First Post from Gifu

Am I really in Gifu? Two short weeks ago I was in a warm, cozy southern California winter. No need for multiple layers of clothing, floor heaters, or hourly hot beverages. No icy roads or snow on the car, etc. etc. In these short two weeks here there have already been a few firsts for me, and one of them is seeing actual snow fall. I'm still in my "enjoying the snow" phase, so I'll do my best to appreciate this phase while it lasts. A week from now, I may be on the opposite end of the spectrum.
Up until a few days ago, it had simply been very cold here (below freezing temperatures, I may add). There'd be some snow on the ground in the mornings, but the roads would be clear and everything would go as planned. Gradually it started snowing more and more, and after the barrage of fluffy white pellets today, I'd be surprised if the snow gods have any ammunition left for tomorrow. I certainly hope not, as I have a long drive to one of my kindergartens in the morning. Growing up in a warm climate, I have no idea how much snow warrants a "snow day" or cancellation of school, so until I hear otherwise, the journey must go on.
Did I mention that I have just about the smallest car one can have on the road? It's great, it's a Daihatsu, I love it, it's the easiest thing in the world to park. With that said, no matter how good its snow tires are, I worry about it making it through all the snow that has built up.
Teaching so far has been a lot of fun. I'm teaching two days a week at various kindergartens, one day at an elementary school, and two days at a junior high school. As you might imagine, each age group is pretty different, so it's giving me a good idea of what I might like to teach in the long run. After only a week the jury is still out, so we'll see how it goes.
Thanks for reading this first post. There's really a bit more to report from here, but I figured I'd get this one out of the way first.