This must be the ugliest time of the year. From the blackening ice-solid snow mixed with dust to the obvious cracks on the roads brought by harsh temperature changes, the transition from winter to spring might be the most, if not the only unappealing period every year here in Hokkaido.

It was the time of the year that the season is on identity crisis. On whether it is already spring or still winter, it hasn’t decided yet. The temperature can range from -10 to 10 degrees Celsius making the snow melt during the day and refreeze again during the night. The pristine white snow during wintry days is already vanishing while the beautiful blossoms of spring are not appearing yet. And still, sometimes it snowed either a bit or a lot.

It was like puberty in humans. But like puberty, this too will pass. I am just patiently waiting until the first dandelion flower sprout out of the ground.