Monsoon season

In Nanchang, I remember that each spring it would rain for a month straight every single day. Now that it has been raining and storming for most of April here, I'm recalling those days and wondering what we did to make the days survivable.

What I remember about the Nanchang rainy season:

-My bright yellow rain boots paired with my bright green rain jacket.
-My teaching lesson papers being totally limp and soggy.
-Dozens of brightly colored umbrellas were open to be dried in the back of the classroom every day.
-Since there wasn't an operable or effective drainage system in the streets, you could practically ford a river to get to class.

The excessive rain here in Indiana doesn't quite compare, but it's close. You know it's rained a lot when:

-All the gum you have is a squishy mess from the humidity.
-Your hair always looks wet.
-A familiar sound is wet vacs pumping out water from the ground level apartments of our complex.
-Everyone looks pale and tired.
-You have even less motivation to write papers, finish projects, and prepare for finals.

And yesterday was Easter! It was cold and rainy, but still a wonderful day, especially as we reflected on His resurrection! I got to bring my two Chinese friends with me to church. Overall, it was a blessed day and now it's back to the grind of somehow finishing this semester!

Rainy days: Nanchang, 2010.

I miss riding on humid Chinese buses with Jodi!

All the colorful umbrellas on display in the perpetually rainy weather: Nanchang, 2010.

Muddy roads: Nanchang, 2010.