Today I was reminded that we only had another 4 months or so before our winter season ends. 4 MONTHS CAN YOU BELIEVE IT? I sure can't, but then again, I sort of can. Even so, it sounded a bit strange to my ears to hear that, yup, 4 months or 16 weeks, whichever way you wanted to see it...not a tremendously significant amount of time, considering that I've been here since November 2011 (that's 9 months, y'all - I could've had a baby!).

Anyway, something got me wondering, and frankly, a little worried today. See, I am once again on hydro duty and it just so happens that the hydroponics container is the warmest place on station (25-27oC on average so our plants will live). After 5 minutes of being inside, I was sweating, I shit you not, drops of sweat were beading on my forehead and all I could think of was "Fuck my life, it's going to be like hell when I get home to Malaysia".

I guess that's what enduring 9 months in a climate that never goes above zero does to you. The temperature for the last few weeks have been between -20 to -30oC and it has gotten to a point where I'm comfortable enough with walking to and from buildings wearing only a flimsy pair of woolen tracksuit pants without any thermals underneath (of course I'll be wearing something on top also la ok, don't worry). Crazy right?? I have legs of steel now.

Also, to keep abreast with whatever that is currently happening in the world, we've been downloading the highlights of the Olympic Games. Most of us watched the opening ceremony last night, albeit a few days late, but hey, better late than never. I guess all of us just wants to have some semblance of normality in our lives, like doing things and watching things that we would normally do/watch if we were back home. A bit of normal is good, I guess, because there is nothing normal about living here.