When I first came to Canada I had my whole life packed in two bags. My life changed with new people and a new system. Facing everything for the first time was a new experience.
Then came winters :). As a Canadian resident for over 3 years, I have had my share of cold winters in Canada. And believe me, I am astounded with how we used to dream about the snow and visiting a hill station and enjoying a day full of snow. But now, I think it is getting under my skin. I have no idea what I am supposed to do on a day with a 15 cm snowfall.
For that, I came up with a list of tasks to take care of for the mighty Canadian winters. I hope this will shine some light on the matters you must take care of.
Forget about the shoes you brought from your homeland.
Let me be clear, the shoes you brought from your country won’t help you a dime in the winters. It’s a true story. The shoes that I brought from India, didn’t last a minute in the snow. The sole has no friction to tackle the snow. You will fall right away leaving the front porch. Believe me, I have gone through with it. Buy good quality shoes as you will need some time to get accustomed to the feel of it.
You must have snow jackets in Canadian winters.
The jackets you bring or give by your mother will not work. In Canada, there are special snow jackets to walk around in the snow. Unless you want to become a popsicle. 😀
If you think you would survive without a snow jacket in Ontario, Manitoba or any other province with heavy snowfalls. You are severely mistaken. You would not survive for a minute without it. They were fundamentally made to cope with harsh cold weather. The priority in winter is to get a snow jacket.
Bodywarmers are of great use.
Indian bodies are not accustomed to bear the minus degrees temperatures. Most people will not feel any difference but for children and elders, body warmers are a must. I have experienced that those brought from back home are the best as you cannot find them here.
Do a maintenance check 30 days prior to your home heaters.
The only place you will feel cozy is the home you live in. With the temperature dropping down to -20′ C at night you will need to have your heaters checked out. Get your heated floors checked, check your heaters, and make sure you have adequate equipment to be ready for the worst.
Driving a car? Winter tires are a must in Canadian winters.
If you own a car in Canada you must have a few things in mind to complete beforehand. First of all, you have to have the winter tires installed in your car. I know, I know, most of us won’t like the notion of ugly tires to be installed without flashy wheels and a dopey look. But, the dope look is far less valuable than your life. Secondly, Get your engine oil checked and make sure it is capable to cope with the harsh weather in the coming days. Last but the least, Make sure you have the washer fluid in your car that can get through the snowfall while driving.
Reading this I hope you will make the list I had from my own experiences and make sure you are ready for everything to come.
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