I always feel different during the rainy days. When the sky gets darker early, the air also feels cold and different. It has rained a few but not much since Christmas but I can already feel it coming. It's like that nagging feeling when you were very lucky during the day and know that something, sometime, is bound to change in the next few hours.
On rainy days, I usually wake up to lesser noise. There are fewer tricycles outside and there were no people that rushes through the morning. If I do not have school yet, I stay in bed a little longer and listen to the rain hit the roof as I drift away for 15 more minutes. I just listen and let my thoughts wander. In a few minutes, I am once again in the dream land until I wake up properly.
Since my parents and sister still leave in the morning I am often alone at home. Rainy days make the house feel quieter than usual. I open the windows just a bit so the air can come in but not the rain. I like seeing the road outside look wet and empty. It feels like everything is taking a short break. I don't know why but just feel more peaceful.
One thing I always do on rainy days is cook something warm. Even if it is still morning I already think about food. I cook rice and usually make something simple like eggs or vegetables. Sometimes I make soup if we have time later. Cooking during rain feels different because the smell stays longer in the house.
If I have school in the afternoon, I prepare earlier. I choose thinner clothes that dry fast and not the cotton ones and pack extra plastic for my bag. I learned this the hard way before. Rain teaches you to be prepared. Once you experienced getting stuck in front of a closed sari-sari store for an hour, you will be prepared for the next time. When I walk outside, I pay attention to puddles and slippery paths. I also always wear boots and my handy automatic umbrella while still having my raincoat. I know it's too much but sometimes, you just have to do it.
When I get home from school and it is still raining I usually change clothes right away. Wet socks are the worst. I hang my uniform and shoes near the window or fan. Then I sit for a bit and rest my legs. Rain makes commuting more tiring even if the distance is the same.
Evenings during rainy days are my favorite. Have you ever had soup during a rainy day? Sinigang and Nilaga is the best. Sinigang is the sour soup with pork ang kangkong (Water Spinach) and Nilaga is more like hotpot. They are so easy to cook but they are best when eaten during the cold rainy days.
After dinner, I watch shows and sometimes I just lie down and listen. Rain makes me feel sleepy much easier. No airconditioning and yet the air is cold and homey at the same time. Rainy days remind me that life keeps moving even when things slow outside. I do not do anything special but those days always make me think a lot about random things. What do you do during the rainy days?
Pic from Google
