The rainy season has begun here. I was
warned but shrugged it off thinking six years in the Seattle area had
prepared me for whatever rain fell in Japan. Apparently my rain
tolerance skills deteriorated in the Texas heat just as my trusted
umbrella apparently has; One walk this afternoon proved it.
Don't misunderstand, I like rain just
fine and I absolutely love a good thunderstorm but the timing is all
wrong. Moving to the Tokyo metro area is beyond an incredible
opportunity and the next three years hold so much possibility for
learning and adventure. We quickly got phones, mostly for data use
and navigational assistance, then received our SOFA driver's
licenses. Now all we need is transportation.
Tokyo has the most extensive rail
system in the world which thrills the heck out me, but until I take
the class next week I will not brave it alone. We do not have a car
yet and should really begin a serious search for one. I don't like
the idea of being vehicle-dependent but surprisingly I don't think
there is public transportation from our future housing area to my
husband's work location.
At this moment, however, a car would be
nice to escape this small hotel room. A couple hours ago, spurred by
stir-craziness, I grabbed my umbrella for a walk. After initially
stepping outside the 72 degree air felt refreshing and the rain was
soft, similar to Seattle. Not so bad. But past the corner of
building the wind found me and snapped my umbrella closed. Damn.
Holding it open I continued on, fighting the directionless wind gusts
while the misty rain seeped into my cotton clothes. This was not
going to work. I cut my walk short and just stopped at the store to
pick up the box of hot cocoa mix I was craving and returned,
defeated, to the lodge.
Now I'm sitting in one of those strange
reclining armchairs mid-level hotels often have, the kind that kicks
up with one clunk and reclines with another, looking out the window
watching the rain. One glance and it practically floats as a mist,
then look again and it's falling in sheets, sideways. The television
is on for him, but muted for me, as he uses the one ethernet
connection. I have a book of word puzzles, shelves of books on my
Kindle, a new iPhone to play with and my old laptop to keep me
company and absorb my thoughts as it so reliably does. My shoulder
is throbbing, a lingering effect of the long flight here. I see some
ibuprofen and a hot cocoa in my future. And rain. Lots of rain.
You could not have arrive at a worse time. The week before you arrived was one of the most beautiful weeks we've ever had here. Unfortunately it is rainy season and it's definitely no joke. Rain boots, a good rain coat and sturdy umbrella are necessities here, especially when using the public transportation system. Speaking of the train, if you're down for an adventure we can head out to one of the near by towns for lunch Monday....providing it's not pouring down rain. The options on base get real old real fast! While you're waiting on wheels if you ever need a ride in the rain, let me know!
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