The Phenomenon of Fog
Everybody warned us of the cold, grey, rainy weather in
Scotland, yet somehow nobody warned me of the fog that cloaks our city of late.
Week six into university has exposed me to a diverse range of weather conditions, many of which contradict each other and would never occur in my hometown a few continents away. Whoever would have thought the sun could shine, and yet two sweaters, a scarf and coat are not enough to protect from the incessant cold? Or likewise that the light drizzle, here called rain, really does soak through every coat and bag, no matter how ‘waterproof’ the fabric? However, the most novel weather condition that has both pleasantly surprised, and slightly scares me, would have to be that of fog.
Fellow international students originating from ‘season-less’ countries may argue that the potential snowfall is most exciting, but the cloudy fog is what fascinates me most, especially around this time of Halloween.
In a gothic sense it magically transforms Edinburgh into the
Scottish setting of Macbeth, causing one to imagine the possibility of
prophesying witches around every corner. In a less Shakespearian sense, it also causes the buildings
in their baronial and gothic architecture to come to life and realize the
settings of historic events, which is a very unique feature of the city.
In spite of my captivation by the fog, it is perfectly understandable that some of us foreigners are scared by its presence, causing us to really believe the end of the world is near thanks to the cloudy warning of the Apocalypse through ‘a thick cloud of water droplets suspended in the atmosphere that restricts visibility’.
Nevertheless, all foreign students may as well get used to
the ever-changing weather now; practice layering clothes, buy thermal
underwear, always carry an umbrella…. Or just stay inside- we’re only here for
four years!
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