There's Snow Place Like IMLP: Snow Stories from around the World

As I have previously stated in this blog (see "It’s a Party Outside the USA" ), I really enjoy the global nature of the Information Management Leadership Program.  The friends that I have made from around the globe through IMLP have meant the world to me (pun intended: you can groan). Last week, I received a request for a brownie recipe from an Italian IMLP (and I’m hoping to get an Italian recipe in return).  Yesterday, I received an email with a “save the date” for the wedding of a recently engaged Indian IMLP (I’m already looking up flight prices).

In my previous post, I shared some stories of holidays IMLPs celebrate around the world. Today, I bring you a collection of snow stories from IMLPs around the world. I hope you enjoy this small taste of global perspective. Join IMLP, and you’ll get an entire feast!

(P.S. Don’t forget to comment and share your own snow stories.)

Tomasz B., Poland:

Once I parked my car in a huuge parking lot in Krakow, Poland. It was my first time in that town – I was visiting my friend and it was middle of the night so I haven’t even put much effort in memorizing the exact spot location. It was late December and it happened that it was snowing for next few hours. When I got back in the morning I saw something like in the above picture. It took my two hours and a half to find my vehicle – it annoyed me and made me laugh at the same time. ;-)

Almaz K., Russia:

I live in Kazan city; it is in the middle of the Russian “snow gauge”, where one side is a fun and another is a disaster. Here in Kazan we have long, cold winters and a lot of snow. This year our winter “started” in the middle of November and we have already had heavy snowfalls. During one of the days, more than 7000 tons of snow were removed from the city. To overcome snowfalls and clean roads, the city has to keep about 500 special snow machines and lots of lorries. But it was not enough last winter… Just after Christmas furious snowfalls began to attack our region. First few days hard working on the roads saved the situation, but snowfall was not going to stop, continued day and night, day and night. People began to abandon their cars where the traffic jams had stopped them and went work / home by foot. In 2 weeks all city motion had been completely stopped. Time to getting work or home reached 3-5 hours. To unload the roads all students got the additional holidays. Almost 3 weeks that snowfall tormented the citizens. I will remember that snowy winter for ages.

Vít J., Czech Republic

In Czech Republic, there are a lot of areas where you can enjoy cross-country skiing. Downhill skiing is also popular; unfortunately we dont have enough large mountains. Luckily Austrian ski resorts are really close and surprisingly the prices are lower then in Czech republic.

There are a lot of ski races on the different levels and one of the most famous is called 'Jizerska padesatka,' a 50 km cross-country ski race with around 10,000 racers. The most interesting part is that me and my colleagues from GE will attend this race as a team 'GE mazaci' (in translation it means GE old troupers).

Anaya A., United Arab Emirates

The UAE does not get any snow, but we have an indoor skiing place in the Mall of Emirates. My first encounter to the snow was in 2001; I believe when I was studying my English at Cornell University. I literally was like a child. I went outside with my friends (who were also from my country) and we built our first snowman :). I ate the fresh snow that was falling from the sky, and definitely played snow fights with my friends.

I spent 7 years living in New York and Michigan, so now I hate snow and never play with it again. I’m from a country that the temporary can go up to 50 C (122F) in summer, and the winter in my country is like a spring in US. Thus, I hate the heavy clothes and the icy roads.

Krisztián K., Hungary

When I was around 7 years old we went to a great place to ride a sled during the winter vacation with my family. My parents were playing with my baby sister, so I used those minutes to seek a good place to ride. I found the steepest part of the hill and I gave it a try. My sled accelerated to a very high speed and I had to brake for 6-7 seconds and finally overturned in the snow before I could stop, right before a tree. My parents weren't happy when they saw what I did but they were relieved that I wasn't injured. After that they were very cautious when a sled was in my hands. Thankfully I grew out of my kamikaze habits. : )