Winter in Canada

What do people actually do in winter in Canada? 

In this episode of Extra English Podcast, we have another natural, unscripted conversation, this time focusing on winter activities -- a class Canadian topic!

If you are learning English, listening to our podcast is a great way to hear how native English speakers talk about real life, using natural vocabulary, expressions and connected speech. This is not a lesson; it's real English in a conversation between two friends. 

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Transcript

Larissa 0:00

I think it is so much fun. Probably it's like it's probably the best thing in the world. And we're just never gonna know.

Intro

Misha 0:08

We recommend it and don't do it ourselves. Hello Eepers. Welcome to another episode of Extra English Podcast with Misha and Larissa.

Larissa 0:22

We're two Canadian English teachers talking about life in Canada, our lives, and anything else that might interest us. And hopefully will interest you too.

Episode

Misha 0:32

So join us for another conversation. Today we're gonna talk about some popular winter activities in Canada.

Larissa 0:42

Yeah. As you know, or maybe you don't, we live in Canada. And it is currently winter, and it is cold.

Misha 0:50

It's so cold. Dangerously cold out right now.

Larissa 0:55

Dangerously, yeah. And we have a lot of snow. Everything was canceled yesterday. Um, like the schools were closed. That's right. Toronto got this much snow in one in one storm.

Misha 1:06

If you're just listening, she's holding her hands about a foot and a half apart.

Larissa 1:10

Yeah, yeah, that's right.

Misha 1:12

Too much snow.

Larissa 1:13

Yeah, it's a lot. (Yeah.) And so we thought maybe we'll talk about some fun things to do because the snow can be interesting. Winter can be exciting.

Misha 1:23

Yeah, plus, we live in a place where it is winter for half the year, whether we like it or not. So we gotta find ways to enjoy it.

Larissa 1:28

Yeah. So tell me, Misha, what's your favorite thing to do outdoors in the winter?

Misha 1:35

Uh, good question. I feel like there are a few things that I like to do. I really enjoy skating. And there's a rink. I live downtown in my city, and the city hall has a rink every year. It's very well maintained. So I like to go skating at the the outside rink at City Hall.

Larissa 1:53

And I think this rink is actually controlled. Like the temperature is controlled, right?

Misha 1:57

That's right. It has... I don't know what the technical term is, but it has coolers in it. So even if it warms up, because some days in the winter it goes above zero, uh, this rink won't melt. So it's easy for them to maintain a really nice, icy surface. Plus, my three-year-old loves to watch the Zamboni drive by. w

Larissa 2:17

Isn't that a fun word? Zamboni.

Misha 2:18

Zamboni is a great word. If you don't know, it's a machine that cleans the surface of ice on an ice rink so that it stays flat and smooth.

Larissa 2:26

Yeah. Yeah, it's very exciting to watch a Zamboni.

Misha 2:30

It's a pretty cool looking machine. If you're three.

Larissa 2:33

If you're three.

Misha 2:34

Or an adult.

Larissa 2:34

Well, yeah. I mean, it's also fun to watch construction sometimes. The same kind of ...same kind of interesting...

Misha 2:41

Big machinery.

Larissa 2:42

Yeah. Yeah.

Misha 2:43

What are some of your favorite winter activities?

Larissa 2:46

Winter activities. My favorite winter activities are indoors.

Misha 2:51

Fair enough. The snow looks very beautiful from ... inside.

Larissa 2:54

It is so gorgeous. I love watching snow fall from a nice warm place. But when I go out, I do enjoy just walking on the trails in the forest if it's not too much snow or if people have already walked on it and they've packed it down a little bit. Um I like the um tobogganing or sledding, which is sitting on a sled, which is often made of plastic. It could be metal. Yeah.

Misha 3:20

Used to be wood.

Larissa 3:21

Used to be wood. And then we walk up a hill, sit on it, and just slide right down. This is probably, in my opinion, the best activity because it's free once you have a sled. Sleds are not really expensive. And um, such good exercise. You can do it as long or short as you want. You don't have to organize a team. Like if you want to play hockey or something, you need a team. This you can just go by yourself or with a friend, or you can bring a whole group of people if you like.

Misha 3:51

Totally.

Larissa 3:51

And yeah, stay as long as you like, leave whenever you're cold.

Misha 3:55

Kids love it. Right? Yeah, agreed.

Larissa 3:58

In a lot of cities, they have um places that are maintained by the city for sledding. So they'll make sure that there are -- that you are not gonna run into a tree ...

Misha 4:11

It can be dangerous sledding, because you go really fast often. So there is a hill near here where I go with my son and my nephew sometime, my brother and his family. Uh, and they've put hay bales by all the trees at the bottom of the hill for this exact reason. So that if anyone is going too fast and is about to run to a tree, which could be dangerous, they'll be stopped by a nice soft hay bale.

Larissa 4:33

Yeah, just -- just bump into the hay. I've never sledded far enough that I've hit the hay bales.

Misha 4:40

Me neither. But I'm glad to know they're there. Yes. Just in case.

Larissa 4:44

Often I'll fall off my sled part way down, which is also fun. Tumble a little bit, roll down the hill, get all snowy.

Misha 4:52

It's it is this is making me want to go out sledding.

Larissa 4:55

Yeah, we should go sledding. It is fun. It is fun. Yeah. The key is if you're coming to a cold country, if you live in a cold country, I think the key is dress appropriately. That's right. As long as you have the right footwear, you got some nice boots, snow pants, or at least multiple layers of pants.

Misha 5:13

I don't have snow pants, and now that I have a kid, I really need to buy a pair of snow pants. I could avoid it before, but tobogganing without snow pants is a cold endeavor.

Larissa 5:24

Not a good idea. Not a good idea.

Misha 5:27

This is why there's that expression, there's no bad weather, just bad clothing. Have you heard that before?

Larissa 5:33

I haven't, but I agree.

Misha 5:34

Right? If you dress right for whatever the weather is, you'll be alright. You'll be comfortable.

Larissa 5:39

Okay, but what about hot? If it's so hot, what is the right clothing for that? Cotton? Like, linen?

Misha 5:46

Yeah, I think so. Yeah.

Larissa 5:48

I don't know.

Misha 5:48

I've been some hot places. I like a natural fiber, long sleeve, keep the sun off your skin. I... I think. But I mean, we certainly aren't experts on hot weather. That's not our...

Larissa 5:59

No, and I wonder if that expression was made by a clothing company.

Misha 6:05

Oh, we could we could look it up. A winter clothing company more specifically.

Larissa 6:11

Yes. It's very good advertising.

Misha 6:15

Another activity I really enjoy in the winter, although more so when I'm out in the country at my parents' house, is snowshoeing.

Larissa 6:23

Snowshoeing. I've never tried this.

Misha 6:27

Never in your life.

Larissa 6:28

Well, I don't have snowshoes.

Misha 6:30

Oh, well, come with me.

Larissa 6:32

Okay. Let's go.

Misha 6:34

It's so fun. It's better, it's not really a city activity because you need a large area of snow, not a sidewalk or a, I guess, a city park. But anyway, snowshoes are flat, large things that you tie or attach to your boot. And they were used by, and are still used by, Indigenous Canadians. And at that time were made of leather and wood often. But you can buy them today, made that way or made of metal, plastic. But what happens is the snowshoe spreads your weight out over a larger area so you're not as likely to fall in the snow. So you can walk more easily. And it's a nice, it's just a nice, peaceful way to walk around. My parents have these beautiful trees that collect a lot of snow. So it's always very picturesque, always a beautiful scene out there. So I really enjoy that. I can't believe you haven't tried it.

Larissa 7:30

I know, and because I said one of the things I like doing is walking on the trails, but I have to wait until they've been they've been walked on. But if I had snowshoes, I could go out anytime.

Misha 7:41

Anytime, anywhere.

Larissa 7:44

Although, as I did also mention, my favorite activities are indoors.

Misha 7:49

We're gonna... we're gonna turn that around.

Larissa 7:51

You're gonna make me an outdoorsy person.

Misha 7:53

Exactly.

Larissa 7:54

Snowshoeing. I wonder are they expensive snowshoes?

Misha 7:58

You know, I don't know actually, because I've never bought them. I just uh use the ones at my parents' house when I'm there. I I mean I can't imagine so.

Larissa 8:06

And my feet aren't growing anymore, so no need to buy change them every year, like when you're a kid and you need to get different size skates all the time. (True.) Yeah. I could probably invest in a pair of snowshoes.

Misha 8:19

You can... I'll lend you a pair first. You can try them out.

Larissa 8:22

Okay. Yeah. Try before you buy. I like it. So what about skiing? Skiing or snowboarding? Are you interested in either of those activities?

Misha 8:31

Uh it's not really my speed. I've tried skiing as a teenager, I think was probably the last time. I found it a bit daunting, a bit scary. (Yeah.) Because you're the hills are high and steep, and you go fast on those things. So I it is very popular in Canada, both skiing and snowboarding. I haven't tried it very much. I'm not experienced for sure.

Larissa 8:55

Same, same, same for me. I have one or two experiences in my past. They didn't go well. I love tubing or sledding because I'm sitting. But skiing and snowboarding, you're standing on your feet. And so I feel like a fall is a lot more common and dangerous. (Absolutely.) I don't mind falling off of my sled, but I don't really want to fall down and tumble.

Misha 9:21

Or get your foot caught... I ..I ...skiing and snowboarding take skill, which sledding does not. Sledding, you just kind of hang on and you hope for the best. There's no skill involved. It's... it's luck, I suppose.

Larissa 9:33

I think so. But people who love skiing and snowboarding love it. I think it is so much fun probably. It's like ...it's probably the best thing in the world. And we're just never gonna know.

Misha 9:45

We recommend it and don't do it ourselves.

Larissa 9:50

It's also quite expensive to have lessons, the equipment, the time on the hill. Sledding is free. The hill is always there. If it has snow on it, you just go.

Misha 10:02

You go. Snowshoeing, skating, those are also very affordable.

Larissa 10:05

Yeah, skating, you just need a pair of skates, but yeah, really, you can buy them secondhand all the time.

Misha 10:10

Yeah. Mine were, I think, 60 or 70 bucks, and I'll wear them probably the rest of my life. Y

Larissa 10:17

I got mine for eight dollars because I like to buy things used. Somebody else worked them in for me, and I just got to enjoy them.

Misha 10:26

They're ready to go. One other thing I end up doing these days, since I have a small child, is you know, the fun snowman -making, snowball -throwing, this kind of fun stuff. But what you might not know if you don't live somewhere with snow is that not all snow is the same. (Nope.) There are very different kinds of snow, mostly dependent on the temperature. So right now it is very cold. I mean, for where we live, it's very cold.

Larissa 10:56

But like it's minus 15, 18, 20. It's cold.

Misha 11:00

It's cold. And end of this week is supposed to get even worse. Prepare yourself. So in this really cold weather, the snow is not what we would call packing snow. To make snowballs, to make a snowman, you need something called packing snow, which is called that because you can pack it together.

Larissa 11:16

Yeah, it sticks together. It's wet, it's dense.

Misha 11:19

Exactly. Um, but when it's packing snow, we I mean, snowballs are fun. Kids love throwing snowballs at whoever, me, their parents, each other. Your kids must have -- do they still like that at their age? d

Larissa 11:34

They do, yeah. Teenagers can have a lot of fun throwing snow at each other. But like making a snowman, I think, is one of the kind of iconic best things to do in the snow. And the same, you need packing snow. You just make a little ball and then you roll it. Just like roll it along the ground and it picks up more snow as you roll it and it gets bigger and bigger.

Misha 11:57

And you can go huge. Yeah.

Larissa 12:00

Yeah! Make a couple balls, put them on top, stick a carrot in for a nose, and a hat on top.

Misha 12:04

Have you ever actually used a carrot?

Larissa 12:06

I have.

Misha 12:06

Oh, interesting.

Larissa 12:08

Have you not?

Misha 12:08

That's the quintessential thing, but I don't know that I've ever actually used a carrot. Cute.

Larissa 12:13

Oh , it's I mean, it's it is very cute. And then also it feeds the animals. You know, if the squirrels or the birds want to nibble on my snowman's nose.

Misha 12:24

Do squirrels eat carrots?

Larissa 12:26

Uh the squirrels are eating my leftover pumpkins from Halloween.

Misha 12:29

Uh, to be fair, our garbage bin behind my building is full of squirrels. I suppose they eat a lot of ...

Larissa 12:33

I'm trying to help you keep them out of your garbage by giving them gifts.

Misha 12:39

Draw them to the snowman. That's... I appreciate it. Good tactic.

Larissa 12:43

Sometimes snowmen will get scarves. People will put a scarf on them. Sticks for the arms.

Misha 12:48

Stick arms I've definitely done.

Larissa 12:49

Yeah, that's really cute.

Misha 12:50

A little toque, which is a winter hat. That's true.

Larissa 12:55

Yeah, it's really cute. It's kind of funny when they start to melt, when it warms up, and they they get smaller and get... s

Misha 13:04

-- Start to shrink.

Larissa 13:04

Yeah, that's fun.

Misha 13:05

Another thing, popular kid activity, I think, is snow angels.

Larissa 13:10

Yes. We can do that in any snow.

Misha 13:12

Any snow. In fact, even maybe this powdery snow we have in the really cold weather might be better.

Larissa 13:17

Better. I think so, yeah.

Misha 13:18

Yeah. A snow angel is when you lie on your back fully in the snow and you move your arms and legs in and out or up and down to make what looks like when you stand up, a person in a robe or what people call an angel looks like an angel. (Yeah.) Snow angel. I haven't done that in a while, actually. (No.) I should try that with Kingshuk.

Larissa 13:39

Yeah, you should. Get out there, lay down. Yeah.

Misha 13:42

Look, you can look up at the sky.

Larissa 13:44

I would agree it's better in the powdery snow because the the wet snow can get into your clothing and it's not as good to sit in it. But yeah, snow angels.

Misha 13:54

I'm gonna try that today, perhaps.

Larissa 13:56

The hardest part is getting up without ruining your angel.

Misha 13:59

That's right. You have to kind of leap out of it as far as you can. We'll have to post a picture and/or video of this process so people can fully grasp.

Larissa 14:09

Yeah. Snowman, I think we know. We know what that is, but a snow angel? Yeah. Super easy to do. Maybe.

Misha 14:18

Maybe. I thought of another winter activity. People who have hot tubs, or if you have a friend with a hot tub, like to sit in the hot tub, get out, roll in the snow, and then hop back in the hot tub. Have you done that?

Larissa 14:32

No!

Misha 14:34

Larissa! We are gonna go -- let's find a friend with a hot tub because I do not have one.

Larissa 14:40

Me neither, yeah.

Misha 14:41

But that's a.. that's a real Canadian experience.

Larissa 14:43

I have definitely sat in a hot tub in the winter.

Misha 14:46

Okay. Well good.

Larissa 14:47

And I've had snow falling on me. I often wear a toque or a hat because like my ears get cold from the steam.

Misha 14:55

It's a good idea.

Larissa 14:58

Um I just haven't done the rolling in the snow bit.

Misha 15:02

That is fun. Also, it occurred to me that maybe hot tubs don't exist everywhere in the world.

Larissa 15:08

Oh yeah, of course not. No.

Misha 15:09

So if you've never been in a hot tub, it's a large tub.

Larissa 15:13

Or a small pool.

Misha 15:14

Or a small pool, that's right. Normally I feel like they can fit like eight people comfortably often. And it's very, very hot water. And they're outside. So people use them all year round, but they are really nice in the winter when it's so cold but you're so warm.

Larissa 15:30

Maybe not like this cold.

Misha 15:33

It does feel like this might be...

Larissa 15:34

Maybe. Because you have to, it costs a lot of money to heat the water. And so maybe you'd want to.. maybe round zero is better. I don't know.

Misha 15:43

I don't know.

Larissa 15:43

We don't have a hot tub.

Misha 15:45

We don't. But I have done this -- jump out roll in the snow. (Okay.) And I liked it. It just ...your body is like: waaaa, shocked.

Larissa 15:53

So then did you go back in the hot tub?

Misha 15:54

Yeah, then you get back in because you're so cold then. It's kind of kind of a fun activity.

Larissa 15:59

You are ... you're adventurous.

Misha 16:03

I like to try new things. I like an adventure. I don't like risky things. I'm not skiing, for example.

Larissa 16:11

Right. Yeah.

Misha 16:12

Or, you know, skydiving, but rolling in the snow, it can't hurt me.

Larissa 16:16

No. No. It can be uncomfortable, but not dangerous. Yeah. Okay. All right. So one thing that I really ... I'm trying to dislike less about winter.

Misha 16:29

Not like. Dislike less. This is the scale here. Liking is too big.

Larissa 16:35

It's too much. I'm being honest here.

Misha 16:37

I appreciate it.

Larissa 16:39

It is shoveling the snow or clearing the driveway, clearing the sidewalk. Every time it snows, um, if there's a sidewalk in front of your house or beside your house, by law, you are required to clean it off so that people can walk. And of course, I should do that. I want people to walk on the sidewalk. But it's hard work.

Misha 17:02

It is.

Larissa 17:03

And in a winter like this, where we're getting snow like multiple times a week, it's just constant. And as soon as somebody has driven on it or walked on it, it gets pressed down and then it's really hard to shovel. I'm trying to think of it as like strength training exercise or something. Like I'm going out and I'm working. It's my gym. But it's not ... it's ... I'm not there yet.

Misha 17:30

I mean, are you excited about gym?

Larissa 17:32

That's the problem!

Misha 17:34

Me neither, so I get it.

Larissa 17:39

Yes. But it ... I mean, it's very satisfying when I'm done and I see the nice clean sidewalk and I like ... I feel good afterwards.

Misha 17:48

And then when you look out an hour later and it's snowing on it again...?

Larissa 17:51

Oh yeah, that's hard. (Yeah) Um, I do have uh a couple older children, and so sometimes I'll get them to come out with me. And I enjoy spending time together and we're working on it, and it feels like we're, you know, making progress, but it's just that it never ends. It seems to never end.

Misha 18:10

This winter has been a real ... snow and snow and snow.

Larissa 18:15

Yeah. My ideal winter has a lot of snow, but it all comes at once. We get a giant snowstorm. We get that like foot and a half, like they got in Toronto.

Misha 18:25

Uh-huh.

Larissa 18:26

And then we have a day to clean the roads, clean the sidewalks, and it stays.

Misha 18:32

Yes, when it's really cold and it stays. (Yes.) Because it is beautiful. Snow is really beautiful.

Larissa 18:37

And then we can do the fun things. We can build the snowman and go sledding, but without having to clean the driveway out. Multiple days.

Misha 18:47

You know, I can't complain about this because I live in a condo building and we pay someone to do all that work for us, of course. So I never have to shovel. Which is a nice ... it's nice.

Larissa 18:58

That's a great perk.

Misha 18:59

It is a great perk.

Larissa 19:00

Yeah.

Misha 19:01

Yeah.

Larissa 19:02

Also, it's good to get me out.

Misha 19:05

Forced exercise. For people who don't like the gym.

Larissa 19:08

That's right. The gym comes to me. Thank you, gym.

Misha 19:15

One other thing I love to do in the winter is sit outside in the snow with a hot drink. In particular, during the pandemic, I started -- my favorite coffee shop has a bench outside. And I would bring my coffee out there because I was avoiding you know small spaces and germs or whatever. But then ever since then I've really enjoyed it. The snow falling, you have a hot steaming cup of coffee. It's really nice.

Larissa 19:44

So I yeah, when it's actually snowing, I bet that's almost a romantic feeling. (Totally.) Um, but even when it's not, just like being in the cold and seeing the cold, yeah...

Misha 19:56

The fresh air ... It's nice.

Larissa 19:59

I can I can see that. I would rather drink that delicious hot drink under a blanket at home.

Misha 20:07

Fair enough.

Larissa 20:09

Looking at the snow falling through my window, but I get it. I get it.

Misha 20:13

It's not for everybody.

Larissa 20:14

It's not for everyone.

Misha 20:18

Well, Larissa, we have to plan a time soon where you and I can go snowshoeing so you can try it out.

Larissa 20:24

Yes. Followed by nice warm hot chocolate at my place.

Misha 20:29

Inside.

Larissa 20:30

We'll compromise.

Misha 20:32

That sounds perfect. I'm looking forward to it.

Outro

Larissa 20:34

Ah, it sounds great.

Misha 20:36

Thanks for listening to another episode.

Speaker 2 20:39

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