san jose vs utrecht: the weather

Here’s how a conversation would sometimes start while living in the Netherlands, especially if I met a new Dutchie:

-Where are you from?

-Oh, I’m from California.

-California?! Why would you go here?! 

Then they would flap their arms about, or put their hands on their head, as though I had swapped a sunny paradise for a place with constant rain and no hill in sight (and because the weather is a safe and sure topic when meeting someone new).  “I didn’t come here for the weather” would be my standard response.

Weather predictions for the same day, August 8th, 2014.

Screenshot 2014-08-08 00.06.52

Screenshot 2014-08-08 00.07.22

Marc says I’m missing a spectacular rain storm in the Netherlands — the kind that messes up the sewer pipes and floods the old neighborhood. Spectacular to witness, but not so spectacular when those sewer pipes are underneath your doorstep.

Joke’s on California though. The entire state is going through a drought.

 

Weather forecast from Google / The Weather Channel.