Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow…

In preparing to come to India, I encountered many sources that warned of the balmy temperatures that India experiences.  With this in mind, I packed all of my light-weight performance apparel, bemoaned the fact that wearing shorts was not an acceptable activity, and even considered getting a hat (something I never wear) to protect my head from the unbearable equatorial sun (or at least closer to the equator).  With all of this in mind, you will not imagine my surprise when I learned about this little place called Snow World in Hyderabad.  As soon as I heard the name Snow World, I immediately signed up…knowing that the opportunities to see snow in India would be few and far between outside of the Himalayan Mountain peaks.  And let’s just say, I wasn’t disappointed…

SNOW WORLD!  It is really difficult to even express the experience of Snow World.  Seeing Indian men, women, and children playing in the snow for the first time was beyond priceless…it was absolutely hilarious.  Amidst the sea of red and blue parkas, I witnessed people going on their first toboggan rides, enjoying hot chocolate in ice mugs, climbing the rock wall, exploring the igloos, having snowball fights, taking in the winter murals, and dancing to club music at the giant ice dance party (a new winter favorite that I had to come all the way to India to discover!).  I also enjoyed the blatent disregard (or arguably ignorance) or basic snow courtesy, and perhaps the degree to which snow etiquette is socialized into the tundra dwellers of Minnesota and the like.  While casually standing and taking in the scenes, a mother and her son ran up to me and threw snow directly into my face and danced around me with extreme joy.  I could not help but wonder if they knew they had just committed a serious white wash offense, but decided to let it slide since clearly they were just having too much fun! 

But most of all, I think that going to Snow World really gave me a glimpse into how easy it is to forget the wonder in our everyday lives.  For people in Minnesota, snow is a burden.  We get so much of it that it ceases to be fun, playful, and wonderful.  Seeing people’s faces light up with their first sight of snow made me realize that I have lost a bit of my wonder in my growing up.  Why is this?  Is it because I know more? Is it because I feel entitled to more?  Is it because I grow angry at anything that inconveniences me?  What a shame…

Being at Snow World reminded me to revel in the wonder…even if Minnesota just received enough snow to collapse the Metrodome ceiling…