In summer, strong sun light condenses light and shadow on everything giving an effect almost divine especially on green foliages at the hour when the sun culminates in the sky. I always stop and see such shadows because it evokes a kind of strong nostalgia in me. I do not know why. It may be because I was born in summer.
I love the smell of rice crops heated by the sun.
Summer in Japan is notorious for its discomfortness (heat is worse when combined with high humidity). But in the days when air conditioner does not exist, people have thought out and used many devices to bring coolness into the house as much as possible.
Uchi-mizu is one of them. This word means sprinkling a pail of water around the house using a ladle. As the sprinkled water vaporizes, it removes heat from hot air. It is said this can decrease temprature by 2 or 3 Celsius degrees. Also, uchi-mizu is often done at the entrance of shops or houses expecting visitors to express welcome by purifying the place. It was a good old custom in the summer morning&evening.
People grow morning glory to use its vine as a sunshade.
Chilled noodles makes a good meal when you lose your appetite due to hotness.
Summer confectionery with foamed tea
Summer in Japan is notorious for its discomfortness (heat is worse when combined with high humidity). But in the days when air conditioner does not exist, people have thought out and used many devices to bring coolness into the house as much as possible.
Uchi-mizu is one of them. This word means sprinkling a pail of water around the house using a ladle. As the sprinkled water vaporizes, it removes heat from hot air. It is said this can decrease temprature by 2 or 3 Celsius degrees. Also, uchi-mizu is often done at the entrance of shops or houses expecting visitors to express welcome by purifying the place. It was a good old custom in the summer morning&evening.
People grow morning glory to use its vine as a sunshade.
Visual coolness on the table is enjoyable.
Chilled noodles makes a good meal when you lose your appetite due to hotness.
Summer confectionery with foamed tea
Shaved ice with strawberry syrup
Auditory sense can play a big role to feel coolness. People hang a wind chime at eaves, to hear its sound which resembles the sound of ice cubes in a crystal glass. Wind chimes are made of glass, ceramic, or iron. Glass ones are good to eyes, but I think iron ones make the coolest sound.
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I have written about the summer in my home country, but now I am finishing this writing in Canada. I have come back to Canada, to a city in New Brunswick to take undergraduate course. Morning and evening here is already chilly, and I miss the crazy heat I experienced this summer.
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