SNOW!
I've been really disenchanted with winter in Japan since it began, really. I am at my wits' end, what with everyone complaining and global warming and how freaking cold it is. Let me point out what is so ridiculous about this:
1. Japanese people don't use insulation. No, not even double-pane windows. So, how can they possibly have the right to complain about either?
2. They OPEN THE WINDOWS while the heat is on (and no, we don't use kerosene heat, we use normal heat at the school). HELLO? Is that NOT bad for the environment??? (They do the same thing with AC, BTW)
3. It has dipped below 32 degrees like 3 times. And by that, I mean it went down to like 30.
So, yes, I agree it is pretty samui when you leave the windows open and it's 35 degrees out, so most of the school is 35 degrees. I can also agree that my house is far too samui for its own good. Like, I can see my breath downstairs in the morning. But it's not winter until it either A. snows or B. it's so cold your skin hurts. Also, there is no way that 35 degrees can ever be considered super cold unless it's like July or something.
So imagine my delight when it finally snowed. I was THRILLED. But snow here is weird. Like, it can snow all day, but not stick, but the second it snows at night it sticks. And then it melts by like 10 or 11 am.
But, I got to get some great snow pictures - like snow on flowers, palm trees and shrines. So enjoy!!
These are from my walk to school Friday morning.
Snow on a flower bush:
Close up of a flower:
Winter berries:
No joke - Japanese people use umbrellas for snow. When I mentioned that I found this hilarious to one of the junior high sannensei boys, he looked completely shocked, and asked me "What do you use??" He seemed pretty satisfied with my answer of a coat, hat and gloves. BTW, these are not my students - they're two random girls from Shimogamo Junior High School:
Palm tree with snow!! I've wanted to take this picture since I got here:
The little stream near our house (look! More palm trees!)
Flower:
Sunday, we went to Shimogamo Shrine for snow pictures and then downtown for karaoke.
Snow covered mountain over rice fields (near Matsugasaki subway station):
Shrine maiden (a little blurry - sorry about that)
Really big prayer tablet:
Entrance to Shimogamo Shrine (from the inside):
One of the buildings:
A scene of the entrance, a torii and a bridge:
Torii and a snow covered tree:
These three legged crows are called Yatagarasu. They are thought to be Amaterasu's (the sun goddess) crows:
The entrance from the outside:
Some type of prayer things:
Prayer tablets:
Well, I hope that you enjoyed the pictures! :)
1. Japanese people don't use insulation. No, not even double-pane windows. So, how can they possibly have the right to complain about either?
2. They OPEN THE WINDOWS while the heat is on (and no, we don't use kerosene heat, we use normal heat at the school). HELLO? Is that NOT bad for the environment??? (They do the same thing with AC, BTW)
3. It has dipped below 32 degrees like 3 times. And by that, I mean it went down to like 30.
So, yes, I agree it is pretty samui when you leave the windows open and it's 35 degrees out, so most of the school is 35 degrees. I can also agree that my house is far too samui for its own good. Like, I can see my breath downstairs in the morning. But it's not winter until it either A. snows or B. it's so cold your skin hurts. Also, there is no way that 35 degrees can ever be considered super cold unless it's like July or something.
So imagine my delight when it finally snowed. I was THRILLED. But snow here is weird. Like, it can snow all day, but not stick, but the second it snows at night it sticks. And then it melts by like 10 or 11 am.
But, I got to get some great snow pictures - like snow on flowers, palm trees and shrines. So enjoy!!
These are from my walk to school Friday morning.
Snow on a flower bush:
Close up of a flower:
Winter berries:
No joke - Japanese people use umbrellas for snow. When I mentioned that I found this hilarious to one of the junior high sannensei boys, he looked completely shocked, and asked me "What do you use??" He seemed pretty satisfied with my answer of a coat, hat and gloves. BTW, these are not my students - they're two random girls from Shimogamo Junior High School:
Palm tree with snow!! I've wanted to take this picture since I got here:
The little stream near our house (look! More palm trees!)
Flower:
Sunday, we went to Shimogamo Shrine for snow pictures and then downtown for karaoke.
Snow covered mountain over rice fields (near Matsugasaki subway station):
Shrine maiden (a little blurry - sorry about that)
Really big prayer tablet:
Entrance to Shimogamo Shrine (from the inside):
One of the buildings:
A scene of the entrance, a torii and a bridge:
Torii and a snow covered tree:
These three legged crows are called Yatagarasu. They are thought to be Amaterasu's (the sun goddess) crows:
The entrance from the outside:
Some type of prayer things:
Prayer tablets:
Well, I hope that you enjoyed the pictures! :)