What's Da Buzz?

Today is November 24th which marks the 4th anniversary of my arrival in the United States. Now, this is not the day I got married but it was the day I discovered something no amount of conversation with my Goryo could prepare me for.

Being from Gensan on the island of Mindanao, I got very used to the 95 degrees Fahrenheit (35 C) heat with very high humidity. That was how life was since we were so close to the equator. You wear your shirts, your blue jeans and you were comfortable. When I received my fiancée visa and boarded the plane in Manila to land in Los Angeles and meet Goryo there, I was not prepared at all for what was going to happen.

Now Goryo thought about every detail possible in advance. He had the hotel reservations, the taxi, the connecting flight to Milwaukee scheduled for the next day, and even winter coats, hats and gloves for me. He waited patiently as our plane landed and I made my way through immigrations trying to take in all of the differences so far. But as anyone who has traveled to the Philippines can testify too, it is one really long flight that tires you out.

As we left the airport, I asked my bana for my winter coat as I was cold in Los Angeles, California. To me, it was a chilly 75 degrees Fahrenheit (24 C). I could not understand how it didn’t impact Goryo at all. Furthermore, when we got to the hotel, I was shocked at seeing a lady lying out in the sun in her bikini!! Didn’t she know it was cold?

Well, the next day we boarded the plane to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I had my winter coat on unbuttoned and we got off the airplane at the Milwaukee airport on time. Hubby had his car waiting in the designated parking area and we would need to catch one of the shuttle buses that pick you up from the airport and transport you to the parking lot.

As we got closer to the doors going out, my bana stopped us about 20 feet away from the doors and told me to zip up my coat, put on my winter hat and gloves he got for me. I had no idea why he would say that and I just looked at him with a questioning look and asked “why?” He only gave a little grin, shrugged his shoulders and said “There is only one way to find out.” So we went outside where it was 36 degrees Fahrenheit (2 C – Yes that is TWO degrees C.) Initially, I was surprised I could see my breath and thought it was fun until we waited for the shuttle bus.

That is when it set in. The wind was strong that night and it dropped the temperature well below freezing and I WAS FREEZING!! I quickly put on my hat, zipped and buttoned my coat, put on my mittens and jumped up and down rubbing my hands trying to stay warm. Sheesh, what a welcome to Wisconsin that was. When I said anything about how cold it felt, the only answer I got back from everyone was “Wait until January.” I found out as the temperature in January made that first day seem warm. January’s temps were NEGATIVE 24 degrees Celsius. I didn’t even leave home until it warmed up. 

Now 4 years later, I am much more comfortable outside in the winter temps. I do not think I will ever be as comfortable as Goryo, but after a while you do actually get used to it. Now if only my bana and my daughter would quit wearing t-shirts and shorts inside during winter. That makes me feel cold!!

Anyway, what about you? What are your experiences? I would love to hear from you as well.

Thank you,

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