Weather, Climate, and the Seasons of My Life

I have loved the weather since my adolescence. In my youth, I was an eager and enthusiastic fan of the sky. I adore watching the clouds, and I have a passionate love for storms. My artistic aspiration was to paint every kind of cloud. This enthusiasm grew into a custom of my own. My grandmother, a warm grandparent, first showed me the sun and the wind.

Every season has its own style. In spring, warm sunshine returns and the temperature rises. In summer, the sun is hot and the days are long. In autumn, the air turns cool and the leaves fall. In winter, the weather is freezing and often wet. The sky is dull and cloudy. Darkness falls early in winter. These four seasons shape our climate and our weather.

Rain is common in the rainy months. A light rainfall waters the fields, but a heavy storm can bring a strong gale. When the clouds grow dark, the wind begins to blow. On wet and windy days, I never leave home without my umbrella and raincoat. A sudden shower sometimes soaks me before I reach the shade of a tree. When the clouds lift, the sun comes out again.

When snow falls, children rush out to ski and to fly a kite. They swing on a swing and build a snowman. Some animals hibernate through the winter; their hibernation keeps them safe till spring returns. Our house has central heating and insulated, windproof, weather-proofed windows, so we stay warm even on freezing nights.

Our home has good ventilation. The refrigerator uses refrigeration to keep food cold, and the drier dries our clothes on wet days. If any machine breaks, a helpline is ready to answer. These machines make every season comfortable.

Some weather can be dangerous. A typhoon brings strong wind and heavy rain over the sea. A tornado spins across the land, and a hurricane is a giant storm. A heat wave can cause a fever and even heat stroke. When it is very hot, we turn on the fan and cool the room.

Mid-Autumn is my favorite festival. It follows the lunar calendar. We hang a lantern and hold a big get-together. My grandmother cooks noodles with onion and serves them on a large plate. After dinner, my uncle smokes a cigar, and some men talk at the local pub. This custom brings our whole family close.

Last summer I went to camp by the river. I slept in a tent under a big ficus tree. At night I used a spray to keep the insects away. The water was cool, and the whole week was rewarding.

To travel abroad, I needed a visa. I used the phone to call the consulate for guidance. They sent me an envelope with a handout about the rules. My first stop in Europe was the Netherlands. Later I visited Ottawa and saw a memorial by the river.

After college I worked at a small online store that sold weather gear. The website was convenient, and I had to integrate many new ideas. Most of the work was easy, except when something went wrong. One day I found a discrepancy in a bill. I had to recheck every order, deduct the wrong charge, and send a refund. Our delivery was sometimes slow, so we hired a van to move the pallets. To streamline the business, the boss decided to downsize the team. A top-ranking rival had lower prices, so our profit was at risk.

My old manager was overbearing and often provoked a heated quarrel. After one misunderstanding, he left the company. A new manager arrived, and the change was obvious. She asked for my opinion, and I responded honestly. I told her my motive was to make our service satisfactory, not just fast. She agreed that an unhelpful reply was unacceptable, and she gave relevant advice. Through trial-and-error, we made the store more predictable and effective. Our sales grew, and my fortune slowly improved.

Now I am a teacher. My daughter is a student, and she loves science. She keeps a pencil-box with a metal plate on the desk, and she wears khakis as her school garb. I give each student a handout and cultivate their curiosity about the weather. I tell them to imitate nature and to digest new ideas slowly. During every lesson, I try to be a steady and patient guide.

Our climate is changing, and this is a source of worry. Burning fossil fuel warms the Earth, and the thickness of the ice at the poles is shrinking. Floating ice melts, and some species become endangered. A strong storm can destroy homes and crops. The negative effects are clear. We must limit our use of energy, or the risk will grow. There is still a possibility to repair the damage, but we must act effectively.

Last month I went hiking on a rough mountain path. After one mile, I felt fatigue and hunger. My foot hurt, and I got a cramp in my heel. A small stone made a hole in my shoe, and my fingernail was sore. A mosquito bite made my arm itch. The pain was a real shock, but it was not a sign of a serious syndrome. I rested in a silent forest. The trees cast a long shadow, and I listened to the wind whistle through the branches. I wrapped my foot in a cloth and walked on. The slanted, lopsided roof of an old wayside house was visually striking, like a masterpiece in the soft light.

My friends and I are an intimate and social group. We respect each other and never quarrel; our friendship is mutually supportive. At our last get-together, we cordially welcomed a new friend. There was laughter and exuberance, but no unrestrained or inappropriate behavior. Later we watched a blockbuster movie together. It was a prominent film, and everyone was enthusiastic.

Back at the store, I mainly handled orders. One day, a customer's package arrived with the wrong items. The corresponding order number was on the box, but there was confusion about the address. I was expected to fix it. Prior to that, I had never made such a big mistake. I searched every shelf and finally found the missing box. I apologized and replaced the wrong items. The customer's surprise was obvious, and he praised our individual care. Our distribution system is now innovative and reliable.

My grandmother once caught a cold, and her fever filled us with anxiety. Her doctor said a seasonal syndrome was common, especially when the weather changed suddenly. We were told to limit her time outside and keep her warm. Her sensitivity to the cold was particularly strong that winter. Nothing else mattered until she recovered. It was a rather difficult time.

Looking back, my life has been fraught with change, just like the weather. But I have learned that a steady heart and a warm home are sufficient for happiness. I still love the sky with the same passion I had in my youth. My greatest aspiration now is to protect the climate. In this way, my daughter and her children can enjoy clean air, blue skies, and every beautiful season.