My last day in Stavanger this time around, it started raining in the morning. I biked into town from my uncle’s office and was getting soaked along the way. I remember the many times my Japanese friends have asked me, “Why don’t you use an umbrella?” and I have either explained that I really don’t like umbrellas, that I have lost every umbrella I have ever owned, and/or made the rather non-scientific claim that, “They don’t use umbrellas where I come from.” So as I rode into and through downtown Stavanger in the rain (it had been raining for about 2 hours before I started riding), I decided to do a little survey. I counted how many of the first 100 people I passed on my bicycle who were carrying or using an umbrella. The result: 7 people out of 100. Lots of people had rain coats on, but I don’t have the brain power to manage the count of more than one variable.
5 thoughts on “Umbrellas”
Comments are closed.
I have to agree with you on this one, Mitch. I always found it somewhat comical that even if the sky were only overcast, with not hint of actual rain, 90% of Japanese would be carrying umbrellas, as if they would melt like the Wicked Witch of the West if they were to get wet at all.
When people asked why I didn’t use an umbrella, I usually replied that I rode my bicycle everywhere and that unlike a mama-chari, it isn’t possible to hold an umbrella while riding a bicycle over 5 km/hr.
I did have a raincoat, but would only occasionally use it, generally only if it were really pouring outside. My reasoning was that if I didn’t wear it, I would get wet from the rain, and if I did wear it I would get wet from my own sweat. Which would I rather get wet from?
I have to agree with you on this one, Mitch. I always found it somewhat comical that even if the sky were only overcast, with not hint of actual rain, 90% of Japanese would be carrying umbrellas, as if they would melt like the Wicked Witch of the West if they were to get wet at all.
When people asked why I didn’t use an umbrella, I usually replied that I rode my bicycle everywhere and that unlike a mama-chari, it isn’t possible to hold an umbrella while riding a bicycle over 5 km/hr.
I did have a raincoat, but would only occasionally use it, generally only if it were really pouring outside. My reasoning was that if I didn’t wear it, I would get wet from the rain, and if I did wear it I would get wet from my own sweat. Which would I rather get wet from?
Tell me you were at least wearing a coat.
As for being anti-bumbershoot, I agree with you completely I agree with you. I have an umbrella but it is in the garage somewhere.
The best defence against rain in Norway, I always found, consists of a rain suit (pants and jacket), a “soutwestern” and wellies. Umbrellas are of no use, as it seems like it always rains from the street and up.
Siri
WHAT?? Umbrellas are a necessity! Only Bogans and Ferals go oustide in the rain without an umbrella, espescially in Japan. And about ‘Melting in the Rain like the wicked witch…’?? Thats rather unfortunate that some gaijins would criticise the Japanese so harshly. Just remember, this is their country, and you are the foreigner.