Question 1

In Japan, I prefer the autumn. The summer is too hot and muggy and the winter can be long and cold. In spring and autumn the weather is more pleasant. In spring, however, I suffer from seasonal allergies. So, Autumn is my favourite.

Question 2

The rainy season is in July in Japan. I always buy a new inexpensive collapsible umbrella in late June or early July, to prepare for it.

Question 3

Vancouver definitely has the best climate in Canada. Both summer and winter are mild in Vancouver. I think Okinawa has the best climate in Japan, but I have never been there in the summer, nor have I been there during typhoon season.

Question 4

In Northern Canada, winters can be brutally cold. The area is covered in snow and ice for more than half the year, temperatures average -30°C, and it can dip below -50. People dress in layers, keep their entire face and body covered, and don't stay outside for too long.

Question 5

I got caught in a typhoon in Tokyo several years ago, before I moved to Japan. I was in a long line of people waiting to enter The Nippon Budokan to watch a pro wrestling show. I was wearing a long leather coat and it was completely ruined by the heavy rain. The wrestling was very enjoyable, though.

Question 6

Of course I am worried. I want my children to grow up and live in a pleasant and comfortable world, but that seems to be less and less likely these days.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
collapsible umbrealla	折りたたみ傘

Question 1

I like spring. Aside from the cherry blossoms and the pleasant weather, it's the beginning of the academic year. Everything seems new and fresh. I feel revitalised and ready for new beginnings. This all goes away by May though, once the Gogatsubyou sets in!

Question 2

I currently live in Japan. Japan has a rainy season. It falls somewhere between June and July. That said, it is somewhat inconsistent as to when it starts and ends. I used to carry a folding umbrella everywhere with me during this time, for emergencies. Folding umbrellas aren't very effective though. I always feel like Totoro when I use one; a large creature beneath an umbrella two sizes too small. Now, I just assume it will rain a bring a proper umbrella with me wherever I go.

Question 3

I think my hometown of Adelaide has a fairly decent climate. It can get unbearably hot in the summer but that's true of most places in Australia. The winters aren't too cold but they are pretty wet. I lived there for twenty-some years and I had no complaints about the weather. My complaints were all about the lack of things to do in Adelaide...

Question 4

Australia suffers from heatwaves almost every summer. These can lead to severe drought and bushfires. To defend against the heat, we all use sunscreen, stay hydrated, and do our best to keep our homes air conditioned. That, and keep an eye on the news. You need to always be mindful of the temperature and listen out for bushfire warnings.

Question 5

The typhoon during 2018. I don't remember which number it was but it was a big one! Having lived in Japan for fifteen plus years, I had written off typhoons as something the mainland didn't really need to worry about. This one did major damage to Osaka City among other places, showing me just how wrong I was about that!

Question 6

Climate change deniers infuriate me. It's obvious to anyone with a memory who is paying attention that things are hotter, colder, and weirder weather-wise now than they have ever been in our lifetime. It worries me that things are changing for the worse and yet we aren't doing anything about it. I think that by the time the world decides to act it will be too late and we will just have to live with the consequences of our inaction.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
aside from	は別として
revitalised	活性化
inconsistent	矛盾する
assume	仮定する
decent	まともな
unbearable	耐え難い
heatwave	熱波
keep an eye on	目を離さない
be mindful of	気をつけて
written off	償却
infuriate	激怒する

Question 1

It's a tricky question. In Japan I like fall as the weather is less humid but still warm. In New Zealand I like summer because it is during the end of year celebrations and it is also not humid.

Question 2

I lived in Mexico which has a small rainy season window. It was not a problem as the season is very short.

Question 3

New Zealand is a very small country but the North Island is slightly warmer than the South Island. I enjoy the South Island's summers but I prefer the North Island's winters.

Question 4

As I said before, I lived in Mexico which has very dry weather for most of the year. As a result bottled water is extremely expensive. Beer and cola are usually cheaper options. Most people in Mexico do not take a bath as there is not much water, showering or using a water bucket are more economical options.

Question 5

The worst weather which I have experienced was when I was backpacking through Europe. I was in Romania when the temperature reached over 48 degree Celsius. That is too hot for me, especially at night time when it didn't seem to get cooler. I later learned that some people died because of this heat wave and that it was an extremely rare event.

Question 6

I think there is significant data supporting the global warming theory. It is a worry but it is difficult to convince people to change how they live day to day and their habits.

Tough Vocabulary

- English -	- Japanese -
economical	倹しい
humid	湿っぽい
heat wave	猛暑
convince	説き伏せる