据說是幾十年沒聽課的明尼蘇達大學,我來第一年就因為暴風雪停課, 難道我命帶放假? 學校網站簡短的幾行話, 可是盼了幾十年才盼來的啊!想到此我不禁熱淚盈眶,心懷感激的收拾書包準備回家..... 下面是學校發出來的校園關閉通告."U OF M CLOSES AND CANCELS CLASSES, EVENTS FOR THURSDAYMINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL – The University of Minnesota is closing andcanceling all classes and evening activities effective at 2:30 p.m. today,Provost Thomas Sullivan announced today."In light of current conditions and the forecast for severely worseningweather, this is an appropriate measure at this time," said Sullivan. "The mid-afternoon closing of metro area schools, colleges anduniversities and other institutions made it even clearer that this is theright thing to do."President Robert Bruininks’ State of the University address, which wasscheduled for this afternoon, will be rescheduled. "
根據氣象預報今天將有暴風雪, 心裡小小期待放"暴風雪"假. 昨天離開學校前同辦公室的同學跟我說" 明天見! "我還說, "不不不, 我希望明天放假一天", 當時受到莫大恥笑, 他說,別傻了,雙城市區的大學幾十年沒停過課呢, 一旁的老師也附和說, "對啊, 有時候連公車都停駛了,大學也不會停課的". 我還問,那要怎樣來? 這兩個名尼蘇達當地人跟我說, 自己想辦法啊, 開車來,不然駕雪橇或滑雪來, 後面兩種方法是他們故意嘲笑我這個南方來的, 雖然失望還是只能默默接受這種羞辱,尤其那老師1979年就在此地唸博士了, 不能不相信
今早乖乖上學去. 到了公車站稍等一下果然公車就來了. 連我一共三人排好隊伍等上車,沒想到公車司機竟然過站不停, 我心裏一邊咒罵, 還是只能接受. 到了學校室友早就到了,我把車子過站不停的事講給他聽,立刻被嘲笑, 他說"昨天就跟你說過了啊,有時候公車不開了還是要來上學啊 ,更何況公車只是不停,離不開還有一段距離呢"可惡, 真是沒有同情心
心情隨著天氣惡劣跟著惡劣起來, 到了下午準備到東岸(按:校園被密西西比河分成東西岸)上課,再回到西岸上晚上的課. 嘿嘿, 突然收到email竟然是下午那堂課老師發出來的,大意是說下午兩點半開始學校關閉,所有課都取消. 我興奮的大叫. 接連著收到系上秘書的,晚上那堂課的老師, 連整個大學的都寄信來了, 真的是停課耶
呵呵, 上去學校網站看通告, 還真簡短, 相對上電子郵件就官僚多了,還交代不是只有我們關閉校園,雖然他們的用意在於說明關閉的決策正確性,我感覺只是找人背書拖人下水. 但這不是重點, 重點是放暴風雪假了, 少上兩堂課,賺到了!!
回家後看氣象台, 乖乖，不但各級學校停課, 連州政府都簽署同意各地政府若有需要可直接向聯邦求援; 再看一下發出的警告, 呵呵, 降雪量已經直接用"呎"(one or two feet)算啦! 另外就是叫大家別外出,外出要有救命包(survival kit)
"A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW... SLEET... AND ICE ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. STRONG WINDS ARE ALSO POSSIBLE. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE."
"A BLIZZARD WARNING MEANS SEVERE WINTER WEATHER CONDITIONS ARE EXPECTED OR OCCURRING. FALLING AND BLOWING SNOW WITH STRONG WINDS AND POOR VISIBILITIES ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL LEAD TO WHITEOUT CONDITIONS...MAKING TRAVEL EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT TRAVEL. IF YOU MUST...HAVE A WINTER SURVIVAL KIT WITH YOU. IF YOU GET STRANDED...STAY WITH YOUR VEHICLE."
對了, AL州正颳著龍捲風,已造成18人死亡,我猜這如果在台灣, 大概會被媒體說成國之將亡所以才有天災人禍不斷了吧? 而我們卻在這裡慶幸撿到一天"暴風雪"假....
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