JAPAN-"The Land of the Rising Sun"-was the definition we were taught during my school days. But, rarely are we in Tokyo so lucky to see this "Rising Sun". Because this country is "blessed" with many cloudy and rainy days throughout the year. Not only that, the temperature fluctuates so often during certain periods of the year that, the first thing I have learned to do in the morning, is to look up the thermometer hanging there outside in my balcony and the decision as to what our entire family is going to wear for that day (full- sleeved or half-sleeved ) is going to be determined by the temperature it shows.

Now, I am sure you must be wondering why should I take so much trouble just for dressing up everyday. I do this to avoid so many interrogations by people (known and unknown), rather than the comfort or discomfort I am going to experience by wearing the dress I please. It is not uncommon to be asked by people here why I am wearing a short sleeved shirt on a cold rainy day and why I am not wearing a short sleeved one on a hot sunny day or why I am not wearing socks on a chilly day. Some people (women I should say) take care not to ask the mother directly, but all the same seem concerned and ask the children following the mother "aren't you feeling cold?"

Well, for a long time I kept wondering how these people guess what the weather is going to be like the next 12 hours, and dress up accordingly? I guess they follow the weather forecast every hour on the TV or may be they all hang up those ever useful thermometers in their balconies like I do. So much for the weather here.

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