Alam ko eksayted kang makakita ng snow. I get it: I was once new to Canada, too. I was so excited to see snow for the first time.
I expected snow to come down fluffy and soft, cold to the touch, yes, but not freezing cold.
I thought the white stuff falling down from the sky would always have the right consistency for a snowball fight, the perfect heft for a snowman or a fort, that it would be…nice.
I’m sorry to let you down.
Snow is all that, yes, but not always.
Freezing rain? Ano yun?
The slightest dip in temperature could turn that lovely snowflake into rain, which then freezes to the ground, and coats EVERYTHING in ice.
Avoid going out when your car looks like a popsicle (see frosty van). That means the roads will be caked in ice, too.
Have you ever tried chipping away the ice on your car so you could, you know, go to work? It will take hours, days even.
Hint: just wait till the temperature rises above freezing.
If you’re desperate, throw some windshield washer fluid to melt away some of the ice from the windshield and the windows of the car.
And don’t even think about driving when freezing rain has just hit the ground. Your car will spin around like a trumpo.
(Trumpo is a spinning toy.)
Also, watch where you’re stepping: the ground may look fine to walk on, but there might be black ice lurking underneath.
Next thing you know, you’re on your back looking at the sky.
Wind Chill
There’s also this thing in winter called the “wind chill factor”.
What it means is that no matter what they say the temperature is, they’re lying.
When you add the wind chill effect to the temperature, it’s like standing in front of the freezer with an industrial fan aimed at your face.
The wind turns the arctic air up a notch or two, so a -5C temp is really -5C squared multiplied by 7,000 equals crackling death by snow.
Or something like that.
Math has never been my strongest skill.
It’s cold enough to get frostbite on the tip of your nose, the tips of your fingers, that delicate earlobe of yours…anything that’s exposed could potentially turn black and wither away.
Old Man Winter cannot be messed around with.
When they say the temperature has a wind chill factor of minus 20C or more, that’s when you take drastic measures, like getting out your Eskimo gear.
What to wear
Layer, layer, and layer some more. Buy undergarments—base layers like long sleeved shirts and leggings—that wick away moisture from your body and hold the heat.
Avoid cotton or polyester undergarments. Stores like SportChek and Under Armour carry good-quality base layer clothing.
Cover as much exposed skin as possible.
That means when you’re heading out, you should have a toque on your head (pronounced tuk).
Wear a scarf around your neck: wool, cashmere or other warm fabrics would be best. Don’t use silk scarves or thin, gauzy scarves in the winter.
Scarves can also serve as a cover for your nose: it helps you breathe better when the air is so sharp and crisp.
Invest in padded winter gloves (DO NOT buy dollar store gloves) and insulated, waterproof winter boots.
Great winter boot brands include Sorel, Columbia, Ugg, and Bogs. Yes, they won’t be cheap, but they should last years if you take care of them properly.
That means cleaning and wiping off the salt off of your boots, spraying them with protective spray, and wiping them dry after use.
For not-so-snowy days, invest in Timberland or Blundstone boots for every day winter wear.
The most important piece of winter clothing is your winter coat. Again, investing in the best quality coat is the best decision you could ever make.
Not only will your winter coat give you that much needed protection from the cold, it will also allow you to enjoy your life in Canada during the winter months.
There are many great brands out there, with the stand-outs being Patagonia, Columbia, North Face and Canada Goose.
The warmest ones have down padding, are waterproof and windproof on the outside, with a full hood to protect your head.
Expensive? Yes, but coats last for YEARS. Hint: Buy coats after Christmas.
And oh, as someone who has never had as much as a shiver in your life living in the tropics, there is actually some truth to the fact that you will FEEL more frozen than those people born in Canada.
Something about your blood not being acclimatized to the cold since you weren’t born here. Naku po!
Stay warm out there, kababayan.
Welcome to Canada.
