Biking in the rain

It's been over 2 weeks after my arrival in Japan, and finally we have reached the beginning of the fall semester!  From tomorrow, I will get to spend most of my time at the schools, teaching English (and probably learning much more!)  As I commuted to the Board of Education through the perpetual drizzle for the last time, I thought back to my first week here when I wrote the following (essential!) guide for myself and all future JETs.  (Hey! A lot of good advice is based on personal experience!)

How to bike to work:

1.     Leave early for your second day.

2.     Get caught in a downpour as you leave the apartment.

3.     Bike like mad through the rain, laughing hysterically as you go.

4.     Show up five minutes early, hair wet, skirt drenched, tights mud-specked, dignity lost, smile on your face.

5.     Discover that the former mayor saw you en route.

For the record, raincoats do absolutely nothing to prevent your skirt from getting soaked by the rain.  The Japanese have all mastered the art of riding a bicycle while holding an umbrella.  However, since I like my life as it is (ongoing) I guess I'll deal with wet skirts or leave myself more time to walk.

This guy's a pro.
(photo from telegraph.co.uk.  Did you really think my town had that many people?!)

Biking in the rain:

If I weren't going to work,

it would be quite fun!