Summer in the City

We've had a rainy past month, which I hear is typical for Shanghai. I've heard said that Shanghai, being on the same latitude, has the same climate as Atlanta. Sweating profusely while walking around Shanghai, I couldn't recall it being this hot and sticky in Atlanta. Then I realized that I hadn't walked around outside this much back in Georgia. I would go from my air-conditioned house to my air-conditioned car, and drive myself in relative comfort to an air-conditioned office or store.

Now, I walk everywhere. I've gotten in the habit of wearing my backpack when I leave the house. In it, I keep an umbrella to protect me from both rain and sun, a Lonely Planet Guide to Shanghai (the map inside has saved me on more than one occasion), and a plastic handle designed to hook onto a plastic shopping bag so the plastic handles don't dig into your hands.

We sold our house; the closing was on June 30. I don't need to say what a relief it is to have that done.