1. Create Account
  2. Login
StudyUSA
Match Me
  • Create Account
  • Login
  • School Search
  • Resources
    • All Resources
    • Articles
    • Student Voices
    • Videos
    • Magazines
    • Podcasts
  • Services
    • All Services
    • Accommodation
    • Support
    • Career
    • Financial
    • Insurance
    • Testing
    • Other
  • Chat
  • Success Stories
  • TOEFL Testing

What Is Spring? (I’m from a Tropical Country.)

What Is Spring? (I’m from a Tropical Country.)

Mar 10, 2023

Student Blogger from the Philippines Enamored with America's Four Seasons, Explores Spring in Nevada

All my life in the Philippines I’ve lived only in two rotational seasons. We call them El Niño and La Niña, which translates to the “warm” season and the “cold” one. During summer time, late March to early June, the sun would be out more than you’d like, heating the country up to 40 degrees Celsius. Whereas the rest of the year, it would be rainy. 

Oh, you love the rain? Of course you do, but don’t forget, it’s still humid and heavy all throughout. Because of this, we have a lot of typhoons. A lot. It’s one of the reasons why our infrastructures always revert back to square one, but that’s another story for another time. With that said, we get a lot of floods in different areas of the country, as if we didn’t have enough water already as an archipelagic nation.

Flooding in the Philippines

Climate in the U.S.

After starting my journey here in the United States, it was a huge shock to me that there are actually four seasons. I used to think they were just children’s rhymes to sing along to. Uh huh, we sang it in the Philippines despite having only two seasons, which do not correlate to the actual varying seasons much of the world experiences. The biggest shocks to me were fall and winter. Gosh, who knew trees could be so colorful? Some of them turn pink! PINK! And don’t even get me started on snow — I’ve said it a couple thousand times and I’ll say it again, it is so magical. 

Spring…?

There is one season I’m fairly confused about though, which is spring. This coming March will be my second spring in America. The first one was a blur: it was winter for a good 3 months, then a really bad heat wave started that felt like summer in April. Hopefully, this time I will feel it more. I mean, especially with the hundreds of inches of snow around me, right? 

For some people, it’s not quite like that. Spring is more than just a season — it’s a rebirth. Kind of like the renaissance but yearly. In Hungary, they have a tradition tied closely to Easter about girls being approached by boys, having recited a poem to them about watering a flower, then dumping a bucket of water on the girls afterwards (yay, free shower!).

It all makes sense though, because spring is a regrowth. The grass turns greener. The trees get their leaves back. People come out of their shells after hibernation. And what more of a symbolic life-giver than a woman?

Learning in the United States and working for Truckee Meadows’ International Student Services while being in a completely different environment has taught me a lot and given me experiences I would not have had in my home country — especially the wonders of changing seasons throughout a whole year. Nonetheless, my adventures haven’t stopped, and I am ecstatic to rejoice the upcoming spring this 2023.


Alaine Obra from the Philippines is studying for an associate’s degree in computer science at Truckee Meadows Community College in Reno, Nevada.
Follow us:
Written by

Alaine Obra

Get matched to the best program for you

Let us know what you're looking for so we can find the best school for you.

Get matched
Call to action background image. Decorative.

Useful Articles

Main image for the blog post titled American Experience Club — UW Huskies vs Utah Utes
American Experience Club — UW Huskies vs Utah Utes
Main image for the blog post titled Rise Up to the Challenge
Rise Up to the Challenge
Main image for the blog post titled Visiting Mount Rainier with Green River College
Visiting Mount Rainier with Green River College
Main image for the blog post titled A Day in the Life: A Bookseller and International Student at HCC
A Day in the Life: A Bookseller and International Student at HCC
Read more

Check Out These Schools

Evergreen Valley College

Evergreen Valley College

$5,000—$10,000 Semester

Undergraduate Bachelor Degree 2yr/Community College - 2+2 Programs
Contact
Hillsborough Community College

Hillsborough Community College

$10,000 — $15,000 Year

Bachelor Degree Undergraduate Certificate/Short Term
Contact
Lane Community College

Lane Community College

$10,000 — $15,000 Year

Undergraduate Online English Programs
Contact

Related Stories

Monday Quote by Dr. Seuss

Main image for the article titled Monday Quote by Dr. Seuss
Monday Quote by Frank Tyger

Main image for the article titled Monday Quote by Frank Tyger
Monday Quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

Main image for the article titled Monday Quote by Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Monday Quote by Dr. Seuss

Main image for the article titled Monday Quote by Dr. Seuss

Start your U.S. adventure with Study in the USA

What's your dream? We can guide, advise, and connect you with your perfect U.S. school. We can also help you with the application process.
More about us
Partner Services

Learn About U.S. education financing, housing, and more

Partner service logo for BetterHelp

BetterHelp

BetterHelp is the world’s largest therapy service, and it’s 100% online. You get the same professionalism and quality you expect from in-office therapy, but with access to a huge network of therapists, more scheduling flexibility, and at a more affor...

Read more
Partner service logo for The Intern Group

The Intern Group

Summer plans suspended because of COVID-19? The deadline's approaching for TheInternGroup's virtual/remote global internship program. Gain professional experience, grow your network and make your resume shine from wherever you are this summer.

Read more
Partner service logo for Student loan for international students? Yes, it is real!

Student loan for international students? Yes, it is real!

MPOWER Financing is the top-rated lender offering international student loans without cosigners, collateral, or credit history for global citizens, PLUS international student scholarships & career coaching! Fully online application, 96% customer...

Read more

Resources

Learn about American culture and education direct from our experts at Study in the USA. Read more

Achieving Your Goal
Admissions and Placement Testing
Beyond the Basics
Education System in the USA
Financing Your U.S. Education
Frequently Asked Questions
Life in the USA
Resources
Student Experiences
For students age 10-18
Study in Canada
Podcasts
Magazines
Videos
Student Voices
Ask StudyUSA.com

Subscribe to get the latest from Study in the USA

You can unsubscribe at any time.


StudyUSA
Explore

  • School Search
  • Resources
  •   Articles
  •   Student Voices
  •   Videos
  •   Magazines
  • Partner Services
  •   Accommodation
  •   Career
  •   Financial
  •   Insurance
  •   Other
  •   Support
  •   Testing
  • TOEFL Testing
  • Apply
  • Chat
Information

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Course Index
  • Featured Programs
  • Article Index
  • Create account
  • Sign in
  • For Educators & Institutions
Match Me
  • English
    English العربيـة Español Français Bahasa Indonesia 日本語 한국어 Português Русский ภาษาไทย Türkçe Tiếng Việt 简体中文 繁體中文

  • Privacy & Policy
  • /
  • Terms

Study in the USA logo

© 2023 Study in the USA. All Rights Reserved.

Global Study logo
A member of the Global Study network

When you visit or interact with our sites, services or tools, we or our authorised service providers may use cookies for storing information to help provide you with a better, faster and safer experience and for marketing purposes.