After the Rain

Winter is not really fun here in Fukuoka, where it doesn't snow but just cold and windy.

On the other hand, the winter in Eau Claire, Wisconsin in the States, was extremely cold. Well, like -30 degree Celcius cold.

Although inside buildings was warm and comfy, window views sucked almost all the time. Snow is white and pretty, I liked it first, but got sick of it within the first month. They said that the year I arrived there saw the coldest winter in the last 50 years. How lucky was that?

But thanks to the experience in the freaking cold world, I've become to appreciate the beauty and festive mood of spring air. My antena for seasons, especially for spring, is very keen and sensitive now, never failing to sense any subtle change in air and view.

White turns to brown, then green with specks of various colours. It is like you are watching a life history of flowers on fast forward. Popping and springing up everywhere, new faces say "Hello!" to you.

When it rains in spring, it seems like everything turns silent. What you can hear is the melancholic rain falling onto the ground, newborn leaves and flowers....and the next day, you just come to know that plants were actually embracing the tear drops, growing upwards at a stunning speed.