Heat Wave in SV

日本も全国的に酷暑が続いているようですが、当地シリコンバレーでも先週末からHeat Waveに襲われ、毎日30度を超える日差しの強い日々が続いています。いつも涼しめのパロアルトで、こんなに暑さが続くのは珍しいと言えば珍しく。昨日、パロアルトで最高気温34度、湿度29％、車で南に20分ほど走ったサンノゼではなんと37度、湿度20％という人の体温より高い過酷な暑さ。東京で生まれ育った私にとってはカラカラ、お肌に良くない気候です（汗）

そんな中でも、地元の学校は新学期が始まっており子供達は暑さに負けず今朝も元気に登校しました。なので学校そして諸活動への送り迎え、こんな暑いのに外に出ないわけにもいかず不本意ながら外回りしてます。一昨日は近くを走るハイウェイ101線でとんでもない事故が午後一にあり、この辺りの道という道が渋滞しまくりで動かず状態でした。大げさですが地球温暖化を即さないために、昨日は、パロアルトのダウンタウンでの友人との待ち合わせにママチャリなるとてもエコな方法で日差しに負けずに行ってきました。

あまりの暑さに普段こちらの夏には不要な、インドにて良くきていた薄めのコットンの洋服が大活躍！暑いから薄着になりがちですが、首もとの日避け対策や、室内のエアコン対策に役に立つのはコットン100％でおうちでもお洗濯OKなmakimonoたちです。一枚バッグに潜めておけばいつでもどこでも大活躍！ヘビロテ間違いなしです。

Not only Japan but the heat wave has been upon us here in Silicon Valley. Since past weekend, it has been up to 85-90F even here in Palo Alto where we usually enjoy the breeze thru out the day at comfortable tempeature. The temperature yesterday here recorded 93F with humidity of 29%, where as San Jose which is 20 minutes south of here was 98F with 20% humidity; totally unheard of for a person who grew up in high-humidity Asia.

Even in the current heat wave, our children started their new school year. As much as I have been reluctant to go out in this weather, I cannot get around but to take our youngest to school and back, to activities and back. Driving would only add to the global warming I felt, so we have been a very good citizen and taking bikes locally as much as possible.

On the other hand, this weather gives me a good reason to pull out my light Indian cottons, something I had put away as the Palo Alto weather does not call for such clothing. But then once you go into some buildings, you may feel the chill due to AC. For that, 100% cotton, easy care makimono comes in quite handy to keep warm in well air-conditioned bldgs as well as to keep yourself from the sun. All you need to do is to put a piece of makimono into your bag and take it out as needed.