Imagine the thought of winter being such a novelty that you'd travel half way around the world to experience it ...
Welcome to Winnipeg, mates! Group from Australia in town to experience winter
A group of 28 Australians, one New Zealander and two tag-alongs from Alberta (who might have misread a pamphlet) are in Winnipeg this week to get a taste of what a Winnipeg winter feels like.
"I've noticed that Winnipeg is awful flat. We don't get that back home. It's a lot of hills back home. So it was really unique just landing. It felt like I was landing on the moon," said 18-year-old Lachlan Doohan, from Gold Coast — a city on Australia's east coast, just south of Brisbane.
"Everyone before I left was saying [the temperature would be] -40, so that was my impression. But yeah, just lots of snow," he said. "It's actually quite hot at the moment," he said of the balmy 1 C high this afternoon.
The group are part of Friendship Force, an international cultural exchange organization. They will be staying with Winnipeg hosts and taking part in a number of winter activities around town until next Wednesday.
"Everyone was saying, 'And why are you going to Winnipeg of all places in the middle of winter?'" said Robin Doohan.
"And I said, 'Because I've never experienced winter.' People live here, they must like living here — otherwise they wouldn't live here. And [the host families] show you the best of what's to offer," she said.
Robin says Winnipeg isn't what she expected, and that's a good thing.
"Winnipeg, from what I learned, was very flat and barren, I was told. Having arrived here, it's not like that at all. Whilst it's flat, there's lots of snow and it's absolutely beautiful," she said. "And the people are very warm and friendly."
Friendship force has 350 clubs in 58 countries around the world, including chapters in Winnipeg and Brandon.
Welcome to Winnipeg, mates! Group from Australia in town to experience winter
