprepared are Kumamotoans for snow that it isn't even part of their emergency planning. There are plans for school delays and closures due to typhoons, earthquakes and floods but nothing for snow. So everyone trudged off this morning. The elementary school kids are hardest hit because they have to walk in their little canvas shoes and then sit in an unheated classroom all day. I made breakfast for my hearty road warriors and then crawled back under the covers.
All that stuff I said previously about heating a home---lies, all lies! On a snowy day after a freezing night with the wind blowing, living in an unheated house is like camping out in the mountains, which is fine if that is what you want to be doing. I went outdoors just to prove to myself that it was actually colder there than in my room (it was - but just barely).
1 comment:
Unheated classrooms on a snowy day? Those poor kids!!! Whoa.
The snowy shots are lovely. The yellow flowers against the white...nice. How did they survive that? I love the look of snow, and I remember enjoying snow the first day, then, pretty much, hating how it turned dirty int he city (yellow from dog pee and gray from dirt). Plus walking on icy sidewalks to school...misery!
But when it's coming down, especially if there is a moon at night, and when it's new..wow. One of the loveliest things to experience.
BTW, are you writing a book/proposal/draft? Seems to me a four seasons in rural Japan sort of thing, with expansions of what you've said in this blog and photos would be such fun for Americans to read. I'd buy it. That guy in Provence and that gal in Tuscany did really well with their books. Heh. It might pay for indoor heating and then some!!! :)
Stay warm
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