It's hot out!!

Hello all!

As the seasons change, everyone back home is getting excited about warmer weather which usually means days at the beach, grilling and spending nights around a fire with friends. I usually always look forward to the summer as it brings back very fond memories of my childhood on the Mississippi River and many of my favorite activities are done during the summer (outdoor bars, Summerfest, rollerblading, team volleyball, boating...I think you get the idea).

A boater even from a young age

Moving to Hong Kong has sent me into not only a cultural shock but a weather shock. We moved here the end of October which I was told was the best time possible. The temperature was comfortable with the humidity low and the winter was fairly mild, only requiring a light jacket most of the time. The lowest the temperature got to was in the low 50's. As the spring rolled around, the rains came. Monsoon season was in April resulting in days upon days of intermittent rain storms that would hit with no warning. I experienced my first black rain storm, which basically is a heavy down pour where no one leaves their home (literally, no one goes to school or work) until the rain lets up. It was very interesting to compare what rain we were getting here to the floods that were happening back home and how different the people react. As May came around, the humidity started and I prepared myself for what everyone warned me as unbearable heat.

Ahri enjoying the black rain storm

 Well, I think that heat has finally hit. This past week we had unusually sunny skies (I guess blue skies are a rarity here). The temperature was in the 90's and the humidity has been almost as high. I have even gotten warnings through my weather app on my phone for 'very hot weather warning'. This weekend Ryan and I spent most of Saturday outside and I can vouch for it being 'very hot weather'. Ryan was pretty comfortable throughout the day but I do recall telling him multiple times 'I'm dying. It's too hot.'

Hong Kong skyline on a beautiful, sunny day

Hong Kong's newest resident, the large rubber duck, enjoying the warm weather

I've come to grips that I have to get used to it and there is only so much time I can spend in the AC. Ahri and I have started to take our walks to the dog park at night when it has usually cooled down into the upper 80's. My wardrobe has changed to wear mostly dresses and anything that won't visibly show that I am soaked in my own sweat. Oil blotting pads have become my face's best friend to fight that shiny forehead syndrome.

While we may not get to enjoy all of the same things we used to do during the summer in Milwaukee, we are finding more things to fill our weekends while in Hong Kong. We look forward to trips to the many beaches around the Hong Kong Island and the surrounding smaller islands, enjoying the pool in our apartment building and more trips around the area.

We hope the summer weather is treating you all well back home so that you too can enjoy all of your favorite summer activities.

Until next time...