It snowed in Hangzhou
The first snow started on Nov. 30th between 14:00 and 15:00 and stopped at late night on Dec. 1st or early morning on Dec. 2nd. It was my first time to see snow. Unfortunately, because there were students who got COVID-19 recently, we had to be constricted to our dormitory building instead of wandering around outside to fully feel the snow. My two roommates were even unhappier that their wish to go to the West Lake to appreciate snow was disappointingly shattered. Anyway, it snowed, even excited those who had seen snow before. There are windows at the two ends of the corridor. That afternoon, I had just finished chatting with my parents on the phone, and I was at one of the windows. My phone showed that it was sleeting, but it really looked like raining. So I just waited. Then it started to change into something like snow. I didn't want to miss it and used my phone camera to record it. Later I saw a post by one of my roommates, saying that it started to snow when she was taking a German class online. Looked from a distance, it was like small clusters of white granules. When it approached, it resembled transparent sugar. When it got near enough, I could see edges and corners of it, which were so beautiful and delicate. Snow were knocking on the glass of the window, making canstant, brisk and clean sounds. I shared what I took with my family immediately, and they were as amazed as me. I went downstairs, and the gate of the building was open without dormitory administrator's watching. Driving by my desire to get closer to snow, I walked out several meters away from the building. Snow began to accumulate on the cycads beside the gate. I standing or pacing slowly, snow fell on me and melted on my skin, wet and chilly. It was a pity that I shouldn't stay there for long and had to return to my room. It was still snowing the next day, with the clusters of granules became bigger. Parts of the roofs were covered by a very thin layer of snow. With heavier snow, I took my bucket to catch snow. Without ropes to hang it, I had to stretch my arms and held the bucket in hands which were gradually numb from coldness. Finally there wasn't much snow in my bucket. It was tiring, but looking at the white and transparent snow in my bucket was enough to put a satisfied smile on my face. Suddenly, words in a fan fiction I read recently came into my mind, "He watches as the specks of snow fall from the endless void. He always was amazed at how they seem to appear out of thin air when he looks at it like this." I held my head up towards the sky and found the same feeling. I had hoped it stayed for longer, partly because Hangzhou is not cold enough for snow to drop by every winter. On Dec. 2nd, I was waiting for the return of snow, disappointment nibbling at my heart and leaving an empty hole where the desire for snow was echoing. Told by weather forcast that the temperature would rise, I hurried to use my phone camera to record the remaining snow, as if the behavior could prevent snow from leaving. I heard the sound of snow falling from branches, when snow and water dropped together, also wiping off several withered leaves, so loud in the quietness of the empty campus. Rain arrived the next day morning and lasted for almost a whole day, washing away snow as if it was something very urgent. We were allowed to leave our dormitory building on the afternoon, Dec. 3rd, near evening. There is prediction that it is likely to be the last snow in Hangzhou this winter.
@Nightfrost I love this thread, I wonder if you might use this as part of your Paint a Picture Challenge? https://www.7cups.com/forum/HobbyZone_125/ArtsCrafts_641/PaintAPictureAHobbyZoneChallenge_292501/
Listening - One Step At A Time!
Wow, well done for writing out so much in such a beautiful story and in this magical format 😊 I love how your story is sort of like a diary entry and in chronological order, it is very interesting to read 💙 Thank you for sharing!
@Nightfrost
Beautifully written. I could really feel your excitement through this post and you described everything so well I felt I was there experiencing it.
It makes me sad you and the other students were not able to get the full experience because of being constricted to your dormitory building. I wish I could send you all the snow we have here in Sweden. ❄☃️
It was also interesting getting the perspective from someone who are not used to having snow in the winter. It really made me appreciate what I take very much for granted.
Thank you for this post. ❤
@Sunthruclouds
Thank you. Actually, my home is in Fuzhou, Fujian, where there isn't any snow in winter. It's my first year in Hangzhou because my university is here. When it was still fall, my roommates started to say that she heard that it could snow in winter here. Though the snow was brief, at least the winter didn't disappoint us.
I hear that Sweden is a beautiful country and I hope there will be a winter when I can go there.
