Does your wife ever get used to the cold?

[cdneh 3,112]

Moving from Accra Ghana to Fairbanks Alaska was a big change for Florence. We bought a warm coat before we left Accra so she could deal with shock of getting off the plane in Alaska. We had a cold snap here in Fairbanks last month. It was between -30 and -40 for a week. She took it well but did complain some. Now, anything above zero is manageable. She still sleeps in long thermal underwear. I think the short days have been just as difficult as the cold for her.

That is quite the comprehensive change!

[PAGE 11 14]

Here in the California central valley, the winters are considered "mild" (averaging 40-60 deg F), though considerably colder than where I came from where it's about 80 deg the whole year round. When you have a way to transition gradually from summer to winter, and learn the trick of layering, then it's not so bad.

What really bothers me is how short the days get. I can't get used to the sun setting at 4:30 pm!

[Sayha or bust. 71]

Here in the California central valley, the winters are considered "mild" (averaging 40-60 deg F), though considerably colder than where I came from where it's about 80 deg the whole year round. When you have a way to transition gradually from summer to winter, and learn the trick of layering, then it's not so bad.

What really bothers me is how short the days get. I can't get used to the sun setting at 4:30 pm!

About the same climate as my wife's(S. Vietnam) and she too doesn't understand why it gets dark early. You still wear flips when its cold? she does alot or when she does put her casual shoes on she never slips the shoe on all the way, smashes the heel down. lol

[AKteacher 103]

My wife moved from Mindanao (southern Philippines) to Barrow, Alaska in the summer of 2010. Barrow is a polar climate with no windbreaks - the winters are very cold (not quite as cold as Fairbanks though), and the wind chill can be brutal (-70s - ouch!). But the humidity is usually very low, so it often does not feel quite as cold as the numbers indicate.

My wife has adapted well and actually likes Barrow because she's used to small town living. The key for her was to get a job at the school, where she has made friends and can be around children. The climate isn't so bad if you have the proper clothing and equipment, and a nice cozy apartment. We snuggle and keep each other warm at night!

[J&N* 68]

Wow a lot of people here from Alaska, now I feel like a wimp complaining about winters in Chicago! (my excuse is I'm from Africa!"

[cdneh 3,112]

That's one place I intend to go to, Alaska. Been on my list of 'to go to' places for years

[Helen Louise Pile 80]

My wife moved from Mindanao (southern Philippines) to Barrow, Alaska in the summer of 2010. Barrow is a polar climate with no windbreaks - the winters are very cold (not quite as cold as Fairbanks though), and the wind chill can be brutal (-70s - ouch!). But the humidity is usually very low, so it often does not feel quite as cold as the numbers indicate.

My wife has adapted well and actually likes Barrow because she's used to small town living. The key for her was to get a job at the school, where she has made friends and can be around children. The climate isn't so bad if you have the proper clothing and equipment, and a nice cozy apartment. We snuggle and keep each other warm at night!

I went to Barrow last July and it was 30F and extremely windy when most of AK was 70's!

Alaska airlines has good deals to Maui from Anchorage or Fairbanks when it gets too cold!

[TBoneTX 43,432]

Oh -- another example of American superiority: During Mrs. T-B.'s first summer here, she was amazed that southeastern Texas was even hotter than Guayaquil.

[EminTX 131]

My other half will probably freak out in July. He lives where it gets cold and hot but not sweltering like here in coastal Texas. The humidity is the killer, IMHO.

He has also never actually seen snow in his life. I am pretty sure that his first experience will be fun for me to watch, too.

[luckytxn 2,263]

My babe is also from Vietnam and she did fine. She does get cold and just bundles up. A month ago when I was home I told her we were going to turn the heat on that night. (She hates to as electricity costs money. We don't pay the electric bill though.) I did and of course as usual she gets up to turn off the central heat after I fell asleep. I woke up and was cold and just put socks on and a sweat pants and went back to bed mumbling. She appeared to be asleep just fine. When I woke up that next morning she was bundled up in all jacket and socks and pants and had all her stuffed animals around her and the big one on top of her, buried. I of course took the blanket and pulled it off her and scattered her crazy girl cave she made. Her loud whining had no affect on me.

[OnMyWayID 1,489]

I have been very surprised at how well she has handled the cold. I thought it was going to be a long winter when she arrived in late November.. There was some luck with abnormally high temps for the first week or so.. When the temps first dipped to below freezing she needed a few days to adjust. Now she has no problem with the cold - she whips out the cell phone and gives a little cheer each time it gets below zero. She is a little perturbed that there has not been any snow yet. I tell her the local ski resorts feel the same way.

A pic from yesterdays walk:

90 minutes in sub-freezing temps and she was not ready to end the walk yet... Not bad for someone who had previously never seen below 60 degree weather

[PAGE 11 14]

About the same climate as my wife's(S. Vietnam) and she too doesn't understand why it gets dark early. You still wear flips when its cold? she does alot or when she does put her casual shoes on she never slips the shoe on all the way, smashes the heel down. lol

No, I've discovered the joy of warm fleece-lined slippers! I do miss my summer sandals, though. And miss having polished toenails--no point when your toes are always covered and even I hardly ever see them!

[Sayha or bust. 71]

My babe is also from Vietnam and she did fine. She does get cold and just bundles up. A month ago when I was home I told her we were going to turn the heat on that night. (She hates to as electricity costs money. We don't pay the electric bill though.) I did and of course as usual she gets up to turn off the central heat after I fell asleep. I woke up and was cold and just put socks on and a sweat pants and went back to bed mumbling. She appeared to be asleep just fine. When I woke up that next morning she was bundled up in all jacket and socks and pants and had all her stuffed animals around her and the big one on top of her, buried. I of course took the blanket and pulled it off her and scattered her crazy girl cave she made. Her loud whining had no affect on me.

Funny stuff, I try to tell my wife a winter jacket not sleeping apparel.

[luckytxn 2,263]

Funny stuff, I try to tell my wife a winter jacket not sleeping apparel.

We have central heat.

We also have an electric blanket.

[rlogan 2,036]

I see two "Bona-Fides" weighed in before me. Interior Alaska, same as Howard and Florence. The dark is harder than the cold mentally. I'm more tired of it after 26 years than she is. This is her third winter.

Bunny boots and expedition weight stuff from Apocalypse Design - bring on the fifty below zero. We heat with wood and she is hauling it all now for the second winter in a row now waiting for my leg to heal. These Filipina units are sturdy.