Giant Snow Dumps

So this happened this week:

(it was cold)

Few things I learned and or experienced so far:

- crying from the eyes because of the cold wind
- the stinging sensation your face is being cut by tiny wind blades
- the punch to the face temperature change when going from inside to out, and if you are mid sentence you choke on the cold air

 (ninja Dan says hi)

Layering up like an Onion

Around late November temperatures dramatically started to drop and since then I've heard people mention casually these phrases in passing, "your snot will freeze", "your eyelashes will stick to your face" and "do you have a proper winter jacket?"

I learned a new symbol on my phone's weather app this week: 

(yep...freezing rain)

First week into December and the temperature was suspiciously mild. I think the lowest it got was about -2 this week. Still the key that everyone says to staying warm is layering up like an onion. Luckily I've had practice with this over the years.


 My daily routine so far in all its monochromatic glory:

 

(Beanie, snowboarding neck thing, insulated gloves)

 (Industrial boots, Jeans, Snowboarding Hoodie)

(Socks, Thermal Leggings, Scarf)

(Coat, T-shirt, Sweater)

-2 is considered a warm day nowadays.

Montreal

I was born in Sydney, Australia. A city where you can get sunburned during the winter on an overcast day. During the months of December through February, Sydney either looks like this:

(Yep, bushfires)

Or this:

 

(the world is not on fire in this pic)

Most Sydney-siders go here during any day that the sun is out:

(Which is usually every day, even if the world is on fire)

After living in London U.K. and then Vancouver, BC, I have now made the journey east to the city of Montreal in Quebec.

(oh so pretty)

The one thing everyone says about Montreal is that you will know the true meaning of winter come those months late and early in the year. Okay cool, I've lived in London through two winters (one recorded as the worst in 50 years) and was in Vancouver through two winters, how bad can a Montreal winter be?

So apparently it is quite common for it to get down to temperatures of -30 + wind chill here.

I think I'm going to need a Full Winter Jacket...

(all pictures courtesy of the wonderful internet)