Last weekend, during our phone conversation, my mother mentioned the awakening of insects, that is, 驚蟄, the 3rd solar term. (Is such a calendar valid on the tropical island of Taiwan?) It reminded me of one spring when I was sitting in my advisor’s office at the Department of Anthropology in Taipei, talking about my upcoming field research. Suddenly, the sky outside darkened and a distant, muffled thunder echoed through the air, mixing with the humid and heavy atmosphere and the cheerful voices of the students. We then discussed how each of us heard the first thunderclap of this year’s spring.

Since March, this small Baltic town has been blessed with warm sunlight every day. The sun pours into the room at seven in the morning, casting a blue sky behind the yellow curtains. In the afternoon, the sharp diagonal shadows on the walls are a delight to behold. It’s only when the bright and cheerful colors gradually appear in everyday life that I realize how long and stagnant the winter days have been.

Yesterday I watched The Snail Restaurant (食堂かたつむり), and I couldn’t stop crying towards the end.