Over here umbrellas are carried everywhere by females. When it's raining they carry an umbrella so they don't get wet. When it's sunny they carry an umbrella so they don't get tan. When it's cloudy they carry an umbrella in case it rains or clears up.

I felt very Taiwanese this morning. It had been raining so I carried an umbrella to the high school class in case it deluged on me like it has previously. It never did. So 2 hours later, after the class, I start to walk in the sunshine to where we were going to lunch. I realize I don't have my sunscreen with me. So I was forced, out of self-preservation to walk down the street with an open umbrella and have everyone think I worry about being tan. 1, I would love to be tan so I wouldn't sunburn. 2, I really don't care what society says is beautiful. But, I have also determined not to base my actions on what people think. So if I ever forget my sunscreen again and there's an umbrella lying around...I would be Taiwanese again.