Summer vs. Summer

Now that I’m repeating seasons and I’m not so bogged down with the novelty of being here—as was much the case last year—I’ve notices my more subtle surroundings. Upon careful observation, I’ve come to conclude that what we call the rainy season here is equivalent to summer back home (in Iowa) . Furthermore, it is perhaps the one time of year the seasons run parallel between two places on the opposite sides of the world. Much to my amazement, Iowa and Sisaket, Province, Thailand in June and July really do commensurate in terms of climate and temperature. It’s a quite interesting and auspicious phenomenon. Especially because any other time of year, at any given moment, the temperature and atmosphere will yield polar opposites (blizzards in late March vs. heat waves). This whole assertion came about Monday when I was on the phone with my parents. As usual, we exchanged information on the current local weather—it’s my contention that Iowans and perhaps all country and semi-country dwellers can’t help but talk about the weather =) When my father described the thunderstorm complimented with heavy rains and raging winds, I hardly had to picture it, for wasn’t but a few hours after I got off the phone that we had our own such storm. As my parents went on to describe the flowers coloring the drive and the garden bursting with life and green fields for miles and miles, I thought of the rice fields of lime green stretching on to oblivion and the fragrant jasmine in bloom. And though I know July in Iowa brings exhaustive heat and humidity, rivaling that of March and April here (probably the one discrepancy), I’m confident in saying ... to an Iowan such as myself, it really is hot year-round here only with varying degrees of extreme temps.
To attribute such fortuitous of occasions, I thought it best to compare summer happenings based on location. Here’s what I came up with...

Summer in Iowa, USA VS.
Summer in Sisaket, Thailand

1. Fields of corn & beans stretching as far as the eye can see vs. Jasmine rice of lime green sprouting at every corner

2. Family reunions vs. Volunteer reunions

3. Vacationing to the Okoboji and the Iowa Great Lakes vs. Karaoke bus trip to the Gulf of Thailand/ island hoping


4. The Iowa State Fair vs. Any day in Bangkok


5. BLT’s vs. Frog Curry


6. 4th of July vs. Khao Pensa--Buddhist Lent/Rain Retreats


7. Ragbrai—the bike ride across Iowa vs. Riding my bike everywhere rain or shine


8. Potato Salad vs. Papaya Salad


9. Watermelon & peaches vs. Rambutan, mangosteen, longans & durian

10. Outdoor concerts vs. Local singers at special occasions sometimes accompanied by go-go dancers


11. Homemade ice cream cones vs. Homemade ice cream on a bun


12. Sunflowers & wildflowers vs. Jasmine & lotus flowers


13. Thunderstorms & tornadoes vs. Monsoon rains & flooding


14. Road trips vs. Overnight bus trips & Thai-nappings


15. Summer jobs/internship vs. Presentations to Group 122 & the Hope Group Business Training(s)

16. Shorts & tank tops vs. Grandma shirts & paktuns (long skirts)


17. End of Summer sales vs. Bartering at makeshift shops & super savings at the Thai-Cambodian Border

18. Outdoor running races,tennis & sand volleyball vs. P90X, yoga & zumba workout videos in the sauna that is my house