South Africa has the best weather in the world. I never appreciated it until I experienced my first winter here 08/09. If it weren’t for my impending trip to Bali that March I would have gone home in a flash. I start work at 7am and it was -12 degrees for the third day in a row. I recall arriving at work one bitterly cold January morning with frozen tears thawing down my cheeks and announcing to my manager that I was done with this country and its weather!
This winter was slightly different. Firstly, I knew what was coming, and believe me, preparation is everything! Secondly, I knew I was going home on the 31 December for 12 days. A sunshine goal is important to get through a long winter! And finally, I learnt how to snowboard (badly) and was looking forward to getting back on the slopes! Consequently, the cold weather and sub-zero temperatures didn’t faze me so much. In fact, we had a spell of -17 for a couple of days, and I complained less than my Korean friends! But…
It is too long! You know how in South Africa, around March we start noticing a slight chill in the evening, by April we’re donning a sweater, and by May we are full swing into winter, coat and all? But by August we are back to wearing a sweater and before you know it, there is that delectable scent of jasmine in the air and we are all sitting on our verandas with a glass of wine after work anticipating the first summer thunderstorms! Throughout our winter there are subzero temperatures in the early mornings and late evenings but, honestly, during the day you cannot beat South African winters! Korea, not so much!
Winter arrives around late October or early November, after a short and exquisite autumn! The first snow falls around the end of November, and then the temperatures plummet to around -10 and stay there until well into February. Koreans claim that their winters are characterised by three days of cold weather followed by four days of warmer weather. Personally, I could not discern between -3 (warmer day) and -12 (colder day). It is just cold, and stays that way for a long, long time. The buildings are designed for this, so consequently my gas bill rockets for four months as I leave my under floor heating on all night to create a snug little haven to crawl into after finishing work at 9.30pm.
Today’s snow is called ‘winter scares spring away’ and it is typical in Korea. We had a teaser of spring in early February and as soon as some brave blossoms poke their petals out the nasty winter came back for one final attack to lay claim to the whose the baddest season of them all title! And so for the next few days we get trudge to work in slush, and try and avoid globs of snow falling from branches or buildings! Really… not cool!
