Job Discussion Forums

[struelle]

It's getting to be that time again! The temperature hit 32 degrees here, the highest we've had all year. All of a sudden, the women are looking very beautiful now, with the summer clothes being worn. Some men in the city outskirts didn't feel like wearing shirts, so they just took them off. Although the humidity was very low, meaning a cool and pleasant night at the moment, this situation will not last much longer. Soon the monsoon season will kick into high gear, and the 30+ temps will combine with moist and sticky air, with the temperatures NOT going down much at night.

Most places in China experience the tropical air mass like this, especially south of the Yangtze. Normally I enjoy this kind of weather, especially outdoors. Part of the reason is that I can look forward to a cool, refreshing air conditioned room after the fun. But staying in a room without AC when the air is hot and humid means a lot of sweat and little sleep. The humidity or lack of it makes all the difference. The weather experts aren't kidding when they cite 45+ degrees as the heat index if it's around 30 degrees with high humidity. Because that's what it really feels like.

So this summer will present a big problem. Due to SARS, most businesses will not operate their air conditioners, especially those with central heating. This will make for a nightmare in the classrooms. I remember last summer when the building always turned off the air-con at 8pm, and we still had classes until 9:30. During the last hour or so, it was always sweaty and uncomfortable, with both me and students complaining. The most useful parts of the lesson were always done first, while we still had air conditioning.

I can imagine how more difficult it will be this summer. Especially for students and teachers who are doing the all-day classes. I've had experience teaching in a Tianjin university with no air-con in all summer, but the humidity was low enough so it was bearable.

We'll probably adapt to an uncomfortable office, because there's still some hope: air conditioning in our own apartments. Most apartments in Shanghai don't have central cooling, so each unit has it's own AC. Regardless of how difficult the office is, I can look forward to cool refreshing air when I come home. If my landlord objects because of SARS, well that's just too bad, because I'm paying the electricity bill.

I understand that most schools, universities, restaurants, and other public places plan to keep the AC off all summer. Better sweaty and safe than comfortable but at-risk for SARS, as they believe. What will your responses be this summer?

Steve

[MyTurnNow]

NOT RUN A/Cs THIS SUMMER??!?!?!??!? A new one on me...

My response: Kill 'em all, sell the women and children into slavery, raze their properties to the ground; plow the fields with rock salt. *beep* 'em if they can't take a joke.

No, of course I won't do that. I'll probably just whine and moan and complain, and sweat a lot. Oy.

MT

[MyTurnNow]

Oh, yes, might also try and help coerce the cheap *beep*s to break down and put big fans in the classrooms. I'm the hardest-working man in Show Business and there has to be _something_....

MT

[oprah]

I find the fans in the classroom do a good job.. This week I also discovered that if you sleep on a special mat that the chinese use you can sleep without your air conditioner on...I thought this was a floor mat, but my chinese visitors say no, it is to sleep on in the summer.

[MyTurnNow]

Ditto on the mats. Heard wonderful things...never used them myself since if it ain't got AC I ain't living there, and I also fill my house with giant fans made from the propellers and motors of old P-47 Thunderbirds.

Not sure if it really eliminates the need for AC or not, but from what I've heard from many sources they will help. They're basically big bed-sized mats made from thick squares of bamboo...especially used with a fan, they create an airflow between you and the mattress, helping you not spend an August night making your own gravy. Widely available during summer in finer Chinese markets near you. Helps to use something soft over them or you wake up the next morning with plaid-ass.

Tougher with a Chinese wife or girlfriend, though. Anyone else noticed a strong tendency among Chinese women to believe that electric fans are evil?

MT

[Minhang Oz]

That's right MT, moving air causes ill health, as does a room temperature of less than 30 Centigrade. What's the part of the brain called that regulates body temperature? Anyway, the Chinese thermostat is on a different setting to ours.

On the AC issue, I believe its official in Shanghai-no AC in big buildings, supermarkets etc "because of SARS", which makes all things illegal or impossible. Forget that dozens die in this city alone each year from heatstroke. Plus it'll save the building owners money, AND take pressure off the national grid. Actually, the Chinese power supply copes with summer far better than my home city in Australia.
As for airconditioned classrooms, what decadent luxury! We state school teachers just sweat and enjoy it, AND breath deeply because the student toilet is next door. We all know that not flushing toilets is a valid water saving measure.

[Hamish]

[MyTurnNow]

[senor boogie woogie]

Hopefully this summer, I can get my visa and knock off for 2 1/2 monthes until fall session. This is my third summer in China, and yes, at least here, it is bad. I am from Mississippi originally, and the weather here is exactly the same.

I hate summer. Especially the heat and the mosquitoes. Every summer n America there is a commercial for "Country Time Lemonade", the guy who narrated that piece always tell about running through the sprinklers and sitting under a shade tree. I really wanted to punch him out.

OK, back to China. Most all the public schools here (even the new ones) have no heat or AC. To them it must be a luxury. I have taught in classes without air and it is horrible, because none of us want to be there. A restless mess. My first summer job here, I wore a T-shirt and cutoffs with open toed sandles. I am going to be comfortable.

Chinese do not understand the concept of "COLD" as in a cold drink. When I come inside a store on a 90F day, I want a COLD (beer, bing hong ta, gatorade, or water) not a pee warm one. Even the coolers here are not cool, just cold enough. Hot tea in June, July or August BLECH!

One more rant, I lived in an apartment complex that had a pool. learned quickly that people were not allowed in the pool until 4 PM, and then they had to pay 5 RMB to use it. Then, they kicked everyone out at nine. I used to come home from chain school hell and drink a beer and take a lazy swim, until I was kicked out. Last year on September 1ST, the FIRST, the apartment people shut the pool down!

China in the summer blows goats.

SENOR

[MyTurnNow]

[yaco]

People are never happy, it is either to cold or to hot.

Would you rather shiver or sweat ?

[Roger]

Those icy-cold drinks are not good for you, folks! First, your stomach which is surrounded by tissues 37 degrees warm, will take a bad beating! Ditto for your innards, the kidney in particular. Ever heard of kidney stones?
Second, your throat gets shocked and prepared to host all manner of germs that eventually will give you a sore throat and much worse! I do think the Chinese have a good habit of drinking HOT water! Can't force myself to doing it every day, though! Cup of coffee is just as good!

I have moved my night camp to my balcony. Wonderful breezes keep me comfortable all night. No sweat. Mosquitoes? Yes, I burn coils. I have also bought some camphor oil that's supposed to ward them off. I have not had a bite since I moved to my its balcony.

At school, they are beginning to allow the use of aircons again. But on many private minibuses, the windows are open. Myestate distributed leaflets that tell us we should open all our windows (presumably so that all residents get our germs). But we have individual aircons, and I use mine when typing on my computer.

It is a good idea to buy one of those bead mats to lie on or sit on! A bit hard, but you get used to them.

[Wolf]

[Seth]

I remember earlier this year when it was colder than normal in Guangdong and Hongkong and the media there acted as though it was a huge crisis. It nearly got (but not quite) to the freezing point and some people died in Hongkong. When an inch of snow hits Georgia and snarls their traffic for a week, those of us in the north just laugh!

In Korea there's 'fan death'...something like what Roger mentioned, that your body goes into mild shock from getting too cold too quickly. The Chinese also say green bean soup helps you to cool down.

I'm definately glad to be back in bonnie Indiana for the summer, the summers here are perfect. I'll do some fishing tomorrow and have a few cold ones for you.

[Bertrand]

Simply don't go to work; that is what I would do. If they don't like it, invite them to go to your country in Winter and to teach without heating.

Remember the Golden Rule for China: There is no shortage of employers. Just remind your school of that.....