Living in Albany, the news of snow is initially delightful, but it becomes increasingly bothersome with repetition.

When I first moved here, I honestly felt a thrill when it snowed.

The scenery that I wanted to capture and post on social media unfolded right in front of my house every day, making it feel like I had stepped into a scene from a winter movie.

However, as time passes, my thoughts change a bit. Snow is beautiful, but the practical inconveniences that come with it become quite significant once you experience living with it.

When snow accumulates properly, preparing for work becomes a battle. When I open the door in the morning, my car is buried in snow, and the front yard has turned into a slippery ice rink. What I thought would take 15 minutes with a snow shovel often takes over an hour, and during that hour, my fingertips freeze and my breath catches in my throat.

Another time, on my way home, it suddenly started snowing heavily, and I had to grip the steering wheel tightly to avoid skidding off the road, inching my way home. The snowy landscape is beautiful, but the problem is that there's no time to appreciate that beauty.

Especially in Albany, winter is long. The excitement of the first snowfall lasts only a moment, and a few days later, the reality of "Oh, it's piled up again, time to shovel" sets in. When the snow melts, the roads are left with calcium chloride stains, and the car gets dirty in an instant.

Even after washing the car, it doesn't take long for white powder to stick again, and the tires wear out faster. The apartment stairs or sidewalks may be fine in the morning, but they freeze overnight, turning into a skating rink by the next morning. A moment of carelessness can easily lead to slipping.

That said, I can't just complain. Walking by the snow-covered Hudson River brings a winter calm, and strolling through a park blanketed in snow on the weekend, the sound of snow boots crunching through the snow becomes oddly addictive. Children rush out with sleds, climbing up and down hills, while adults capture the scenery with their cameras.

Albany is a place where the romance and inconvenience of snow coexist. Those who have lived here for a long time prepare for winter as a part of their routine. Thick gloves, non-slip shoes, sprinkling salt in the evening when snow is forecasted, and planning the morning snow shoveling schedule are all part of the process.

So, snow in Albany is not exactly welcome. It's neither a warm welcome nor a source of fear, but rather something we accept as part of daily life. The first snowfall is exciting, the second is fine, but by the third, I find myself muttering, "Ah, it's here again," as I head out with a shovel.

Yet, amidst it all, there are moments when I suddenly look at the pure white world and feel my heart soften.

Snow is something we complain about yet eagerly await every year.

In Albany, winter thus trains us and is strangely endearing.