Never riding my bike while carrying an umbrella ever again. I knew it was illlegal, but it was such a short distance and I just wanted to get from one of the schools I teach at to another, a simple two minute ride. Granted, it was the middle of a typhoon. I was wearing my snow boarding pants, which were theoretically waterproof (they aren’t), a rain jacket three sizes too small for me (this country isn’t made for people my size), and just wanted to show up to my base school not soaking wet.
The first leg of the journey was fine. Holding an umbrella while trying to peddle means you only have one hand on the handle bars, and you also have to fight against increased wind resistance and the wind constantly blowing your umbrella inside out. It doesn’t help that this umbrella is old, was made in China, was PURCHASED in China, and had already started to break. But I almost made it.
When I actually pulled into the school’s parking lot, though, I tried to to vear away from the flower beds and skid and wiped out in full view of everyone in the teachers room. Ended up wet, sore, and with a broken umbrella. Kyoto-sensei gave me a short lecture on not doing that again, which believe me, I won’t. Not riding my bike in a typhoon, and definitely not holding the new umbrella I’m going to have to buy from a convenience store tonight.
Damn, I hope I get my license back soon.
