July 14, 2006
Officially Summer
Summer started a while ago, but I barely noticed the passage of the Solstice thanks to the fact that school is in session straight through the end of July. But there are other, less calendar-based signs:
- It has been consistently 30-35 (85-95 for you F folks) degrees every day with at least 80% humidity.
- As a result, I cannot stop sweating.
- The cicadas have started. For me this is the #1 indicator of summer in Japan.
- One of my teachers, who wears nothing but a full suit, has started rolling up his sleeves.
- Every evening, the one thing I desire more than anything else is a very cold, very tall beer. Not Japanese, preferably, but I'll take what I can get.
Back home, summer is more than halfway over. Here, the heat has just begun.