Winter is upon us here in Europe

Hi everyone. Winter weather is well and truly upon us here in Europe - we are in single digit territory and I have dragged out all the winter clothing that I have stashed away since the end of March. Many people actually dislike winter because of the short days - it starts to get dark around 3:30 pm and yes that can be a downer at times. I had gotten used to cycling to my gym in the day and return at night - but now both the journey there and back at done at night given that I do not go to the gym before 3:30 pm (except on Saturdays). But if you can live with the darkness, here are a few reasons why winters are ever so delightful (and yes, I can't wait for ski season 2014-15 to begin).

Limpeh in Trafalgar Square in the snow - photo from 2011

Firstly, I don't sweat in winter. I can't tell you how important this is to me as someone from Singapore. Every single childhood memory from Singapore usually features me drenched in sweat from the topical humidity. I hate sweating. It is sticky, it is uncomfortable and I don't feel particularly dignified when dripping with sweat. I am a very active person - I cycle around town instead of using public transport, I spend a lot of the time at my gymnastics club and I love the great outdoors. This means that at any other time of the year, I usually end up sweating. Heck, I sweat when I cycle even at 10 degrees, but at 5 degrees, it is cold enough for me not to break out into a sweat. I know there will be those of you who will preach the benefits of sweating (clears out your pores etc), but I don't care: I just love not sweating for the next few months as the temperature stays below 10 degrees. 

Secondly, cold weather wakes me up. You know how you can wash your face with cool tap water in the morning to refresh yourself? Well, try inhaling two lungs full of cold air at 0 degrees Celsius, boom! You wake up just like that. It is refreshing, it is like a shot of coffee. I feel sluggish and slow when the weather is too hot. Furthermore, I get to dress nicely when it is this cold! Yes I am vain, guilty as charged. During the summer months, I usually worry about sweating too much if I am overdressed and if I may refer you back to my previous point about sweating, I hate sweating. But in winter, I can wear all the accessories I want without worrying about being overdressed especially when it is freezing.

Winter is a great time for the outdoors.

Lastly, I think there is still a certain novelty factor about the cold for me. I may have spent half my life in Europe and half my life in Singapore, but I still have fond memories about studying about winter weather as a child in science and geography lessons, learning about frost and snow. I have experienced so many winters as an adult here in Europe but I still enjoy them all so much more than the locals. There is an element of 'the grass is greener on the other side of the fence' - my European friends all dream about spending winter on a hot tropical island with golden beaches whilst I dream about freezing cold snow-capped mountains.

After what seemed like an especially long and hideously hot summer (it didn't help that I visited places like Greece, Albania and Tunisia during the height of summer with temperatures exceeding 40 degrees), it is just wonderful to feel cold again. I can't wait for the temperature to slip below zero - it is still a little early for it, that usually happens from around mid-December onwards. Hot weather makes me feel sick, cold weather makes me feel alive. I am headed back to Germany in mid-December for work and I hope that will give me my first taste of early snow this winter.

I can't wait for the ski season to begin!