☔️ A Rainy Morning in Okinawa: My Mother’s Health and the “Hamauri” Season

🌧️ Good morning, with a gloomy, overcast sky and the scent of wet asphalt.

This morning in Okinawa began with the scent of asphalt dampened by the rain. The sky is overcast and gloomy, with strong winds blowing through from time to time. According to the weather forecast, the morning temperature is 22°C, with a high of 25°C. It seems the heaviest rain has passed, but while sunlight occasionally peeks through the clouds, the sky remains unstable and looks like it might start raining again at any moment. Since the forecast calls for on-and-off rain all day, it looks like I’ll need my rain gear if I go out. It was the right call to finish my laundry yesterday and drop it off at the laundromat. Yesterday, there was surprisingly little rain, and we could even see patches of blue sky near Kyozuka San-A, but with heavy rain like today, the laundromat would surely be crowded. My decision to act early paid off.

🍱 How Mom Is Doing and a Lively Breakfast

This morning, Mom got up on her own without me having to wake her. She seems to have plans to go to the “Lively Health Club,” and although the weather is unfortunate, she doesn’t seem to be feeling unwell. She still complains of a “headache,” but I prepared a hearty breakfast for her. Dashi-flavored rolled omelet, bacon, and grilled salmon—this is the quintessential “standard Japanese breakfast.” After taking her post-meal medication, she said, “Maybe I’ll go back to sleep for a bit,” but she seems to be relaxing and lounging in bed while watching TV. I’ll make sure she doesn’t overexert herself and gets plenty of rest without moving around too much for a while.

🐚 March in Okinawa: The Start of the Swimming Season and “Hamauri”

When we think of Okinawa in late March, it’s the season when beach opening events begin at resort hotels across the island. If you check information sites, you’ll see a plethora of lunch and dinner discount offers, and you can already spot tourists enjoying themselves in the water. However, for us locals, swimming at this time of year still feels a bit early. When it comes to seaside events in Okinawa at this time of year, “Hamauri” (beach opening) comes to mind. This is less about swimming and more about enjoying shellfish gathering. It’s like a seasonal milestone, signaling, “From this day on, it’s okay to go into the sea and collect shellfish.” Locals don’t really start swimming in earnest until after the rainy season ends and beach party season begins. Moreover, the classic Okinawan scene is adults enjoying barbecue and beer while gazing out at the ocean, with swimming reserved almost exclusively for elementary through high school students.

🏺 Daily Life at the Pottery Market and Computer Class

According to the radio, pottery markets are being held all over the place this time of year. Apparently, the Yomitan Farmers’ Market is particularly bustling. My mom says she “won’t go,” but I’m thinking of taking a detour to Yomitan to check out the scene while I’m out shopping at the farmers’ market. Also, I plan to go to my computer class before noon today. Until last time, tax filing was being held inside the Chamber of Commerce building, so the parking lot was always full and it was a real hassle to find a spot. I saw some people struggling at the entrance because they didn’t know it was by appointment only, but since the tax filing venue should have closed last month, I’m hoping I’ll be able to park smoothly today.

📝 Summary: Cherishing a Quiet Afternoon

I don’t have any specific plans for the afternoon, and my mother says she has “nothing going on” either, so it looks like it’ll be a day to relax at home. Quiet moments like these are the perfect chance to focus on updating my blog and studying for my Word exam. I plan to work through my tasks step by step while listening to the sound of the rain. Everyone, don’t forget your rain gear