It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas...

But starting to feel like a frozen circle of hell. Temperatures have been dropping drastically over the past several weeks and we have been informed that the worst is yet to come. The act of dressing one's self to go out in -31 degrees Celsius (feels like -41) weather is time consuming. First things to think about are socks. Usually a pair or two will do, as many as you can squeeze inside your boots. Then you consider your legs. The area between the bottom of your jacket and the top of your boots is often the coldest part of your body when walking around. So cold, in fact, that you feel like needles are being stuck into them constantly. Very unpleasant so maybe a few layers of leggings under your pants would be best. Then you throw on an extra sweater just for good measure, even if you already have one on. Now that you are already beginning to sweat, take the next steps quickly, sweat only makes you colder. Boots, preferably fur-lined with sharp heels to dig into the ice. Gloves on, jacket on, gloves off to zip up jacket, gloves back on. Hair down inside jacket, hat on, thick scarf wrapped around your face, hood up and..... DONE!

Make sure you have your keys, phone, (hurry it is getting sweaty), small change for the bus, money for any purchases you may make. While on the elevator ride down you think you may have overdressed, but as soon as you walk outside you'll wish you had put more clothes on your legs. Within seconds you feel your nose hairs freeze and your lungs cough out the rejected air. For me the cold produces a sort of isolated headache between my eyebrows and down my nose. Scott's eyes water.

If you survive the trip, you then do all the above steps in reverse in the entry way of someones house while they wait the few minutes it takes you to dismantle your armor, especially working off the boots.

Recently in dinner with a local coworker we were told that the northern people of Kazakhstan (us at the moment) are called "moose" because they keep their heads down all the time in winter, watching for ice patches and avoiding the strong wind on your face. So that is who we are now. Moose.