The Crack of Thunder
The thunderstorm is furious. Every flash of lightning has me cringing in anticipation of the accompanying roar of thunder. The fear is both in the anticipation of the sound and in the knowledge that something, someone was potentially hit. They say that you can measure the distance of a lightning bolt by counting the seconds between the flash of lightning and the sound of thunder. One could have hit my neighbour.
As I’ve learned, any electronic device plugged in to an outlet is susceptible to exploding if a lightning bolt heads your way. It doesn’t help that many buildings are in various states of incompleteness, with long protruding metal bars for the possibility of constructing another floor. The poles reach into the sky, seeking communication with the jagged stretches of light. People are also at risk of being electrocuted by lightning bolts. There are various cases in the Mantaro Valley of electrocuted farmers; they are standing in the middle of their farmland with cell phone in hand.
Intense stormy weather, torrential rains and spurts of hail are typical in the Central Andes. They are also typically unpredictable. It can be deathly sunny all day, and then the clouds roll in within minutes. I’ve gotten into the habit of carrying around a portable umbrella. Most people don’t. I think it has to do with the I’ll-take-it-as-it-comes attitude to life that I admire but have a hard time adopting.
As the claps of thunder die down, I feel cozy in my apartment as I listen to the rhythm of the heavy rain. I don’t mind it so much without the shocking, angry thunder. I wonder and worry about the thousands of people who live in adobe clay residences. They must dread the thundershowers when it means water dripping (or cascading) into their homes, muddy floors and wet collapsable walls. I take a look at the brick walls of my apartment and feel safe, until I notice droplets of water on the ceiling. I guess I didn’t ask for this to be easy.
What makes you feel cozy?
Tags: andes, electrocution, lightning, living in peru, rain, storms, storms in the andes, thunder, thunderstorms, weather
writing4effect
I always find your posts about your current environment interesting. I hope to visit Peru some day and when I do, I'll remember these posts that you created describing it!
Samantha Bangayan
…and you'll come visit me. =) Haha! Thanks for appreciating my writing.
writing4effect
Of course, I will … if you're still there!!
Noobzoid
Good stuff. Easy to read.
Samantha Bangayan
Thanks, friend. =)
Caitlin
YES!! People!! Things happen outside that should immediately affect our little worlds. Thanks for putting some perspective on things. Big fan!
Samantha Bangayan
Haha! True that! =)
Janine Ripper
Wow. So descriptive and well-written. It sounds eye-opening and challenging whilst at the same time wild and beautiful there.
Samantha Bangayan
Thanks, Janine! Those are all adjectives I would use to describe what it's like living here! =)
Joy
Like you, I don't mind the rain. I actually love it and find it relaxing. Thunderstorms (and violent rainfall) are different stories though. Yikes!
My recent post How I Became A Self-Loathing Expert
Samantha Bangayan
Yeah, thunderstorms were tough to get used to at first, but now it’s just a normal part of life. =P
Lalia
I have actually grown to love thunderstorms, although don't ever wish for any destruction. But they can be a beautiful thing to watch. Those amazing flashes in the sky, the rumble (that my and so many other mothers told here kids was God bowling). And rain. I love the rain! But reading about the people who live in adobe homes and what they have to deal with from the rains definitely puts it in a different perspective.
My recent post Apartment 2
Samantha Bangayan
I love how you describe them, Lalia! There is definitely that fine line between beauty and destruction… not only with thunderstorms, but with many beautiful things in life — I’m thinking relationships here. =P
Thanks for putting into words what I couldn’t, friend! =)
Aaron
Thunderstorms were my favourite thing as a child. As soon as a big downpour was coming I was in my bathing suit playing in the rain. Since then running or walking in the rain have always been one of my favourite things to do. I don't know but the feeling of water running down your face just has a way of making you feel cozy and alive.
Although I do like coming home to a dry apartment 🙂
Great Post,
Aaron .
My recent post Life's Greatest Lesson
Samantha Bangayan
Haha! =) I’m so imagining you in your bathing suit playing in the rain… but thunderstorms? =) You were a daring child! =) I love how you embrace it!
MuMuGB
Just like you I love being safe in my house when it is pouring. That said, I understood the real meaning of raining during the monsoon in Jakarta. There were rivers in the street. Honest.
My recent post Don’t Send Me A Card
Samantha Bangayan
Ooh! You bring up memories of monsoons in Japan and the Philippines, Muriel! I so know what you mean! Rivers to floods. Eek!
@oneshoeshy
Love thunderstorms but not if there is high wind with them – to much chance of folks getting hurt – but it is an awesome display of nature's power. Not sure but I think I like the thunder more than the lightning, especially if it's the kind that echoes up and down the valley.
My recent post Throwdown
Samantha Bangayan
Ooh! You bring up a really good point, Thom! When I first arrived in Peru in 2008, we had a huge thunderstorm with wind and hail — one of our windows broke that evening!
But I love how it say it. There’s an awe about it the power of nature and I love how you describe the thunder echoing. =) Beautiful!
penniej2
Beautifully written piece that illustrates the wonder and fear of the thunderstorm. Great descriptions and visuals of what was going on all around you.
I always enjoyed thunderstorms until I learned about the havoc they can inflict. You did a great job of not only telling us how this affects that area of the world, but also showing the different reactions, attitudes and destruction due to thunder and lightning storms. The last part was so poignant – the flooded shacks reminded me of Mexico – especially the little droplets of water on the ceiling. I thought, isn't that typical of those countries with brick buildings until I remembered that the only time I was ever flooded out of an apartment (twice in one week) was in usually dry San Diego.
My recent post I Will Not Go Gentle Into the Night
Samantha Bangayan
Aww, thank you so much, Pennie! Your positive feedback really means a lot to me as a writer and author I truly admire! I hope to be able to write descriptively like this more often.
I can so envision the droplets of water on the ceiling in Mexico that you describe. That happened in the old apartment I lived in when I first came to Huancayo in 2008. But how crazy for you to endure a fiasco like that in San Diego! Just goes to show that we always worry about the wrong things. =P
Josie
I love thunderstorms too. I was born in a storm, I think that's why. My house has a tin roof and i love the sound of rain on it as well, nothing feels quite as cozy.
My recent post and then again
Samantha Bangayan
What a beautiful image, Josie, to be born in a storm! =) My Chinese surname means “thunder” — now that I think about it, maybe that’s why I identify with thunderstorms. =)
Love the sound you describe of rain on your tin roof!
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Marcus Baker
Sam your post brought my childhood memories rushing back.
I grew up in an area where every summer's day afternoon brought a thunderstorm and I loved every one of them.
For me thunderstorms are so wonderfully theatrical.
Act 1 – the lead-up…. the preceding heat, collecting clouds, darkening skies and the ominous silence waiting to be broken by…
Act 2 – claps of thunder rushing in after each lightning streak again and again as if to warn of torrents to follow, until it can hold off no longer and so…
Act 3 – the pounding rain that promises to never stop. Then just as suddenly as it started,so it ends. All that's left is "that smell" and a knowing that a truly magnificent cleansing has just occurred.
Loved the post!! 🙂
~Marcus
My recent post What’s the Difference Between you and This Baby?
Samantha Bangayan
Wow! The childhood you describe sounds very similar to the weather patterns here in the Andes! In the rainy season, there’s often harsh sun in the morning following by thunderstorms in the afternoons and evenings. You know exactly what I described! =)
What an amazing image to think of thunderstorms as acts in a play. You are such a vivid writer, Marcus! I absolutely love how you identified with this post! Thank you!