no more plum rain?
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- Published on Friday, 13 April 2007 05:23
- Written by Erik
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It’s the end of the rainy season, allegedly. As always the Chinese language manages to come up with poetic redescriptions for the most unpleasant things. The rain in spring is known as meiyu, “plum rain” or 梅雨. Compare the little old lady on the corner who sells mediocre noodles in her “wind-cloud-boundless-prosperity” shop.
When the plums were falling at their most intense we were almost getting nostalgic for the weather in London. And you know you’re in trouble if you start to reminisce about “the lovely English spring.”
I once heard an interview with Wole Soyinka, the Nobel prize winning Nigerian author, and they asked him why he left England for the US. The interviewer clearly expected some kind of major statement on politics or social affairs, but Soyinka simply said: “It’s just that bloody weather.” And he was right. The English weather is the real reason for our move too. And English food of course.
Anyways. Raining plums should now be behind us. It’s 24 degrees today and perfect sunshine. More tomorrow and on Saturday. After that it should heat up quickly and the real summer will be here. Can’t wait.
June 10 update: this post was way off. It’s still raining. Raining like crazy, like Noah was planning to get his boat out. This country is no better than England I tell you (OK, it’s a lot warmer)