Like I have shared before, the thing I dreaded most about moving to Tokyo was the heat. Hot humid summers! Until you've experienced one here you just can't imagine. After a rather cool June, temperatures have skyrocketed with the clearer skies of July.
I am amazed at all the stuff Japanese sell to stay cool. Granted most houses have a wall unit AC in one room, but there are all kinds of cooling pads and wraps that are filled with some sort of chemicals that feel cool to the touch. These can be placed on the back of your neck or even laid on your pillow or bed. Here in the picture above is some sort of ice pack that is attached to the front of a fan to produce cooler air. But I passed on buying that one though as it was $20, almost as much as my $30 fan.
As I am writing this, all 7 of us are camped out in the one cool air conditioned living room. I break out in a sweat just walking across the short hallway to use the hot, steamy bathroom. This is the only place on earth I have experienced eyelid-sweat. Throughout the next 2 months, many nights will find us baking through temperatures not dipping below 90 F with 70-80 humidity. Since the houses are not insulated or sealed well, even with the air on you usually can't cool down enough.
Since I have less energy and less patience, I need more of God's cooling grace...well, that and a couple showers a day and a couple glasses of refreshing iced tea. With milk and sugar please.
This cutie guy is staying cool with flavored icy. You might notice the little medicated patch on his arm to keep him from itching mosquito bites. Another Japanese mom told me she doesn't take her kids to the park in mid summer because of the mosquitos. Thankfully though this year, with a dryer rainy season, those pesky pests seem to have been kept at bay around our house.
