Ask a Tour Salesperson: Is the weather always like this?
Tourists are often riddled with questions as they disembark their cruise ship because they are entering a place they’ve never been. Every now and then, one of these questions is relevant and surprisingly poignant. This is not one of those questions.
Sadly, there is a thing called weather. Some examples of weather include sunshine, rain, wind, hail, snow, and sleet. Weather is something that everyone is affected by no matter where they live, which is why so many people look at weather reports. If the weather was always the same, there would be no need to look at a weather report because you would know what the weather was going to be all of the time. Armed with this knowledge, let’s explore this week’s “Ask a Tour Salesperson” question, “Is the weather always like this?”
Is the weather always the same anywhere?
When tourists walk off of their cruise ship, they are faced with the weather. Weather is defined as “the state of the atmosphere at a place and time as regards heat, dryness, sunshine, wind, rain, etc..” This definition implies that weather is variable in nature, which means that it is always changing.
When it’s sunny and warm, tourists never ask whether the weather is “always like this,” likely because they understand that perfect sunny days are rare just about anywhere. However, when it’s raining or windy, tourists will suddenly become curious about whether the weather is always the same. You might think that they would seek out someone knowledgeable about weather to pose their question, but you would be wrong. When tourists want answers, they ask the tour salesperson.
So, let’s explore why someone may ask, “Is the weather always like this?” Do they live in a place where the weather is always the same? Unlikely, since no such place exists. The weather is never the same anywhere because the earth rotates and travels around the sun. This creates something called “seasons.” The most common seasons are called summer, spring, fall, and winter. This means that tourists aren’t asking this question because they experience identical weather every day of their life in their hometown. So, what gives?
Weather changes but questions remain the same
Imagine what life would be like if you lived in a place where the weather was always the same. You would only need one style of clothes. You would always eat the same thing because there would be no seasonal foods. If it were always spring, you would never know the joys of drinking a pumpkin spiced beer.
Yes, it’s very curious why someone would entertain the idea that the weather is always the same in Alaska, or anywhere for that matter. But if you’re still curious whether the weather is “always like this,” take it from a tour salesperson, the answer is “no.” Sometimes it rains, but sometimes it is sunny. There is also snow when it’s cold. Remember those pictures of people dog-sledding across the arctic tundra? That would hardly be possible if it were always raining.
Many questions pop into our minds throughout the day, but it’s always a good idea to really think about those questions before making the conscious choice to ask someone. Even a tour salesperson.