I moved to Korea and every year June, July and August I’m incapable to be outside because of the humidity. On the way to the convenience shop my underwear is already sweaty.
So I stay either in the office or at home running the AC all the time which doesn’t help with fighting the climate change.
With the heat waves in Europe right now, I don’t think the other side has it any better.
I think you mean summer, rather than monsoon. And yes, it is quite humid in comparison. I never got used to it, I always sweat like a pig in the summer, without exception. As you figured out, the trick is to stay indoors.
Yeah I guess monsoon is the wrong word but it’s basically raining for weeks.
Indeed, the monsoon and the summer are rolled into one in Eastern Asia (also in some parts of the US). I just stay indoors when it’s too hot outside
Asia is a bit bigger (and more climatically diverse) than Korea.
Username checks out.
😂
I live in Bangkok. Buying a decent capacity dehumidifier (LG MD19GQGA1) was one of my best decisions ever. I don’t understand why they aren’t more popular here. Cuts down on the bill for A/C too.
Every place I have lived here the A/C has had trouble bringing the relative humidity below 60%.
Everywhere else I go (friends, shops) where there is A/C has it blowing hard at 24 degrees celsius, but it is still humid and thus uncomfortable. Xiaomi sells those portable temp/humidity meters for really cheap.
30 degrees celsius at 50% (or lower) relative humidity is so much more comfortable than 25 degrees at 70% relative humidity.
I don’t understand why they aren’t more popular here.
As somebody from a humid climate, who moved to a much drier region - it’s probably because we kinda like the humidity
Does it suck to be all sweaty during summer? Yes, absolutely. But my skin requires much less moisturizing and my hair changes to a nicer texture every time I am back in my childhood home. I just avoid going there in summer months!
There is a difference between healthy and unhealthy relative humidity. The annual average here is 80% which promotes mold growth. Healthy is between 40-60% which even with A/C is hard to achieve in the wet season. A dehumidifier creates a winter-like environment for significantly less costs than running the A/C (and its compressor).
When I researched this subject I found humidifiers to be very popular. Hard to believe when the average relative humidity is 80%. They are used to grow marihuana indoors (in growing tents).
All my friends here are on it (dehumidifiers, weed they already had) now too. Not easy to find because the little stock you’ll find is sold out quickly. Low budget 1L-a-day dehumidifiers are plenty available though, but they won’t do much unless you’re living in a closet.
What’s considered “healthy” and “optimal” by research conducted by and on folks living in the higher and drier northern latitudes doesn’t always match what people in the tropics “feel”.
The annual average for humidity is 77% where I grew up, and highest humidity is around 88% during the monsoons. Well outside your healthy range. My childhood home doesn’t have air conditioning to this day, so I do feel these humidities whenever I’m there. And I like it, unless it’s peak summer (I adore the monsoons - it’s my favourite season, and I miss that I don’t really have “proper” monsoon rains where I live now). Most friends who still live there also adore the monsoon weather - though they hate that their clothes takes days to dry after a wash, and other inconveniences. None of them use dehumidifiers, or complain of humidity outside the summer sweating season.
The annual average where I currently live is 55%. Which is pretty high on your healthy range. But my skin feels dry AF, even with daily moisturization, my lips crack if I drink < 5L water per day, and my hair has this brittle texture I don’t like. All of which disappears after a week in my childhood home.
So high humidity might promote mould growth (though I have never encountered it myself, it’s entirely possible we will find some if we break the walls down), but to people who grew up with it, it can also feel comfortable. Hence the market for humidifiers, with air conditioning on the rise - rather than dehumidifiers.
Everything you say goes against science. Good luck with it.
Oh yes I totally agree, I was researching dehumidifiers but It’s kind of difficult to get this information so I still didn’t buy any. Thanks for the specifics!
Used to live in Singapore and my recommendations are to use thin Uniqlo Airism tees or tank tops underneath your tee or shirt. Plan your routes so you know where to find aircon or fans, always walk slowly and make sure to hydrate. There are also body sheets that you can use to freshen up.
I used to be overweight, but lost 25 pounds and I find that heat and humidity bother me much less than before. The other thing that helps is loose fitting linen clothing and wearing boxers instead of briefs.
The overweight is probably a big factor for me too. And it makes sense, the fat is a good isolator and keeps the heat inside, once the sweating doesn’t cool you down you become miserable.
Don’t people shower several times a day in highly humid places?
Not usually… probably depends on local culture though.
You could go to sauna to get used to the heat, and cool yourself off in the cold bath. Sauna is generally awesome, and in Korea there are public saunas everywhere.
Like 15 boats pollute as much as every private vehicle on Earth. Your AC has very little impact. Don’t feel bad about not sweltering.
You mean the cruise ships? Can you link to something about that? Cause I tried to google it and it seems like cars are still very much ahead of all the other transportation methods by pollution.
Obviously this isn’t to rail against the necessity of shipping but it’s an example of the fact that these issues will be solved by industry, not individuals
Thanks for the link. It’s this line I presume:
It has been estimated that just one of these container ships, the length of around six football pitches, can produce the same amount of pollution as 50 million cars. The emissions from 15 of these mega-ships match those from all the cars in the world.
Which is of course a shit ton of emissions, but 15x50 million is 750 mln, and isn’t there like 1.5 bn actively driven cars? The math kinda doesn’t check out.
P.S. And again Americans with their football fields per furlong :) Why not at least mention something in actual units? I have no idea how big a football pitch is.
This was written like a decade ago. My understanding is that part of the inflation hike was that they changed the way they double check whether or not these ships are using ultra dirty fuel or not. So things are improving.
Florida here, it’s stupid hot and humid for 6 months every year. AC is life.
Can feel your sorrow; lived in Seoul for 5 years and never got used to it. Always had to be somewhere with air con.
Do miss those summer nights sat outside a 편의점 though smashing 소주.
inside time if restock needed touch grass time (as an estonian)
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Because of a woman.
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She definitely is, meanwhile we got our first child together so there is no way back :D. I’m trying to convince her to go to Europe with me for the children’s sake, Korea is not very friendly to young people. Let’s see how it goes.
With the weight, I lost a ton of weight just before I came to Korea, but since then got more than half of it back. I need to figure out how to lose it again.
Now that it’s the 21 century, you can identify as a different race. This gives immediate respite.
Seriously though. Just enjoy it. You’re not going to be the only one in that situation and no-one is that interested in you, they’re more worried about their own issues. Over time you’ll find ways to adjust your clothing as your body itself adjusts to the environment.
My skin turns to pizza in heat and I hate it but I can either be miserable and hide or enjoy my opportunity. Eventually my skin calmed down and I found that I made sure I drank much more and changed my diet a little.
