Tidbits & Canadianisms

Well, not much has happened since my last post. I'm working, sleeping and spending my days off relaxing, and trying so stay warm. So being that there's not much to tell, I have some tidbits and thoughts to share.

• It's so cold in Canada, houses can literally fall off cliffs in the Northwest Territories when the permafrost melts and foundations of a house move
• It's so cold in Canada, you need a heater for your engine so that your car will start in the morning
• It's so cold in Canada, there are bugger all people on the streets in the middle of the day
• It's so cold in Canada, when you step outside and the cold wind hits your lungs, it makes you cough
• In so cold in Canada, if you left beer outside, it would freeze and explode in a matter of minutes (I haven't tried that one yet).
• It's so cold in Canada, the trains sometimes just don't run because they can't make it through the snow or even start going when it's this cold.

And so on. Seriously, -40 odd today, with a windchill. It's like nothing I've ever experienced. My face starts to hurt after about 5 minutes, which I think means it's close to getting frostbite. Awesome! I have purchased an incredibly warm jacket, which is phenominally good at keeping the cold out. The struggle is keeping my face and toes warm. It was said to me yesterday that at -50, it takes minutes for body parts and extremities to start freezing. Great! Why am I here again?!


How humans ever adapted this weather without modern technology in way of heating and clothing is beyond me. And how do the squirells survive? That's a question for the ages I tell ya. At least now I understand how my mate Dean can wear a shorts and t-shirt when the temperatures gets to +10. Such a huge jump from extremes really would feel warm.

May last 2 days off (monday & tuesday just gone) were spent indoors for the whole time. It's just too cold to go outside unless you have a car - waiting at train stations and bus stops is just brutal. I'm hoping to get up to Banff at some stage on a day off soon though; it would be really nice to get out of the city and see some countryside, as long as it's a bit warmer that is. I might even have a go at ice skating.

Seeing the sunshine during the cricket or the Australian Open really has me pining for home, but this is one hell of an experience. Enjoy the warm weather people!