My First Winter in Poland
I had never seen snow before. I had never experienced a real Winter. So when traveled to Poland, I was excited to see what it would be like. And it did not disappoint.
Snow for the first time
I had never seen snow before. Well I had, if staring out an airplane window flying over America counts. But I had never felt it. Never stepped into it, never watched it fall. So when I was planning and preparing for Poland, I was really excited, and nervous at the same time.
Everyone told me the same thing: “Winter is the worst time to visit.” Too cold, too grey, too bleak. Everyone was feeling depressed by the long, dark winters, and I was worried I would feel the same. But I wanted to see it for myself. I wanted to experience it, to understand it.
How I felt about it
They were right that it was cold. Genuinely, deeply cold, the kind that settles into your bones, makes your cheeks feel tight. But it was also beautiful. The way the snow blanketed everything, muffling the sounds and softening the edges. The way the light reflected off the snow, creating a kind of glow even on dark days.
Growing up in a tropical country, I had spent my whole life in heat. I had never owned a proper coat. I didn’t know what it felt like to see your breath in the air, or to crunch through fresh snow, or to watch a city turn completely white overnight.
It was like stepping into a world I have only ever seen in movies.
The photos
Just sharing some of my imperfectly composed shots using my phone. I have more footage in my DJI pocket, but who really has the time to edit vlogs these days? So here are some random stills of the snow, a little bit of architecture and art, and last but not the least, pierogi!
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They said it hasn’t snowed this much 11 years. I felt so lucky to experience it. I had my first snow experience at the same time as many Polish kids, and I found that amusing! Maybe in the future, I will eventually find it ugly too, but for now, I am enjoying the beauty of it. It’s new to my eyes, it’s beautiful, and maybe next winter, Poland will be blessed with another white winter, and I will be there to experience it again.