Fish out of water
By B.J. Reyes
A guest post by Star-Bulletin reporter Rosemarie Bernardo, who is in Washington, D.C., to cover Tuesday’s inauguration of President-elect Barack Obama:
–
Spoiled by the year-round sunny weather of Hawaii, a journey my friend, Grace, and I spent yesterday was in search of more warm clothes as we prepare to stand in the frigid temperatures of D.C. to report on inauguration festivities for President-elect Barack Obama.
Fashion was thrown out the door for someone born and raised in Leeward and Central Oahu when faced with the artic coldfront sweeping through the East Coast with temperatures dropping to the teens and single digits. As anyone born and raised in Hawaii would attest, 70 degrees is cold. Here, 40 degrees is considered an improvement from the biting weather. Wha?
My friend and I entered Patagonia, a winter gear chain store in Georgetown, as other customers flocked to the store feverishly rifling through the racks of coats and and shelves of thermal wear, grabbing the thickest socks available.
Though I already had packed two wool jackets, a salesperson here advised me that a down jacket was necessary to withstand chilly temperatures. With a lack of thick jackets in the women’s department, my friend and I ventured into the men’s section where I found a small emerald-green colored thick jacket providing much insulation. Success.
With my new jacket hung in the closet to be worn outdoors in the days ahead, warmth remains a priority even indoors.
Despite the radiator running in the living room of my friend’s apartment, I’m wearing three layers of shirts, three layers of pants, a thermal type of headband wrapped over my ears, a knitted hat and hooded sweater.
The highest level of heat generated from the radiator can’t get warm enough for this islander.
^^ The islander in full winter regalia.
