Snow Days, and other Joys of Life in Pittsburgh

 

One of our son's biggest fears when we returned to Pittsburgh was that there wouldn't be any snow during our first winter season back in the Northern Hemisphere. His fears seem laughable now.  January has delivered several inches so far, and it continues to snow as I type.  Two hours ago our local school district cancelled classes with the predictable result of joy and rejoicing in our house.  He and his sister wasted no time donning their gear so that they could head outdoors to make the most of their day off from school.

Later I joined them, but instead of picking up a sled, I picked up a shovel.  Otherwise our car would have remain trapped in our driveway.  When the work was finished, I went back in the house to retrieve my camera.  I might prefer summer sun to winter snow, but it was pretty outdoors, and I wanted to capture some of that beauty.

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"I love snow days!" was a constant refrain throughout the remainder of the day.  "What else do you like about school in Pittsburgh?" I asked.  "Study halls!" saed the eldest.  "Teachers are nicer," claimed the middle child.  By that I think she has picked up on a cultural difference R and I have noted and discussed several times (see The Dreaded Expat Syndrome).  Americans, particularly women, place a high priority on friendly interactions, whereas Australians tend to favor directness of speech.

I press my fourteen-year-old son for an answer.  "I don't know," he replied.  "But I like school much better now than I did in September."  I think one big reason for his increased enthusiasm stems from joining the basketball team.  Playing basketball has not only provided great physical conditioning, new skills and new friends, it has enabled him to feel that he is an integral part of his school.  All of us, in fact, have become involved in Friday night basketball games.   

The first time I walked into the school gymnasium on a Friday night, I felt as if I had been transported back to my own high school years.  All of the elements that I remembered were there:  cheerleaders, a pep band, wild fans, nachos and hot dogs at the concession stand, loud music.  It seemed as if most of the student body had turned out to watch the game.  They swayed and cheered, rocked the bleachers and chanted.  

We stayed that first night for both the junior varsity and the varsity games, and we have been returning ever since.  To be honest, there is little else to do in Pittsburgh on a Friday night in January, but still, it has been good fun.  My own enthusiasm for attending is helped by the fact that basketball games are relatively short (a small fraction of the length of a cricket match, for example), and that the games are held indoors--no need to test the mettle of one's devotion to the sport or to a particular player by facing the elements.

The basketball season will soon be finished for this year.   I wish I could say the same for the season of potential snow days.  At the moment it feels as if the snow, and the cold, will last forever. 

 

Comments

[Shanda]

It won't last forever, my friend!! January is almost over and spring will be right around the corner. I loved the pictures from the basketball game. It's so nice that the team has cheerleaders, we don't have them at our school anymore-- I think because of budget? Anyway, I also love the wooden ceiling in your gym. I know, strange, but it looks so nice! I suppose there are many pros and cons to any school situation, and I love how you and R do such a good job at figuring it all out and supporting your children. Are they back to school today? Mine are, and I am enjoying the quiet house by spending a little extra time online. :)

[Christie]

Yes, they were back to school yesterday in fact. And I had the same problem you mentioned in your post about the first day back after being off---my older kids neglected to do their homework on their snow day, and they all stayed up late last night catching up!