Stop complaining

I'm looking at you, East Coast of the USA. Note time of day. 

The constant predicament: Walk fast toward a shaded or air-conditioned haven, even though walking fast yields feelings of nausea and light-headedness. Welcome to the height of summer in Shanghai. 

Bring on the Shade

While most Western women worship the sun, Asian women fear it; while we aim for the perfect golden suntan, they go to great lengths to maintain a snow white complexion. Umbrellas are summer's must-have accessory:

But so are hats and sleeves:

This response to the sun has to do with an aversion to the tanned skin of fieldworkers. No one wants to be mistaken for someone that works in the rice paddies all day. 

I don't know about you, but in 98 degree heat, 52 percent humidity, I wear (and carry) as little as possible.

Zhoumo kuaile!

We're taking this weekend at home to catch up on errands: filling an empty fridge with food and a not-so-empty closet with summer threads (the kind you can throw out come fall because you've worn them out living in a summer sweat lodge). 

You may have seen this already, but I wanted to repost because I loved it so. How lucky I am to have had two of these grandmas of my own (and their delicious dishes)! What I wouldn't do for some "tolma" and "kuoshry" right about now... 

http://www.demilked.com/delicatessen-with-love-gabriele-galimberti/

Beating the Heat

I can't believe the stifling heat is back again. It's been pretty miserable the last few days, the kind of weather in which there's no other choice but to coexist in sweat and stink and stickiness. Here's how Chinese men cope. 'Tis the season of big bare bellies! 

 

Summer in Shanghai

One lesson I forgot to list is, "go back to where you came from in the summer." Apparently, expats flee Shanghai come July and August due to the heat, which is suffocating on its own, but made worse by the number of cars and people in this city (not to mention the pollution). Families split up; wives (in many cases) take their kids (in some cases) back to Europe and the States to wait out Shanghai's summer months. A few businesses even close, and organizations like the American Women's Club cease their activities.  

I'm not sure I could just abandon Mike here, even though stepping foot outside is stepping into an oven -- a stifling 95 degrees today with 45 percent humidity. Don't get me wrong, I love heat, but I love dry heat, especially the kind that includes the occasional ocean breeze. I've been spoiled, what can I say? Extreme heat and humidity just aren't my thing.  

I suppose I shouldn't be complaining with many of my friends and family on the East Coast suffering from their own record temperatures, severe thunderstorms, and power outages. Be safe and cool out there!