Ask A Foreigner

Zaqarbal · 04-19-2010, 05:05 PM

Mediterranean climate (Spain, southern France, Italy, Greece, etc.) is exactly like that of California. Or, with an Australian example, like Adelaide's (that's what Wikipedia says

). Winter is less cold. But there are some exceptions:

Due to the altitude of the inner plateu, the climate in central Spain is like that of the non-Mediterranean Western Europe. So winter can be very cold. Last year, I took this photo at the frozen gardens beside Madrid's frozen Royal Palace with my frozen hands:

In northern Italy (e.g. Milan) there are very cold winters too, and snowfalls are common there.

Mojo · 04-19-2010, 05:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kayleigh.

My winter just there, was pretty cold. It wasn't bad though, just pack loads of warm clothes, and especially thick jumpers and socks. Don't want the tootsies falling off do we

the coldest it got around here during winter was about -17/18 celsius

but I doubt we will have a winter as cold as that again. You'll be fine. Like I said, warm socks is a must. Gloves too, a decent (long) wooly scarf, and a cool wooly hat!

I dont own any of these.

right-track · 04-19-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

i dont own any of these.

^ lad

FETCHER. · 04-19-2010, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojopinuk

I dont own any of these.

I own 5 really thick jumpers.
3 pairs of gloves, one of them is reaallly thick for snowboarding and such up north.
I own 2 massive massive wooly scarfs.
and 2 wooly hats.

I just mentioned everything I do when it gets cold here.

Also lateralus, a decent pair of shoes wont go wrong. I've had many a time where I've worn silly shoes to school, and had freeeeeeezing cold feet because it rained or snowed during the day

.

Freebase Dali · 04-19-2010, 02:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I have a question for Europe and the United Kingdom.

If I visit in the middle of winter, will I die? I'm from Australia and I hadn't ever seen snow until I went to NZ as an adult. I like the cold but I've never experienced any temperatures below 0. But I'm planning on traveling there in my summer holidays (my summer = your winter).

Edit: Zero degrees celsius

Well.. just to kinda put it into perspective for you.. I grew up in Louisiana (hot as balls), moved to Florida for 4 years (hotter than balls), then joined the Army and deployed to Kuwait right away for my first deployment... stayed there for an entire year... (balls melt in this 150 F. environment) and then spent the following year in Germany (cold as snowman balls) then deployed to Iraq (More melted balls) for a year, then back to Germany for a few years (ice cube balls. Yes... square ones) and all the while going back home to hot as balls Louisiana for leave, not to mention going to various other countries for missions and what not.

Suffice it to say, I've been jerked around between extreme hots and colds and everywhere in between for the last 6 years of my life. The most that will happen is you'll be uncomfortable, assuming you're not like some of those idiots who die when the summer is unseasonably hot because they never realized water is important for your ability to... be alive..

Acclimation is pretty much only relevant to comfort if you follow simple preventative measures to ensure you don't die in the cold. Aka... Don't go out in a two piece bathing suit to go and make snow angels or whatever it is you'll be doing in the snow.
Wear enough clothes for the situation. If you're shivering, your body is trying to raise its core temperature. Put more clothes on. I know hypothermia may be the "in" thing for kids today, death too, but it's easily avoidable if you don't mind being the dorky kid.

right-track · 04-19-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I have a question for Europe and the United Kingdom.

If I visit in the middle of winter, will I die? I'm from Australia and I hadn't ever seen snow until I went to NZ as an adult. I like the cold but I've never experienced any temperatures below 0. But I'm planning on traveling there in my summer holidays (my summer = your winter).

Edit: Zero degrees celsius

Anything above zero is t-shirt weather.
2 t-shirts for anything below zero.
Anything else is just being soft. Or "nesh" as it's called here.
Remember...we don't like whinging Aussie/Anzacs moaning about our weather!

Just keep your head warm and your feet dry and you'll be fine.

FETCHER. · 04-19-2010, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

Anything above zero is t-shirt weather.
2 t-shirts for anything below zero.
Anything else is just being soft. Or "nesh" as it's called here.
Remember...we don't like whinging Aussie/Anzacs moaning about our weather!

Just keep your head warm and your feet dry and you'll be fine.

Astronomer · 04-21-2010, 12:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by right-track

Anything above zero is t-shirt weather.
2 t-shirts for anything below zero.
Anything else is just being soft. Or "nesh" as it's called here.
Remember...we don't like whinging Aussie/Anzacs moaning about our weather!

Just keep your head warm and your feet dry and you'll be fine.

Ha! Likewise, we don't like the English whining about our (Australian) weather! 30 C degrees is not hot!

T-shirt weather are you kidding?! I don't take my jumper off until it is at least 18 degrees C. Anything below 16 degrees C is quite cold in my perspective... so pretty much I am going to stick out like a sore thumb.

Which reminds me, before I started studying in NZ I did a bit of touristy things, which included going in a helicopter and landing on a glacier, which was SO BLOODY COLD. I was literally in about 5 layers of clothes. Yet there were some poms (I use that term affectionately, don't kill me) on the tour who were wearing Hawaiian t-shirts and shorts! It amused me.

Urban Hat€monger ? · 04-19-2010, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lateralus

I have a question for Europe and the United Kingdom.

If I visit in the middle of winter, will I die?

Maybe of boredom in the airport when all flights are cancelled for 2 weeks because half an inch of snow fell overnight.

Akira · 04-17-2010, 05:23 PM

The UK doesn't often get below 0 during the day, maybe Scotland, but I assume you'd be visiting the better half of the UK

04-19-2010, 05:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Zaqarbal Music Addict Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Spain Posts: 824	Mediterranean climate (Spain, southern France, Italy, Greece, etc.) is exactly like that of California. Or, with an Australian example, like Adelaide's (that's what Wikipedia says ). Winter is less cold. But there are some exceptions: Due to the altitude of the inner plateu, the climate in central Spain is like that of the non-Mediterranean Western Europe. So winter can be very cold. Last year, I took this photo at the frozen gardens beside Madrid's frozen Royal Palace with my frozen hands: In northern Italy (e.g. Milan) there are very cold winters too, and snowfalls are common there. __________________ "Lullabies for adults / crossed by the years / carry the flower of disappointment / tattooed in their gloomy melodies."

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