Brrrrrrr!

Ok. Every place I have ever lived has been considered a "temperate" climate. However, a couple of those places, it actually snowed 1-2 days of the year. So, it's not like I haven't experienced "cold" before. I mean, it HAS to be a certain temperature before it SNOWS, right? Every recollection I have ever had on snowy days, I wore sweaters! Not even a thick jacket...just a turtleneck and a warm sweater. Granted, I didn't stay out in the snow for very long, but technically that's what I wore for the brief time I was in it. So, it's not any wonder why when I intentionally decide to visit the snow, I pack enough jackets, thermals, sweaters, etc to live in an igloo! I just don't have much experience with cold weather. I know I'm built for it...I just can't seem to properly prepare for it.

I have never lived any place where it gets cold before December/January...other than the occasional day, perhaps. I'm also used to living in climates that even IF it gets that cold...as long as the sun shines, you just won't get that cold. The sun has always seemed to warm things up. Until now...

Have I mentioned to you how flippin' COLD it is here?? I have never been in this kind of cold! It's not like we are living in the interior of China! Shanghai is practically on the coast! So, what the h***??

When we first arrived and it was hot as blazes, I remember seeing padded, fuzzy toilet seat covers. I remember thinking two things...how silly...and YUCK! It seemed like sitting on fuzzy padded toilet seats could actually be very unsanitary. As the season progressed and summer turned into fall, I noticed a cold weather clothing frenzy among consumers. Retail joints and the markets alike had heaps of colder weather clothing out for sale. I remember thinking...geez, what's got into everyone? The season is just getting started!

As weeks passed into later fall, I now find myself scrambling to different places to try and find MUCH more appropriate clothing for our family! CLEARLY, we came unprepared! All of a sudden, our thin US socks are way too thin. My feet are freezing most of the time! I suddenly don't have NEARLY enough turtlenecks (considering I only have one). It has become apparent Brandon only owns thin long sleeve shirts...not WARM long sleeve shirts. The boys' sweater jackets aren't thick enough. I look in my closet and laugh at what I USED to consider to be warm garments. HA!

I'm scrambling to the markets to find those heaps of winter clothes. All of a sudden, we desperately need scarves, gloves, hats to cover our ears and/or ear muffs. And that's not even on a windy day! The sun shines, but it never seems to heat up - ever! And this is only the beginning...it's supposed to get a LOT colder before it gets any warmer. Ugh!

I used to joke about how our home town had two seasons...hot and cold. Ok, NOW I mean it. There are two seasons here in Shanghai...hot as blazes and cold as all get out!

What a charming city we are finding ourselves...it never ceases to surprise us.