Don't forget your umbrella!!

Hi!! It’s been a while!!

Everyone’s favorite time of year – the RAINY season is here!! It’s hot and humid and my 布団 always feels damp!! That’s the worst part.

Often Japanese people say, "this time of year must be very difficult for you" (being a Canadian). Oddly enough, I think most Japanese people seem to be more affected than myself. I’m not sure if it’s just me (but I’m guessing most other Canadians feel the same) but weather and temperature change is not such a big deal. It happens all the time and there’s not much we can do to change it so we really don’t think about it so much.

I often joke that Japanese people can probably tell a change in temperature even if it’s only gone up or down 1 or 2 degrees Celsius.（笑）

Many Japanese people often talk about the weather, and the conversation sometimes lasts quite some time! Also, they often grumble or complain when it’s ‘TOO’ hot or ‘TOO’ cold. Other times they say, “It’s getting hot”, or “It’s getting cold” when the temperature has only changed a few degrees that day. I find this quite amusing.

My High school students often like to use the weather or temperature as an excuse for not doing work. They say they ‘feel down’ when it’s cloudy, so they don’t want to do anything, or it’s too cold to think (winter).

It seems that people here feel a really close relationship with the weather. Another interesting example is the term ‘雨の匂いがする’ - it smells like rain. I had never heard that expression before. In English, we sometimes say, it looks like rain – meaning we can see rain clouds approaching.

I did have to make a couple of changes when I came to Japan however.

Living in Toronto Canada, I had never owned an umbrella – that is, I never had my own because I never felt it necessary to buy one. Once in a while I would borrow one from home if it were POURING outside when I left the house. It almost never rains for days on end in T.O. (as it does in 東京！) so we just wait it out or run from car (or station) to store and vice-versa. In Japan, it is absolutely necessary to have one or you get soaked. Otherwise you just don’t go out. Actually, umbrella or not, when it rains, people don’t feel like doing things so sometimes plans are canceled. I’d go out in a TYPHOON if I had plans!!

It took me a while to get used to not forgetting my UMBRELLA though. I'd probably lost 6 or 7 in the span of a year. Finally I got a nice one so I aways remember it (knock on wood!!).

The other thing is that I had to invest in a dehumidifier (除湿機)!! This was to take care of my 布団 problem!! It works like a charm!! I just leave it on for 3 or 4 hours before I go to bed and my futon doesn’t feel damp. Give it a try if you already haven’t.

Well, enough about the weather！！ 　笑　笑　ha ha ha!!

Have an EXCELLENT summer to all those who read this.

Take care.

Dennis

インディーフォルダ英会話
http://global.indyfolder.jp/