Clearing the snow

Last Saturday was such a wintry day. The snow kept falling and didn’t seem to stop. It would be a white day for sure. Our winter has been such a mix of weather thus far.

The day before, a young woman had arrived from Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean near Africa. For those unfamiliar with the location, it’s quite a warm place where winter coats are not needed and certainly not winter boots. Furthermore, they are not available there.

We’d met Zareen the autumn before when she was working in the city and came to our Toastmasters club. As a member in Mauritius, she wanted to visit a club while she was in Canada. We knew she’d be coming back but not just when.

Thinking of a young woman arriving for a year of work in Waterloo region in the dead of winter without proper winter wear made me shiver for her, even before she arrived. I called on my friend Doris about taking Zareen shopping, first for boots, but also for a coat. We picked the day after her arrival in Waterloo.

Doris had a great idea then. She had a winter coat and boots that had been her mother’s and offered them to Zareen. Doris’ mom had been quite petite and so was Zareen. It was worth a try and our guest was open to trying them on.

I found Zareen’s lodging and took her to my friend’s home. The coat and boots were waiting, and fortunately for Zareen and for us — considering the winter weather — they fit.

She’d found a hat and scarf at the airport before she left, figuring correctly that she’d need them and that they were intended for travellers, and she wore those that day. They went well with the coat and she was colour coordinated too. Perhaps the photos of coat and boots several days before were helpful.

Nice and cozy for winter weather

There were still outstanding items on her list, so in view of the winter weather, we headed for the mall to pick up necessities. We found most things. Doris realized there were things on the list that she could help with, so after a cup of hot tea in the food court, we’d head back to Doris’ home.

We needed to clear the snow off the car again and this is where Zareen in her new winter gear offered to help. Now she was warm enough to do it and it was likely the first time she’d ever cleared snow off a vehicle.

Still jet-lagged from her long journey the day before, Zareen was glad to head back to her accommodation, so after collecting things that could help with making small lunches, Zareen and I headed out into winter weather again and were on our way back to Waterloo.

It was a slow drive, but we made it safely. Ploughs were coming out, starting to clear main streets so that helped a great deal.

A short stop at the grocery store for fresh fruit ensured that our guest would have sufficient food on hand for the next two days, at least until the snow event was over.

After delivering Zareen to the place she was staying with her groceries and warm mittens — reusable shopping bags in hand — I headed for home, taking my time and made it home safely.

We’ll stay in touch and hope to take her out again shopping for additional necessities, on a less stormy day next time. At least she will be warm in our Canadian winter.

Our guest plans to visit our club again once she gets more settled, and she’s already begun her work days in Waterloo Region.