Yesterday morning, I had an acupuncture appointment early in the day. Awesome, as usual. Awesome, but always different.
Being out in the world already encourages me to do something else before I go home. Our public transit has a two-hour thing in any direction for one fare. I try to pack in whatever I can in that two-hour window (but inevitably, go over time and pay an extra fare). A Thai restaurant I like has fresh delicious chef’s specials every day and tofu vegetable rice rolls on Fridays. Off I went.
The sun was golden glorious, so I decided to stop off in Chinatown for my beloved HK style milk tea and, rather than taking the underground subway, take the long slow streetcar ride across town to the Thai place.
Tea was superb. gah!—this is becoming such a habit.
The streetcar took me through a small growing patch of Brazilian shops, bars, and markets. Interesting how the city is morphing.
I thought of former Brazilian students who always complained how cold it was here. I remembered one student from Brazil who one October, when everyone was wearing jean jackets or hoodies, came to school in a metallic silver snow suit, stiff padded jacket and pants, and his every movement down the hall was a squeak-swish-squeak- swish as the plastic-like metallic fabric gripped itself with every step. I giggled to myself at this memory in the streetcar for several stops.People who liked this
Comments
I wonder what that student wore in December! :P
Hahaha! That program was short term, so students were only here for under a month. The real challenge might have been the winds and snow squalls of February. :)
Yes, February is worse. :) I’m glad he didn’t have to experience the full force of Canadian winter!
So am I. I wonder what became of that outfit. The only thing missing was the ski helmet and googles, boots, poles, and skis.
LOL, there’s not much use for it in Brazil!
Ah, I like hearing about your adventures about town! It always takes me a while to get used to the cold in autumn.. it usually starts with me thinking I should just get a full body snowsuit to wear indoors everywhere… but I get used to the cold eventually…
Well, well, that reminds me being in Finland. -20°C (-4°F), snow suit pants, heavy sweatshirt, winter coat (and other necessary winter clothes, of course) and riding the bike to school 2.8 mi.
Wonderful times! And better than paying 3 EUR for each bus trip.
Thanks, tea-sipper. Not getting out all that much these days. Authorities are still emphasizing caution—we’re not there quite yet. I do love my city though.
For me, the autumn challenge is the quick transition to losing light in the day. Other than that, tracking down my warmer gear is always chaotic.
Finland! I’ve always wanted to go there. (I admire the Finns for having gotten the Soviets out of their country when so many countries suffered so much for so long.)
Do you speak Finnish? How were you able to communicate? What did you study there? And why did you choose Finland? Sorry if I am being too nosy.
I tried riding my bicycle during our winters and it is just too much, even with all the right winter gear. Also, I found it dangerous with the black ice, not just uncomfortable.
Evol Ving Ness: apparently, you are following me for short time — but that’s okay. No, you aren’t nosy, just curious. I do speak Finnish, but now it is limited for two words — kiitos (thanks) and moi (hello). However, I spent there 4 months (5 years ago) studying logistics (and I had 90 minutes/week Finnish course). I was able to speak very basic sentences about me and my family, but not anymore.
Why I chose Finland? Well, my older course-mate was there and she was speaking how beautiful it was and I tend to love those Nordic countries, so I have picked Finland as it was only one possible for my faculty. However, it was an awesome experience, not only because of Finland, but mostly because Finnish school system. The return caused big troubles at home university, which I won’t describe here.
Riding a bicycle with all winter gear is naturally a bit too much even for me. Luckily, I haven’t got much experience with black ice there, as mostly it snowed and there was enough snow or it has melted.
Thanks, Martin, for indulging me :)
No, I haven’t been following you for very long. Also, the past few years, my health, my sleep, and my internet/ computer access have been unreliable—not a great combination—so my activity here has been unpredictable.
Your experience in Finland sounds quite wonderful. Perhaps one day, you’ll explain the difference btwn the two school systems. I’d love to hear about it.
Oh no! Riding a bike below zero is another story! Whoa. haha
I wonder what that student wore in December! :P
Hahaha! That program was short term, so students were only here for under a month. The real challenge might have been the winds and snow squalls of February. :)
Yes, February is worse. :) I’m glad he didn’t have to experience the full force of Canadian winter!
So am I. I wonder what became of that outfit. The only thing missing was the ski helmet and googles, boots, poles, and skis.
LOL, there’s not much use for it in Brazil!
Ah, I like hearing about your adventures about town! It always takes me a while to get used to the cold in autumn.. it usually starts with me thinking I should just get a full body snowsuit to wear indoors everywhere… but I get used to the cold eventually…
Well, well, that reminds me being in Finland. -20°C (-4°F), snow suit pants, heavy sweatshirt, winter coat (and other necessary winter clothes, of course) and riding the bike to school 2.8 mi.
Wonderful times! And better than paying 3 EUR for each bus trip.
Thanks, tea-sipper. Not getting out all that much these days. Authorities are still emphasizing caution—we’re not there quite yet. I do love my city though.
For me, the autumn challenge is the quick transition to losing light in the day. Other than that, tracking down my warmer gear is always chaotic.
Finland! I’ve always wanted to go there. (I admire the Finns for having gotten the Soviets out of their country when so many countries suffered so much for so long.)
Do you speak Finnish? How were you able to communicate? What did you study there? And why did you choose Finland? Sorry if I am being too nosy.
I tried riding my bicycle during our winters and it is just too much, even with all the right winter gear. Also, I found it dangerous with the black ice, not just uncomfortable.
Evol Ving Ness: apparently, you are following me for short time — but that’s okay. No, you aren’t nosy, just curious. I do speak Finnish, but now it is limited for two words — kiitos (thanks) and moi (hello). However, I spent there 4 months (5 years ago) studying logistics (and I had 90 minutes/week Finnish course). I was able to speak very basic sentences about me and my family, but not anymore.
Why I chose Finland? Well, my older course-mate was there and she was speaking how beautiful it was and I tend to love those Nordic countries, so I have picked Finland as it was only one possible for my faculty. However, it was an awesome experience, not only because of Finland, but mostly because Finnish school system. The return caused big troubles at home university, which I won’t describe here.
Riding a bicycle with all winter gear is naturally a bit too much even for me. Luckily, I haven’t got much experience with black ice there, as mostly it snowed and there was enough snow or it has melted.
Thanks, Martin, for indulging me :)
No, I haven’t been following you for very long. Also, the past few years, my health, my sleep, and my internet/ computer access have been unreliable—not a great combination—so my activity here has been unpredictable.
Your experience in Finland sounds quite wonderful. Perhaps one day, you’ll explain the difference btwn the two school systems. I’d love to hear about it.
Oh no! Riding a bike below zero is another story! Whoa. haha