This summer in Brazil was the hottest in 70 years, and it was extremely tough. When I walked around the city, everyone was red-faced, sweating, and sluggish, exhausted. I've always hated the heat, but this year I was able to get through the harsh days relatively easily. The reason for this is that I practiced the Japanese way of spending the summer in Brazil. When summer comes, you can't help but feel the difference between Brazilian and Japanese lifestyles.

42 years ago, I came to Japan to study. My parents, who sent their only daughter on the trip, were worried about the coldness of Japanese winters, but I managed to survive the cold winter safely. Then came my first Japanese summer. Looking back now, that summer remains deeply memorable and is also a season in which I learned many important things.

At that time, the temperature in São Paulo was not as high as it is now, so I found the Japanese summer very oppressive. The lady at the boarding house where I was staying and my friends introduced me to various foods to "build up stamina." All of these foods were new to me. Edamame, tomato juice, curry rice, yakitori, and eel on rice. And Calpis goes well with edamame. I enjoyed them all. I also tried tokoroten for the first time and fell in love with it.

In fact, in Brazil, we don't have the custom of changing our diet just because we lose our appetite in the heat. In the summer, it's common to get by with juice and light meals. So at first I was surprised to see Japanese people trying to survive the heat with food, but I soon realized that it's very important. Since then, I've made it a point to eat energizing foods in the summer.

The other day, I had an interesting experience while I was learning Japanese customs. After having a good breakfast, I left the house early in the morning. When I told my colleague about my breakfast, she was surprised and said, "That's something you can eat on a hot day!" The Japanese woman who was with me said, "That's just like Japones." Many Japanese people assume that all Japanese people eat a good breakfast of rice and miso soup in the morning.

Another day, when I invited a friend over to eat curry, he replied, "What? Isn't curry something you eat in winter?" I wanted to say, "That's not true. The first time I ate curry in Japan, it was in the middle of summer, and curry is really appetizing," but in the end, I changed the menu for that day.

This is also something I learned while I was in Japan 42 years ago. The lady at my boarding house told me about "belly wraps." It was my first time to hear of "belly wraps," and I was told that they are good for preventing cold, even in the summer. When I returned to Brazil, I immediately explained the benefits of belly wraps to my father, who always sits directly in front of an electric fan in the summer to cool off. Unfortunately, my father, who gets hot easily, didn't pay any attention to them, saying, "It will get even hotter."

I was also surprised when I went to the beach for the first time in Japan. Both children and adults always wore a T-shirt or a thin jacket over their swimsuits, and had hats and parasols ready. When I saw that, I remembered what my mother used to say: "A pale complexion hides seven flaws." I see! It's not too late to start now, so let's do that! I started to be mindful of sun protection measures even after I returned to Brazil.

One summer vacation, I went to a famous tourist spot in Brazil. When I entered a souvenir shop, a female clerk looked at me and asked, "Sir, isn't it hot? Why don't you take off your jacket?" I was confused by what a complete stranger would say to me, but she smiled and said, "This is the country of the sun. You'll be missing out if you don't get a tan." This made me realize yet another cultural difference.

Every summer, I enjoy making my favorite clothes with a Japanese sewing book in hand. A loose-fitting apron dress or a jumper skirt. These clothes would never be popular in Brazil, but I think they are essential items for staying cool and comfortable during the summer.

Wearing a 100% cotton apron dress and bringing a hat or parasol will make you feel refreshed even on the hottest days.

However, in Brazil, it is normal for most women to wear skinny pants, and loose, long dresses are rare. When I was in my 40s and I was shopping in my favorite dress, a small child asked her mother, "Who is that?" Later, I heard her say, "It must be some old lady." I was shocked, but I understood why.

The Japanese-American woman who met me for the second time said, "I remember. The first time we met, you were wearing a white hat." When I was attending a rally under the midday sun with a UV-resistant parasol, the women around me asked me, "Do you always use a parasol?"

I am satisfied. My experiences in Japan and the information from Japanese magazines and NHK programs are very useful and have contributed greatly to my lifestyle.

It's too late this year, but I'm already planning to grow a beautiful green curtain on my balcony next summer. It might be the only one of its kind in the town.

© 2014 Laura Honda-Hasegawa