The rain in Spain...

The rain in Spain is nothing like the rain in Portland, Oregon. I learned this well-deserved lesson about a week ago. I told so many people that I did not need an umbrella in the rain because in Oregon we get rain for 3/4 of the year but we just suck it up and walk through it with only hooded jackets or sweatshirts. The only time we use umbrellas is if the rain is really bad or if we are outside for a long time (like at a soccer game). Anyway, since I had lived near Portland for 10 years, I figured that I had a bit more experience with rain than most people.

I think the weather in Spain decided to prove me wrong. Let's just say my pride took a hit last Tuesday. Here in Sevilla it doesn't rain that often, but when it does rain it doesn't only pour, it practically floods. It rains a lot in a short period of time. I found this out after Bible study Tuesday evening. I brought my little umbrella with me to Starbucks, where we were meeting for Bible study. It was helpful on the way over there, but not so much on the way back. The 25 minute walk home ended up being the longest walk of my time here so far.

I first left Starbucks and walked to CC-CS (my school). It was a short walk, but by the time I got there the front part of my jeans was soaked. I decided to continue on after a short break at the school, but I really should have waited for the rain to let up a little bit. It was coming down really hard when I left, and the wind was blowing the water all over. My umbrella ended up being useless because it really is a flimsy little thing and the wind practically turned it inside out a few times. There were puddles everywhere, and I had to watch where I was going. I passed several Spanish people standing in doorways watching me pass by; the streets were the emptiest I had seen so far. Only a few brave (or foolish) souls like me were struggling their way to wherever they had to go. I decided that Spanish people have a fear of water for a reason. When in Spain, do as the Spaniards do, especially when it's raining. Hide in a doorway or store or at home until the rain and wind stop.

When I got home, my tennis shoes were so wet that I was sloshing my way up the stairs to my third floor apartment. I had worn those shoes because it was going to rain, but that ended up being a bad decision. It took 2 days for them to dry completely. I'm thinking about investing in some rainboots. My jeans were almost completely wet, and the rain had permeated my jacket so that my shirt was a bit wet as well. My hair was in disarray and I was quite disgusted with my choice of umbrella. In the end, the good news is that I found the whole thing kind of funny. I still look back on it and laugh at myself. This Oregon City girl learned her lesson!