Finally: It’s umbrella weather again. After two weeks of straight raining, it’s finally time to get those umbrellas out for the most important reason. When I first came to China, one thing I learned about the lifestyle here is that an umbrella on a sunny day is almost more vital than an umbrella on a rainy day. The reason: White skin. Everyone here prefers pale skin as that is considered more beautiful here, so on a sunny day like this, people prefer to hide in the shadows – or … have their umbrellas handy. One more thing I still need to adapt myself to, I’m sure!