First Winter

The day I landed in Volgograd, I remember it was around 1900 hrs and the temperature was probably above zero but I felt like it was negative twenty or something, nothing could have prepared me enough. I mean back home in Zimbabwe we would complain when it was +14℃ and cover every part of our bodies (yes, scarfs, gloves, boots...the whole shebang!), but now at such temperatures I rejoice and walk around with nothing on...nothing refers to a super light jacket in this case. My body was in complete shock and I could not fathom how Russians could stand such cold but you adapt I guess (though I cannot say I am completely cool with it, I need at least another 10 or so years), and that first Russian winter seemed to last for a year...

On the third day, some nice Nigerian guys offered to take me and some new students to go shopping for supplies, the trip seemed to last forever (it was probably 3 hours at most but my mind was still exaggerating everything at the time) and by the time we got back to the hostel I could not feel my toes! I was rewarded with a serious case of flu and stayed in bed for days.  During the first few days, I would get excited each time there was a little bit of sunshine then get completely disappointed once I was outdoors.  It's sole purpose was to let us know it was morning and we had to wake up and attend lectures, nothing more (by the way we had a lecture the following day after our arrival, thankfully we got lost and missed it LOL!). The sun during winter is the equivalent of the light in your fridge, it has absolutely zero effect on the temperature! The worst I have ever experienced is negative 25℃ and even then some of my Russian classmates bragged about it being 'nothing' (seriously, who on earth decided to start civilization in this place!). 

Our hostels where (still are) well heated and it would take a lot of courage and self discipline to take the trash out cause you have to wear a lot of stuff just to walk a few meters outside, or else the cold will definitely show you no mercy. By March, when spring came I had seriously had enough and even then it was still chilly, but that spring brought with it a ray of hope that one day I would walk the streets with no jacket on. Once the snow melted and trees started getting all green and we could freely walk around, I realized that Volgograd was actually a beautiful city (I mean all winter I was either in bed or in class and an occasional trip to the supermarket where I would buy weeks worth of supplies, that is how much the cold terrified me).

Check out a picture of me and another Zimbabwean student (he moved to a different city after language training) on our first day in Volgograd...cute isn't it. I promised to tell you the other reasons why I wish it was winter already...well I love snow (despite all the cold it brings with it), it is a terrible beauty! As for the third reason, I am going to give you a hint and let you take a guess (hint: staying indoors with my favorite person, having чай (pronounced chai, meaning tea) and watching a movie...). Until next time...Пока!!