Leading up to the middle of January it seemed like everyone, myself included, was talking about how mild the winter was. And for the most part, it had been. But that changed drastically with the onset of three consecutive massive snowstorms that dumped 80 inches of snow on Boston.

There’s something about waking up and seeing everything covered in a thick layer of powdery snow that seems so peaceful. But even people like me, who have retained our childhood fascination with snow, have to admit that it comes at a price.

Our office was closed at least once a week for three consecutive weeks, with threats of closure every time another storm approached. And it’s not just driving that became dangerous. The MBTA, Boston’s subway system, was utterly crippled by the snow. Not only has the “T” been in service for more than a century and should be well-prepared for this weather, but it’s alarming that this failing infrastructure is one of Boston’s major selling points in its efforts to host the 2024 summer Olympics. In any event, it simply prevented us from getting to work, and forced us to take snow days.

A snow day in 2015 is, however, drastically different than it was 10 or 20 years ago. In fact, it’s not really a day off. While the snow succeeded in keeping me home, it failed to knock out my electricity or internet, and I was able to continue working on many of my projects. And as I’m placed at an organization with multiple offices across two countries, working remotely is already part of the job.

But there are parts of my job that can’t be accomplished as well without face-to-face interaction. There’s something to be said for being in the same room as a colleague and sharing their passion and energy for our work that can’t be replicated through an internet connection. This is the main reason I’m looking forward to my upcoming and first trip to Liberia – the chance to see many of my colleagues and the work that they do on the ground first hand. Nothing can replace human interaction, especially in human-centered work.

The snow, however, has played another role. Snow is an equalizer. Snow stops drivers, stops subway commuters, stops flyers. And bad weather can slow down life anywhere.

In Liberia, part of the struggle our organization faces is the rainy season and the decimation it brings to rural infrastructure. Yet despite the hurdles of washed out dirt roads, our team pushes on to find a way to deliver health care to the people they serve.

Fortunately for us in Boston, most of our work can continue despite the conditions. But the snow still serves as a reminder of the harsh conditions that our team faces on a regular basis, and impresses upon me the strong commitment they have for their work that drives them to persevere.

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