Rainy Season

Yes, it's the rainy season. It may sound dreary and dull, but it's not. I had the day off today and you could feel a storm a brewin'. I got out for my morning run before the rain hit and because it felt much cooler, I actually made it all the way to campus and back. Still humid enough to choke someone. It's so nice to have an entire day with no agenda. Nothing that needs to be done, no plans to keep with anyone, just a day to relax with the rain. I've definitely unbusied myself lately. In the states I was always go go go. Work here, errands there, out for nights with friends in spare moments. With all the traveling in the first couple weeks here I was in hyperspeed. I've slowed down. I've forced myself to be happy doing nothing. I used to not be able to sit still; antsy in the pantsy.

Since I don't own an umbrella yet (which is absurd the amount of rain that's fallen, why? I don't know), I decided to stay in and enjoy. You can definitely learn a lot about yourself on a day like today. Having nothing to do, what do you do? I like chores. (Mom is going to flip a lid when she reads this). Yeah, that's right. I love cleaning. I cleaned all my clothes, cleaned my dishes and vases, cleaned my bathroom, cleaned my floors, the windows, the sinks. Years ago in the age of chores, I would kick and scream. I hated when someone told me to do them. Now no one is telling me anything (and frankly, it's not even that dirty, so it wasn't like anything had to be done). I encourage you to have a day to do nothing and see what happens, especially while traveling. We're so trained to go! do! experience! while traveling, so we try to cram everything into a tiny morsel of time. The whole idea of travel is to remove yourself from the familiar. So do that. Remove yourself from the familiar hustle and bustle. Even if you are not traveling. See what happens. If you're at all like me, you'll feel like a lunatic at first, but peace will come later - I promise.

Besides doing all the chores that according to my mom were 10 years too late, I was able to read a good book. This is why I love my apartment: there is a portion of the lobby that is an elevated hard wood floor, so it's appropriate to take your shoes off before stepping up. On this special space are chaise lounges surrounded by ceiling to floor windows that open like door hinges. They are all open and a hot breeze circulates around, a garden right outside. It was hard to focus on the book itself because the rest of my surroundings were so enjoyable. My friendly apartment staff wanted me to feel extra comfortable so they winked at me from the front desk and started playing music throughout the lobby's sound system. This was really kind of them. Why Kenny G, though? Really. They must have been able to sense my upper lip curling up because a few moments later they started a Toni Braxton track. It's the thought that counts I guess. I tried to block out the pop music and just listen to the rain.

The rain here is different, I swear. It can rain with the sun still shining, and it's such a welcome change from the heat. Pouring unexpectedly, and sometimes exactly right on cue. Sultry and sexy rain. Two stolen adjectives, yet still adequately descriptive. It's the kind of rain that needs no soundtrack.