The rainy season continues on Okinawa. The conditions are definitely not prime for outdoor adventures as the clouded sky produces a range of precipitation from an indolent drizzle to a forceful downpour. In the States, I welcome the occasional healthy outpouring from the summer skies because it usually cools the earth down a bit and leaves things feeling refreshed. Not so on our sub-tropical island. The humidity is only amplified by the rainfall, leaving me wilted like much of the surroundings.
Living here has definitely kept me on my toes in regards to adapting my skin and hair regimen to a different climate. For the first time in its typically curl-resistant history, my perpetually straight hair has required products above and beyond my normal shampoo and conditioner to relieve the mystifying fuzz that appears across the top layer in the humid Okinawa air (Liz, I finally share your grief :)). As the days grow hotter, more often than not I take a cue from the Japanese women who keep their hair long, but wear it up in a clip. My skincare routine has also been modified to neutralize the changes in my skin without overdrying. Sunscreen is a high priority, and I have again taken a prompt from Japanese women and included rice blotting paper and Shiseido Cleansing Oil (fighting oil with oil? – but it works!).
However cloudy the skies (and wooly my hair), I am determined not to let the weather damper my last few weeks here. Today I assessed the persistent drizzle, threw my hair up in a trusty claw clip, grabbed my umbrella and walked to Mihama for a venti chai at Starbucks. Afterward, I perused the sewing section at Jusco. I’ve recently been feeling crafty and although I don’t have a specific plan, I would like to take advantage of some of the Japanese fabrics that have caught my eye. The patterns are unique; especially the bingata, and I think it would be neat to create something from fabric I found here. I'm thinking about making an apron or festive runner and placemats for our table or maybe even emulating the Bible covers made by friend of one of the women at Women by Grace.
After lunch at the Jusco food court, I took a short walk to my appointment at Come Across Spa. You might remember that back in October my cupboard shelves gave way, shattering every dish and glass that Matt and I owned. Ironically, in the midst of Brittany arriving to save the day, I received a phone call that I had won a ¥5,000 (about $50) gift certificate to the spa. Over the weekend, I rediscovered the certificate in our desk and called to make an appointment for a massage. I had a hot stone treatment and it was a great way to unwind and treat my body to some pampering. The heat from the stones melted the tension in my muscles and the aroma of lemongrass in the massage oil gave an escape to my senses that recalled the more pleasant aspects of tropical life. As I walked to catch a taxi home, my whole body felt loose and springy and I realized as the rain paused for a moment, there was a bit of freshness in the air.
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