Rainy Season is Here Again

Rainy season is here once more. I don't mind it much, except for two things: 1) it makes commuting by bicycle trickier, though a massive poncho solves most of my commute problems (if the rain and wind is typhoon-grade, we take a taxi), and 2) more than anything, I hate the mosquitos. 

With temperatures climbing and the sun getting stronger by day, you - by which I mean, me - seek refuge in shady, cool places and avoid outdoor activities when it is really sunny and hot. Unfortunately, so do mosquitos. Even though they are warm weather bugs, mosquitos avoid the sun. So if your kids want to go to the park, you can either bake in the sun or get eaten alive by mosquitos in the shade. It sounds dramatic, but it is true. 

Last night, a mosquito somehow got into my daughter's bedroom. She awoke in the morning with FOURTEEN mosquito bites. Lucky for us, we have muhi patches. Muhi patches are small, round adhesives placed on bug bites to reduce itching and inflammation. For young kids, this is doubly convenient because it prevents them from scratching their skin into oblivion and risking infection. They are also peachy-tan in color, which makes them subtle and nice to use for adults as well. 

As for commuting, commuter bicycles in Japan are well-equipped to handle the rain. Mine, like most, is waterproof and comes with a rain cover for the rear child seat. Since M rarely rides it, unlike E, who rides it everyday, we didn't get a cover for the front child seat where she sits. If we had wanted, though, it would have been easy to cover the front as well. 

It may sound extreme to cycle in the rain with kids, but even in the rain, it is the most effective mode of transportation. On most rainy days, it is easier to cycle than to hail a taxi or take public transport. It can be difficult to find an unoccupied taxi when it is raining during the morning rush hour. Our bicycle ride to school takes 7-8 minutes, so in the time it takes to flag a taxi, we would nearly be there. From our home, the metro is a 7 minute walk. On the other end, it's another 5 minute walk from the nearest station to school. The bus is 5 minutes and 4 minutes, respectively. Likewise, it would be faster to cycle than to use the metro or bus. And so we cycle. 

In a couple more weeks, we will need not only bug repellent but also a hat, sun cream, and a handy water bottle. At least the temperatures are still relatively low right now. We have had the occasional hot day, but for the most part, it has been in the 60s and 70s.  The cloud coverage allows you to go outside without slathering on sun cream. These are the best things about rainy season, and I am going to enjoy them while they last.