(no subject)

[lykanthropoi]

On my trip to Karlsruhe I finally understood why I love hot, humid weather. Karlsruhe, the town I lived in for the first twelve years of my life, has a microclimate of its own which is completely distinct to the rest of Europe. Due to an odd configuration of the Back Forest, the Rheinland and the general topographic location, Karlsruhe has two months of hot weather which resembles a tropcial climate. When I was there it was 30 degrees Celcius (not the hottest it gets), with about 80 percent humidity. Troups from across Europe come to Karlsruhe to prepare for the tropics. It's unbelieverable.

In my mind I always remembered long and hot summers, punctuated by quick rainfalls which soaked everything. On our first day in Karlsruhe we got caught in a rainstorm, and it soaked us from head to toe in a matter of ten minutes. Joel compared it to a monsoon. 

When my mother picked me up I asked her whether this was normal, and she looked at me baffled. Did I not remember the long and hot summers which made her feel comatose for two months a year? The thing is, I do, but I also know that memory is fallable, and that particularly with regards to our own childhood we imagine things to be more sunny, more bright, and more beautiful in general. Little did I know I was absolutely right.

Now I'm back to writing my dissertation. Ack, should do so much more...

Comments

[lykanthropoi.livejournal.com]

Hehe, I guessed right! Dunno why, although your last post mentioning a 'ferry' and the 'mainland' may have tipped me off... :)

Yeah, Joel's from Nanaimo originally. But he moved to Hong Kong when he was 17, and then to Holland where I met him. His family still lives on Vancouver Island, and I've been twice- I love it there! I felt so at home there, but I don't know why. The second time I came I worked at a kids camp - I don't know if you've know it, it was Camp Narnia - and when the plane took off I was near in tears. But I told the Island I'd come back next year... unfortunately by then the camp had been sold... :(

But wow, that's amazing that you've lived there all along! Congratulations on finding such a beautiful place! :D

[whizzie.livejournal.com]

Let me know when you're here again! We're near Victoria though, so that's a few hours from Nanaimo. I've not heard of Camp Narnia, though the name itself invites good and inspiring images. Their website is also bare-bones awaiting new action. Too bad that it was closed.

[lykanthropoi.livejournal.com]

I loved Victoria... thought it was a beautiful place! If we ever do more to the Island I hope that's where we'll settle. Or somewhere near-by.

Yeah, the camp's been inactive for two years. It was pretty amazing when it was going though. Some people are thinking of starting it up again - I wholeheartedly hope it works, the world would be a better place with it. There were always a high proportion of TCK's there - it was just a place where everybody with an open mind felt very much at home with. People who had lived aborad were always encouraged to share their experiences, rather than conform. It's one of the few places I felt I could belong to. Just added to the magic of Canada, really...