Should we talk about the weather?

One of the things I was looking forward to the most on this trip was that this would be the most mild winter I've experienced. And I'm sure in some technical sense, it will be turn out to be true. After all, Shanghai is about as far south as Dallas. But it doesn't feel like it.

While the temps haven't dipped below 20 yet, they stayed below freezing for most of January and early February and we were hit with two winter storms - rain and snow, mixed in with ice. Both storms were small but significant by Chicago/Philly standards and not overwhelming. They were enough to coat the sidewalks with a couple inches of frozen slush. But it seems that most of the residents here don't have the tools to take care of the sidewalks. And that's the key difference between this and my past winters.

Shovels are rarely seen, but instead are replaced by bamboo brooms. Snowmen are in random places, where ever large amounts of snow gather. My boss at Kai En, who's lived in Shanghai his whole life, said he's never seen anything like this before.

I realize Chicago and Philly have had it much worse; but, for what it's worth, we are here for a legendary Shanghai winter (even if it doesn't feel like it).