The cold returned to Gifu last month, hovering just above freezing most of the time, with a few subzero early mornings and days of snow. Luckily it hasn't snowed too heavily overnight, meaning I've been able to make the morning drive on clear, safe roads. Tuesday and Wednesday are expected to snow, though not very much.
I've been staying warm in the apartment by alternating using electric space heater and my kerosene fan heater. The fan heater is the stronger of the two, but is also more expensive and gives off an odor that I am unfortunately used to. Since it's gas (hence the smell), I try not to use it for more than a few hours at a time. Mornings would be nearly impossible without it. I wake up to an icebox of an apartment, turn on the heater immediately, and after twenty minutes of morning hygiene, it is usually warm enough to have breakfast in comfort.
Though there hasn't been as much snow, it still feels every bit as cold as last year. Luckily, I'm a little more prepared for it this time around. I have enough jackets and under-layers of clothing that I don't freeze, even when I'm teaching with a teacher who doesn't want to turn on the heater.
I took a nice walk to the grocery store today, the sky was clear and the sun was out. I was dressed in a few layers of course, but the freezing wind battered against my face every step. It's really not that bad though. I stay inside a little more, drink a lot more tea, have a lot more noodles and soup for dinner, and it's actually nice. I definitely prefer the cold to the hot. I remember the Twilight Zone episode where the earth was moving closer and closer to the sun, and I was on edge the whole time.
