It all started with ice-skating on Saturday. The graduate student association for our program has an annual ice-skating party. For only $2.50 we could skate and hang out. I picked up skating again pretty easily, although the poor Chinese people were the ones falling all over the place. It reminded me of roller skating with my baby students in China. About ten of them would hold on to me for dear life, because most of them just couldn't get the hang of skating, although that was their 100th time trying. It also reminded me of the last time when I went ice-skating. It was last winter in Xinjiang, the Siberia of China. I've never felt so cold.
Speaking of cold, think of my dear former teammate and roommate, Jodi. She's still serving in China in the northeastern city of Harbin. Currently the windchill is -41 degrees there. Brrr!!
It started snowing here on Saturday night. We only got a few inches, but we still got the blizzard conditions. Schools are closed today, and I'm once again holed up inside studying. I really can't go anywhere with the roads and -1 windchill and want to go crazy. The salt trucks keep coming down our tiny street, but the roads stay the same. All my friends are studying anyway, and I ought to be doing the same!
Yesterday, though, before the blowing snow started, I went to church. Then by evening, the crazy weather began. I went to hang out at my friends' house, because they have a fireplace. It was only a ten minute walk, but I was a bit afraid I'd fall into a snow drift. Everything was eerily quiet outside, and the wind was throwing sharp little pieces of snow in my face. It was nice to sit by a cozy fire then with my wonderful friends!
Okay, now I'm really going to start studying again and I'll leave you with some pictures. Stay warm and healthy!
InterVarsity Graduate-Faculty Ministry Christmas Party
Reading poetry by the fire
Vanessa's expressive reading of a Shel Silverstein poem
Getting ready to brave the weather again
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