Winter is coming - 2021

Though here in Ukraine, summer is about to end but I feel the cold snowy winter whisper in my ears all the time from now on. I am not a fan of winter even I personally dislike winter a lot but as I live in a winter dominating country, I have to accept winter. Not only Vodka that keeps these Russians/Ukrainians alive but their activities and the way of welcoming the winter is very fascinating. I am a girl from a hot-humid climate so I couldn't understand the bonding between these people and winter when I first arrived here. I noticed that how kids play with the snow and enjoy winter when I was struggling to keep myself warm. I used to complain a lot, especially about my red swollen hands. I hated black ice because I slipped on it thousands of times. So, I always had a very strange relationship with winter...

It took me a long time to adjust myself in the long hardcore winter season but I did. I am not gonna say that I love winter but I accepted winter in a positive way. When you know that you don't have other choices, then you start to adjust yourself to the situation because you have to move on and the wisest way is to accept. That's what I did, I know winter makes me feel weak, dark days make me depressed but instead of thinking these, I appreciate the mysterious beauty of winter.

Honestly, during winter, I always have less productive days, my energy level stays low completely and I always feel exhausted if I don't drink coffee. But it's okay, there is something hidden in this gloomy mysterious weather and I always motive myself thinking about this...

These pictures I have taken when I and my partner, both were exploring the Botanical Garden of Kharkiv. Of course, you won't be able to see the real beauty of this Botanical Garden because everything was covered with white snow. When I saw this scenery, I felt like a white soft blanket covered the entire landscape and was protecting nature. Trees looked dead, migrating birds have taken their spot and nature wrapped itself with the white furry blanket. Honestly, sometimes nature seemed depressive to me but it is what it is...

The usual temperature during winter is generally -10 to -17 degrees celsius, now I can survive in this cold atmosphere but when the thermometer or outside temperature touches -20 degrees celsius, I can't take it. My lips become frozen, I barely can walk and the most painful fact is the blood circulation of my hand stops. No matter how much I use my gloves, the harsh wind always gasps my hands. It is so painful to bear that pain and the hardest part is I don't feel anything or my hands don't sense anything if this happens.

You know what, if this happens and after a certain time if your body parts don't sense anything, doctors recommend cutting that body part. This means cells are dead, blood circulation stopped and that body part is now waste...This is known as frostbite and I really hate it...

Chilblains are curable and it just causes redness and skin becomes itchy for a while...

"The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation
And it looks like I'm the queen..."

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I am ready for the long winter...

Regards,

Priyanka...

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