25-6-2024
Sometimes, you can hear the rain coming. Like someone coming running barefoot across a tiled floor. Or slippers clattering as you walk. It is approaching fast. And then suddenly: With a thunderous roar, the shower erupts. Water pours from the roof, like opening a tap. But even faster than the shower starts, it stops again. And then you only hear the ticking of the drops falling from the trees. Plop. Plop. In the puddles. The sun breaks through again. Half an hour later, you can hardly tell it has rained. Because of the high temperature, the pavement dries miraculously fast.
Sometimes it lasts for five minutes. Sometimes it lasts for half an hour. But almost everyone we talk to about the rains says it has been raining very little so far, this monsoon season.
When we had just returned from our trip, the second half of May, it rained regularly. Considerable showers. The moment the weather bureau really spoke of the monsoon beginning, 1st June, it actually eased up. Of course, it rained more often than in March and April, when we did not experience any showers. But the days so far have actually been quite fine.
During a rainstorm, we lock ourselves in our room. Grab a book, put on some music. Have a cup of tea and some snacks. We entertain ourselves. But the weather has rarely been so bad that we were stuck inside for a whole day. Indeed: There were quite a few sunny days. It has to be said: to protect my nice slippers, I bought a pair of plastic ones. You get your feet wet anyway when it rains, even in closed shoes. But plastic slippers can withstand it.
An umbrella is also a necessity, with regular showers. I already had one, which I used regularly as a sunscren, but now Simon has bought one as well. But quite frankly, the prevailing feeling we have, is one of: ‘Is this the monsoon?’. That was, until we were teaching today, and the third shower of the day started. After a few hefty downpours last night, of which some vague remnants could still be seen this morning, it rained really hard several times this day. Topping it off during our lesson.
In the classrooms, the windows are always open, and to get some air circulation the ceiling fans are switched on. Our classroom today was on the top floor. All of a sudden, the heavenly taps opened. The water came down in buckets, and continued to do so for quite some time. It was impossible to make yourself understood during this force of nature, despite the fact that we had pretty much closed the windows. The clatter of rain on the street below rivaled the deafening roar on the roof. The square in front of our building was almost flooded. And the water from the roof drain made a river in the sand. And this time it took a bit longer than usual. Or did it just seem that way, because we were extra bothered by it, during class.... and then it started again.
Fortunately, even this squall with gusts of wind stopped at some point, and we could get on with what we were doing. But after class, while we were standing outside talking to Father Shine, it started again. We were able to take shelter under the canopy, and we were lucky enough to walk to our room completely under roof. But even these very heavy showers don't last forever. By the time we went out for dinner, it was dry. I wonder what will follow. In any case, today was a day that gave us some taste of the real monsoon.
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