Summer Sauna

The climate for the area of Japan we live in is similar to Michigan. It has four seasons, but maybe with a slightly warmer winter with less snow and a longer stretch of summer heat. Michigan summers are hot and humid, so we are accustomed to summer living…but summertime in Japan is another ball game. Here in Japan we are out and about a lot more, walking or biking many places instead of driving around in an air-conditioned car. I sweat walking the kids to the bus at 0930 as the sun beats down and the process doesn’t end between running errands, cleaning the house, and picking them back up in the afternoon. Businesses and stores try to conserve energy by keeping the air conditioner at a warmer temperature then we would in the United States, and many people choose to open their windows more often than running their wall air conditioning unit. I have learned you generally cool one room at a time as you use it, and our house has doors that allow you to close off sections of the house. Our priority is cooling the living room area, so when I go upstairs or into the bathroom (anywhere outside of our main living room) I enter a sauna. I also have a portable dryer in the washroom to dry and dehumidify clothes, turning the back of the house into a desert.

Windows are single pane or open and close with a handcrank, so you feel the hot air seeping into all the rooms as the sun rises higher and there are no large trees among most of the houses to cast shade over the rooftops. Loren is sweaty and hot by the time he gets to the train station in the morning and repeats the process coming home as he takes the bus, then the train, and then walks home from the station. His company does not turn on the air conditioning until the temperature is above 82 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, they turn off the AC and lights for one hour after lunch to conserve energy. The air gets so heavy and warm, and with his belly full from lunch he struggles to stay afloat, wishing for a nap.

Avalyn braves the heat everyday at school. They open the windows and have a fan in the room, but after walking home from school she looks so tired and is soaked in sweat, her hair splastered to her forehead. They have gym and recess outside in the play yard. At conferences, Avalyn’s teacher told me she is too slow during gym and that she needs her to be quicker, but I will give her this one because I would not want to be out there running PE drills in this heat. A child passed away at one of the elementary schools here in Japan from the heat, but the schools require each child to bring a big thermos of tea or water with them everyday and they always wear a hat when outside.I think swimming at school helps them cool off, although they do not get in the pool everyday.

Here in Japan, it seems people (for the most part) live in long sleeves and pants. The average attire for the women I see everyday includes long pants or skirt, umbrella, hat and always longer sleeves or arm coverings. I mostly do the same—you are hot either way, so why bake your skin if you can cover it (also, peer pressure is a real thing) and it keeps the sweat from forming a pool around you. Also- sweat towels! Yes, it is necessary to carry a sweat towel and a hand fan wherever you go. Sometimes I feel a little like “Survivor Man” with the heat blowing across my face and the sun burning kisses onto my cheeks, as I run my daily life in jeans and spf arm sleeves…my energy draining out with every drop of sweat I shed. I am so proud of everyone though, no one complains much but I think they are all (and me) a little more cranky and tired than usual.

We haven’t figured out all the ways to stay cool in Japan, but we are learning. Carrying around ice packs wrapped in a washcloth, finding clothes they sell in Japan that breath better, wearing hats and eating cold foods. Most of the pools here do not allow babies with diapers to enter, but we are thankful for our big bathtub and now that the scaffolding is taken down from the painting, the kids can play in the backyard with some water. We went into the mountains and found a cool spot with shade and we were in heaven. We also found a new beach spot with beautiful blue water and soft sand.

Loren and I celebrated our 9-year wedding anniversary on July 10th and are continuing to settle in a bit more. I am so thankful to be married to a man who recognizes my needs and has a heart for serving his wife and kids. Overtime we have learned to work together and lean on God. We know each other’s strengths and build each other up in our weaknesses. We have learned that when we put the other person first and fill their cup, that they in turn do the same and it creates a beautiful balance of teamwork and unity.  He made me take his place on a work outing and I got some time out of the house to eat delicious unagi and have a day without changing a diaper or hearing “mom” a million times in one hour. Then a few days later I went to dinner with a group of new friends. We do not have a babysitter in Japan and have both felt a little suffocated by the constant needs of our children, but thanks to my husband I have been able to recharge a little bit. I am happy to share all of the fun and interesting things going on with us lately. Continued prayer for language learning and family unity. I think the heat adds a little more weight to our daily lives as we live in this new country trying to learn and adapt to our surroundings. Thanks for reading!