Rain coat or umbrella? Posted by Katja on Oct 4, 2010 in Uncategorized
In a lot of countries, students’ paths to school might be filled with danger. You might get off school for heavy rain, taiphuns, earthquakes etc. etc. In Sweden it is major news (like huge flooding) if students get off school because of weather. It is rarely even in the winter when it is closer to -35C (in the northern parts) and a lot of snow, that school is cancelled.
If you compare Sweden to Japan for example, not all age groups in Sweden use umbrellas. In Japan all age groups can be seen walking with them on their way to work or school. In Sweden it is just as common to see students running or even just walking getting soaked in the rain. Rain coats are almost highly common in Sweden, why carry an umbrella if you can wear a rain coat?
Lets see what is more used, rain coat or umbrella? Which one do you use?
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Comments:
Luke (Sydney):
If I need to keep my hands free like doing gardening, I would pick a rain coat. For dashing between my car and a bulding in heavy rain, an umbrella is still the best.
Julie:
…a post on “raincoats or umbrellas”?? Seriously, was it a slow day in blog-land? This has to be the worst post I’ve ever seen on here!!
Harsh:
And why is Japan always compared to? 😉
In my country, India, schools are declared off only if there’s a cyclonic or storm warning and the rain has been flooding the streets for 3-4 days. Of course, it always happens that they day they give the school off, is the day the rain stops. And in cities like mine, rain is a LOT of relief from the heat otherwise. I never mind getting wet and risking a viral or bacterial disease. There’s just too much fun and coolness to miss.
I hardly see kids use umbrellas though; if any do, they’re mostly of female gender (I guess they like to look older). Adults all use umbrellas unless they ride a bike (and a lot in India ride bikes, Cars aren’t useful in the narrow city streets), in which case they use a windcheater-raincoat texture-mixture most of the times.
Efrutik:
Nice post actually 🙂 I use an umbrella although I would actually really like to use both! Unfortunately
it is extremely difficult to find a decent version of either one. Too bad though, I wish I won a contest for a nice, steady, long lasting umbrella and a super nice raincoat! Also rain boots that do not hurt my fee and make them freeze 🙂
-Efrutik
P.S. today is such an ugly day where I am. Dark, gloomy, wet and COLD! Bad combination all around. Needless to say my H&M promotional umbrella is useless 🙁
Katy:
I always forget my brolly (umbrella) and don’t have a raincoat as there never seem to be any reasonably fashionable ones about…so tend to get wet when going from the car to places. My car is my rain coat!
Tomoko:
Rain coat is cute and safer than umbrella (unbrella can poke others’ eyes or attract lightening, etc..) but I would choose umbrella as we can use it rain or shine to avoid UV rays. Many Japanese women use it on sunny summer days to keep their skin healthy and younger looking….
BTW, I love H&M store!! Wish we had it in Dallas!
Luke (Sydney):
I am with you Katy, but I do know people who have a big rain coat in the boot for their car!
Antropologa:
Mostly rain coat (and rain hats, but we imported those from the US), but I have a couple of umbrellas. One is in the car, the other one can fit in my purse.
Katja:
I’m Sorry Julie if this post wasnt appriciated. Right now I am studying in Japan and the difference between Sweden and Japan is huge. Things like umbrellas and raincoats are things that are culture differences, and believe it or not matter. If you come from a country like the US maybe Sweden and the US are quite similar and this would probably be a very boring post. For that I apologise(I suppose I kind of only saw it from my perspective).
But it might also help you to have an open perspective and consider that whatever country you come from things might surprise you and that small things like umbrellas actually can lead to missunderstandings and hard feelings. 😉
Michael:
Excellent comment, Katja! The more we learn about cultures the more understanding we are. Even the little details are important.
I am a raincoat person (perhaps the influence of my Swedish ancestors).
Tack
Jeffrey:
Seattle USA We get a lot of precipitation in Seattle but not typically heavy downpours. I am a raincoat and hat person but I do carry a collapsible umbrella on days it is (or is expected to be) raining hard.
Colt:
I am also from Seattle! I am definitely a rain coat and hat kind of person (im a guy) but my parents do have an occasional umbrella around the house, but they are not used very often.
moda:
Hi, nice site. Good content. Thank you.
Olena:
been reading your posts with interest, thank you)
just wanted to mention that in Stockholm in winter I saw a lot of people walking around with heaps of show on their bare heads. that looked ridiculous for a Ukrainian) here, we use umbrellas mostly, but if it’s somewhere in the nature (fishing, for example)-then raincoats are best. yound people sometimes don’t use either
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