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Showing posts with label Snow. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Snow. Show all posts
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Japanese Snow
Okay look look, I'm tired of this.
In Sapporo, it snows. ALL THE TIME.
I love snow, I love snow a lot. But I have one problem, my fluffy friend.
When you pack that snow down, over and over again by, say, the feet of a thousand rushing around college kids, things tend to become less fluffy and much more... icy.
Normally where I come from, the good ol US of A, this isn't a problem, since we have the beloved idea of shoveling the sidewalk. Then the way is clear, and walking is lovely. Nice, pretty, beautiful tufts of snow on the lawns, the trees, etc.
BUT IN SAPPORO, OH NO NO NO, shoveling the sidewalk DOES NOT EXIST.
I don't really have much to say about this one, except the ice is PACKED on, usually around a foot high at this point. The only time you see cleared sidewalks is when a company pumps hot water underneath the concrete to melt the stuff away via pipes built there, but if people don't have that, then they're just too lazy to clear it, and you get slick icy sidewalks. No salt, no shoveling, nothing.
They barely even clear the streets! I've seen cars skid EVERYWHERE.
The closest remedy you'll see is perhaps, some kind soul will sprinkle charcoal on the ground to embed itself in that caked-on mess of ice, providing a bit of traction.
But that's it.
Blows my mind really. I mean in America there'd be people suing as far as the eye can see with such a situation.
Last year over 1000 people slipped and had to go to the hospital in Sapporo ALONE. And not ONE of them sued?
WHAT A COUNTRY!
Time for some noodles...
In Sapporo, it snows. ALL THE TIME.
I love snow, I love snow a lot. But I have one problem, my fluffy friend.
When you pack that snow down, over and over again by, say, the feet of a thousand rushing around college kids, things tend to become less fluffy and much more... icy.
Normally where I come from, the good ol US of A, this isn't a problem, since we have the beloved idea of shoveling the sidewalk. Then the way is clear, and walking is lovely. Nice, pretty, beautiful tufts of snow on the lawns, the trees, etc.
BUT IN SAPPORO, OH NO NO NO, shoveling the sidewalk DOES NOT EXIST.
I don't really have much to say about this one, except the ice is PACKED on, usually around a foot high at this point. The only time you see cleared sidewalks is when a company pumps hot water underneath the concrete to melt the stuff away via pipes built there, but if people don't have that, then they're just too lazy to clear it, and you get slick icy sidewalks. No salt, no shoveling, nothing.
They barely even clear the streets! I've seen cars skid EVERYWHERE.
The closest remedy you'll see is perhaps, some kind soul will sprinkle charcoal on the ground to embed itself in that caked-on mess of ice, providing a bit of traction.
But that's it.
Blows my mind really. I mean in America there'd be people suing as far as the eye can see with such a situation.
Last year over 1000 people slipped and had to go to the hospital in Sapporo ALONE. And not ONE of them sued?
WHAT A COUNTRY!
Time for some noodles...
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Nature and Hokkaido
Now I know I've been slacking on the photos of Japan's scenery. Which is a darn shame.
I live in Hokkaido, and we have some immense beauty.
To me at least, this is most prevalently displayed in the vivid distinctions nature creates.
About a month ago, as fall hastily closed, the last few leaves falling, is about when I noticed this trend.
Rather than bogging down the blog with my analysis of beauty in nature, I'm just gonna show some photos, and stay clear of overly talking.
At the end of fall... the mountains in the back started to frost over. I thought the white was pretty striking in comparison to the bright yellow. This is the sight that kind of made me realize, and in turn begin to appreciate, what it is I am surrounded by on a daily basis.
A better view, check out the mountains in the back.
Keiteki, my dorm, also has it's own vivid colors.
As an example, a lot of the leaves that fall from the surrounding trees turn WHITE when they dry out. Crazy color.
Not photoshopped :p
But the vine on the side of building turns BRIGHT RED.
Naturally, as it's winter now we have the amazing contrast of black to white.
After a VERY rough 15 inch blizzard, my walk to class looked like this.
And just outside of the student center?
I could get used to this sort of life... Winter wonderland.
Happy holidays everyone.
I live in Hokkaido, and we have some immense beauty.
To me at least, this is most prevalently displayed in the vivid distinctions nature creates.
About a month ago, as fall hastily closed, the last few leaves falling, is about when I noticed this trend.
Rather than bogging down the blog with my analysis of beauty in nature, I'm just gonna show some photos, and stay clear of overly talking.
At the end of fall... the mountains in the back started to frost over. I thought the white was pretty striking in comparison to the bright yellow. This is the sight that kind of made me realize, and in turn begin to appreciate, what it is I am surrounded by on a daily basis.
A better view, check out the mountains in the back.
Keiteki, my dorm, also has it's own vivid colors.
As an example, a lot of the leaves that fall from the surrounding trees turn WHITE when they dry out. Crazy color.
Not photoshopped :pBut the vine on the side of building turns BRIGHT RED.
Naturally, as it's winter now we have the amazing contrast of black to white.
After a VERY rough 15 inch blizzard, my walk to class looked like this.
And just outside of the student center?
I could get used to this sort of life... Winter wonderland.
Happy holidays everyone.
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