While I was travelling around during the summer, whenever I happened to mention to a Chinese person that I’d be living in Harbin for a year, they’d look shocked.
“Aiyo. You know, it’s really cold there in the winter. It gets down to–”
“Minus 40,” I’d interrupt. “I know.”
I didn’t know then, of course; I had only the vaguest of ideas. -40 degrees Celsius might as well have been -150 for all the concept I had of it. I classify everything below a certain point as “Really Fucking Cold” and don’t bother distinguishing between these temperatures and the subgroup “Really Really Fucking Cold.”
It’s on that border now. Last night, the temperature was between -15 and -12 Celsius. I have to wear two pairs of thick socks, a minimum of 3 shirts, and – if I’m wearing the suit that my school bought for me to teach in every day – two pairs of pants.
“It’s fucking cold,” I say to people here, and they laugh – first, because I know how to say “fuck,” and second, because they think I’m just so cute and naive.
“This isn’t cold,” they say. “This is nothing. January? February? That’s cold. It’s usually –”
“I know,” I say miserably. “Minus 40.”
Comments 10
And quoth the Raven:
http://ownage.stanford.edu/beijing/DCP_1278.JPG
Posted 31 Oct 2002 at 2:01 am ¶it’s been a long time since the talking to mr. okane.
It’s cold in harbin image what it must be in Los Angeles!!!
Actually, (please excue the “complaining”) it’s freaking 60 degrees Farienhiet here. That’s cold for LA. everyone is complaining about it and telling people that it’s cold and the like. I hope you are well. don’t die on us till you return.
Posted 01 Nov 2002 at 5:34 am ¶Then you can die a year or so later.
Don’t be such wimp. Geez.
I mean, really, you stop noticing after awhile. At least you don’t teach at the school next to Wenhua that has the bathroom’s outside.
Posted 01 Nov 2002 at 5:49 am ¶My tidings for you: the stag bells,
Winter snows, summer is gone.
Wind high and cold, low the sun,
Short his course, sea running high.
Deep-red the bracken, its shape all gone,
The wild-goose has raised his wonted cry.
Cold has caught the wings of birds;
Season of ice – these are my tidings
Kuno Meyer’s translation
Here’s my story; the stag cries,
Winter snarls as summer dies.
The wind bullies the low sun
In poor light; the seas moan.
Shapeless bracken is turning red,
The wildgoose raises its desperate head.
Birds’ wings freeze where fields are hoary.
The world is ice. That’s my story.
Brendan Kennelly’s translation
I have news for you; The stag bells, winter snows, summer has gone. |
| Wind high and cold, the sun low, short its course, the sea running |
| high. Deep red the bracken, its shape is lost; the wild goose has |
| raised its accustomed cry. Cold has seized the blackbirds’ wings; |
| Season of ice, this is my news. (Ireland, 9th century–translator unknown)
New
WINTER
Sc�l lem d�ib: I have news for you:
dordaid dam, the stag bellows,
snigid gaim, winter snows,
ro f�ith sam. summer has gone.
G�eth ard �ar, The wind is high and cold,
�sel gr�an; the sun is low;
gair a rrith, its course is brief,
ruirthech r�an. the tide runs high.
Ror�ad raith, The bracken has reddened,
ro cleth cruth, its shape has been hidden;
ro gab gn�th the wild goose has raised
giugrann guth. his customary cry.
ro gab �acht Cold has caught
etti �n; the wings of birds;
aigrid r�– it is the time of ice –
� mo sc�l. these are my news.
This famous little poem from the ninth century is the last
word in compression.
(From page 98 of “A Golden Treasury of Irish Poetry”)
Another translation from
http://www.indiana.edu/~smithcj/cjsne109.html
Winter
Ireland, from the Liber Hymnorum (11c)
A gloss of this text, based on the poem Amra Coluim Cille, is
found in the Irish Liber Hymnorum. The manuscript was copied in
the 11th century, but internal linguistic evidence indicates that
it is at least two centuries older. In particular, the text
contains the poetic technique called dunad, wherein the opening
words are re-woven into the last line of the poem.
“Winter has come. The stag bellows; summer has gone. The wind is
high and cold; the sun low in the sky, short in its course. The
sea runs string; the bracken is red…now it is usual to hear the
cry of the barnacle goose. The wings of birds are taken with
cold; it is the season of ice crystals. ”
Is maith l�om ag d�irigh an bothar leath.
“Oiche mhaith agus colaidh samh”
Posted 01 Nov 2002 at 5:52 am ¶I’ve heard different things from people here.
“Tonghua’s colder than Changchun, but warmer than Harbin.”
“Tonghua’s warmer than Changchun, which is warmer than Harbin.”
“Tonghua, Changchun and Harbin are all about the same fucking cold.”
Either way, Harbin seems to be used as a measuring stick of “fucking cold” around Dongbei.
Posted 01 Nov 2002 at 8:12 am ¶Also, you are lacking that prerequisite layer of fat that is vital to survival in the tundra.
Posted 02 Nov 2002 at 7:31 am ¶You could steal it from someone or cover yourself in vasoline….
When I decided to come teach in China, I chose Hangzhou. Why was it that I chose Hangzhou and not somewhere really far up north?? Hmmmm…
Posted 04 Nov 2002 at 1:55 am ¶Two words:
Tiger Balm.
Posted 04 Nov 2002 at 5:56 am ¶haha, you have a suit for work?
Posted 12 Jan 2003 at 11:15 am ¶They give u a suit! I can never imagin that
Question (08 May 2004)
Posted 08 May 2004 at 11:04 am ¶Please tell what is wrong with this address?
Mia Wang
An Liang St 8
Daoli District
Harbin 150001
Heilong jiang Province
China email 88888American@163.com
This is not a joke I live in Australia and I want my letters and flowers to reach my girlfriend. I’m Ken QKR560@bigpond.com bye
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