some like it hot

Monday September 6, 2010

Autumn is almost upon us! While time seems to be fleeting faster than I would like, I am very excited to experience fall in Sendai. Sendai is noted as one of the “greenest cities” in Japan and so I’m hoping that it becomes one of the "'reddest,' ‘orangest,’ and ‘goldest’ cities” as well! Also, maybe the season change will bring more comfortable temperatures for this American girl. I love it hot, but Humidity and I are not the closest of friends, and since I know Humidity isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, I will settle for milder temperatures to increase my comfort level to some degree.

The sun rises around 4:30 in the morning here and so by the time I’m heading off to Miyagi First High School on my bike a few hours later, it’s already pretty warm outside, usually around 85°. Consequently, I arrive with my blood already pumping and then proceed to work in a building brimming with occupants, ever-increasing temperatures, and zero air-conditioning. The inside of the school is considerably hotter and more stagnant that the outside air (105° or more on a mild day), but I’ve found various methods to keep myself from melting (including stashing mini-ice packs against me while sitting at my desk and regularly enjoying some ice cream at lunch time). However, it isn’t until my trek back home that I really start to get uncomfortable these days.

I suppose it would help to stop and clarify here that I have moved and am now living in a lovely apartment nearer to Miyagi First. The downside? This cozy little abode happens to be perched atop a ridiculous hill…and I mean hill. The entire neighborhood is rather hilly, actually, and so I can count on having to trudge my bike up some slope somewhere no matter where I’m going or where I’ve been. I love it once I’m home, but I sort of curse myself for moving here each time I’m pushing my bike up a hill I can no longer bike with beads of sweat trickling down the lines of my body.

Once I get through my door, I’m tugging impatiently at my clothes because I can’t stand to be in them even one more uncomfortably humid second. Ha ha maybe I shouldn’t admit all this, but as we have already established, I was basically created without much propriety and, in all fairness, I guess all readers here were warned upon being welcomed to my blog that it would be uncensored...

Anyway, I hate feeling like I’m marinating in my business clothes and so I’ve adjusted to cooling off however I can—and in the privacy of my air-conditioned apartment (thank goodness for air conditioning!), that means removing every single layer as quickly as I can! I actually giggled a little to myself the other day as I was trekking up my hill in a silk blouse, pearls, and heels, when I realized that the same thought that motivates me to get up that hill every afternoon has got to be the same mantra every groom repeats to himself to endure each painful wedding reception hour, “Just a little longer until the clothes come off; just a little longer until the clothes come off!” ha ha, dear poor groom: I know exactly what you mean...

Still, I would always rather be uncomfortably warm than uncomfortably cold and I’m hoping that these hotter-than-normal temperatures continue for the rest of my time in Japan because if fall and winter are warmer than usual, there is a chance that I’ll survive until next spring! This spring was so cold I was legitimately concerned that I was going to turn into a human popsicle…so I’m crossing my fingers for a mild winter this time around!

Regardless of the heat, things are as busy and wonderful as ever here in Sendai. Last weekend was my school’s bunka sai, or culture festival, and it was an absolute blast. My darling students never cease to amaze me and I want to post pictures from the festival, as well as some of my new home! I will make time to update soon, but in the meantime, I should probably just throw on some clothes and go make dinner.

Thank you for reading!