Don't Eat Yellow Snow (and Other Advice)
What advice would you give someone new to your area?
Hello, hej, hi!
Great news! I seem to have graduated from the penguin shuffle!
I’m still anxious about falling over and had a pretty terrifying incident last week trying to navigate a parking lot that was essentially water-ice-water. I’m really glad no one was filming my very low, almost crawl, not-lifting-my-feet shuffle that took 10 minutes. The shoe spikes are just fabulous and I am trying to take my partner’s advice of “just walk with your knees bent, on your toes.” It sounds way easier than it actually is. Or maybe it sounds hard…🤔 But I’m improving!
I’ve been reminded lately of the advice my parents gave me as a little kid when we made the enormous move from Melbourne, Australia to Edmonton, Canada many moons ago. “Don’t Eat Yellow Snow.” Seems pretty obvious from an adult perspective but perhaps, as a little kid who hadn’t seen snow, it was important advice! I often think of it as I walk my new-and-improved-penguin-shuffle around the place. All those eager doggies leave their mark on the pristine snow! (Extra points for finding yellow snow in the photos!)
The other piece of advice I remember from those days was, “ Don’t lick metal when it’s cold.” This also might seem fairly random - except for a child on a playground in -20 temperatures who might just poke their tongue out and give the slide a lick! I remember this advice was given with a story of a kid who licked a metal pole at the playground mid-winter, become attached to it, and someone having to pee on his tongue to get it unstuck!! I was horrified! Probably more about having pee in my mouth than my tongue attached to a metal pole.
Ironically, the one time I did manage to get my tongue stuck to cold metal was in Australia - on a big 11 litre tin of Golden North ice cream. I’m pretty sure my sister was laughing a lot as I tried to explain, tongue stuck to the tin, to get water to help me get it unstuck! (No pee was involved in this incident!)
Of course, this got me wondering - what advice do you give people who are new or visiting your area?
In Australia, depending on where you live, the advice can range from “just check your shoes before you put them on” (you never know what creepy crawlies might be lurking), “the big snakes won’t kill you, it’s the smaller ones you gotta watch out for,” “just check under the outdoor furniture for the redback spiders,” and, of course, “always wear sunscreen” (even when it’s overcast or you’ll look as red as a lobster).
Some advice is actually life-saving. Other advice might be just how to get by without doing yourself damage or putting your foot in it. One such piece of advice I’ve encountered here is when you’re visiting summer cottages with long drop toilets - respect the protocols of using bark to cover your number twos, for example. Of course, they didn’t know I grew up with outdoorsy parents who had always told me to dig a very deep hole, then bury it all. I was all over that one!
The fact is when you’re unused to an environment or place, you need to be told about the unknown things. Things we don’t even know to be curious about. Are there killer spiders and snakes? Can I swim in that waterhole? Have you ever seen a shark at this beach? Do I drink the schnapps now or when everyone has stopped singing? Do I have to take my shoes off every time I enter the school and put on Birkenstock slides with my socks on? Do you wear a bathing suit or towel in a sauna? (NO!)
It’s the kinds of things that locals might take for granted. I’ve learned the hard way to always pack a beanie, jacket and gloves in case the freezing northern wind comes calling, clothing layers are good - preferably one of being wool, pack a rain jacket. Put a pair of indoor shoes in my bag when I head off to work at school because otherwise, I have to wear just socks. They weren’t really things I had to think about in Australia. Like walking on ice.
So now I’m curious - what advice do you need to give people who are new or visiting your area? Where have you been in the world where you’ve heard some excellent, local advice? Let me know by hitting reply or leave it in the comments.
Stay well.
Lisa x
Other Things:
Current Reads:
Sado by Mikaela Nyman. The author is from the Åland Islands, now lives in New Zealand, and the novel is set in Vanuatu just after Cyclone Pam hit in 2015. It’s fiction but brings up many of the issues a developing island nation has after a disaster - supply chains, transport, politics. It’s really interesting and makes me think that Tonga will be going through many of the same issues at the moment.
Meet Me at the Intersection edited by Rebecca Lim and Ambelin Kwaymullina. This book is a fabulous collection of stories and poetry by a diverse range of Australian authors. The editors have brought together a wonderful collection of young voices in this book and I am really enjoying dipping into it.
Events for Women:
Join a fortnightly conversation about books - bring what you’re currently reading, a favourite book, ideas, a cup of tea and an open mind! The next one will be held on February 9th - there are two sessions to suit global time zones. Click here to join the Garden of Neuro space to find out more. (Or reply to this email)
I’m listening to:
Ariel Posen. He’s been on repeat for a couple of years since we saw him live in the-time-before-covid. He’s a Canadian guitarist-singer-songwriter and is worth checking out.
Hiatus Kaiyote. A Melbourne band that I really enjoy listening to. Nakamarra is a favourite.
I’m playing:
Wordle. The obsession is real.
When in Barcelona, don’t miss the bread with tomato. And sadly, beware the pickpockets
Wow - I have to say I wouldn't have known most of these things (I did know the stuff about snow and we too were told horror stories about licking metal poles, lol). I wonder what someone new here would benefit from knowing? I suppose the winter stuff if they haven't seen winter before. "Leaves of 3, let it be" or just generally don't touch plants when you're out walking/hiking if you really don't know what they are. Always keep a little eye on the weather and when the tornado warnings sound go to the lowest floor, most interior space you have (or if no basement, then a closet or bathroom). Funny, I bet those things just come up as you get to them, it's hard to think of them!