freezing at 68 degrees

giving speeches in small groups

The temperature right now is about 68 degrees F, I think it’s just like Boise today, except for the humidity here.  This morning when I walked to class at 7:30 a.m., it was maybe 60 degrees. This is Thursday and I walk up Gele Mnt. after class, and then I walk down to the shops for groceries, a good loop that takes 2 hours, including 20 minutes for shopping.  I dress for teaching and walking, so today I wore capris, a blouse, and walking shoes; it’s on the really casual side for China, but ok teaching.

most of my students are girls

In Boise, when it’s this warm, everyone runs around in light clothes, no coats, right?  Here, everyone is bundled up in sweaters, coats, scarfs, heavy tights, and boots.  But, not me.  I’m dressing Boise-weather appropriate and it’s causing people to say things like; “you’re dressed like it’s summer!” or “take care!”  Girls and women of all ages wear ridiculously short shorts, but now they wear them with tights (...a look I’m not sure about).  I’m boldly going bare legged with my dresses and capris.

Their concern comes from the Chinese belief in yin-yang balance for good health.  There’s a cultural believe that being cold will lead to sickness.  Has this belief been part of our culture too?  Didn’t our mothers say, “Bundle-up, or you’ll catch a cold.”? 

One source explains:

Food is viewed as important in maintaining the bodyʼs balance of yin (cold) and yang (hot). Imbalance is believed to cause illness (e.g., consuming cold fluid with oily food is believed to cause diarrhea). Yin foods include fruits, vegetables, cold liquids, and beer. Yang foods include meats, eggs, hot fluids, oily and fried foods. Some foods are used to treat illness or disease.

Ok, so I eat almost exclusively on the yin side.

This past summer when I was sick for a few weeks, the host family blamed the cold water they gave me.  They kept saying this over and over.  At the time, I thought: this makes no sense, cold drinks don't make people sick; we drink iced everything in the U.S.  I also couldn't understand why they kept the boiled water hot in the thermos when it was blistering hot inside and outside their apartment.  Now that I know more about their beliefs in yin-yang, I understand their logic, but I still don't believe it.

This week, our PC Chongqing program manager sent an email to us, explaining that she will see us soon, apologizing for not coming sooner.  She and her family have had terrible health problems.  I’m glad she shared her experiences, and cautioned us with this preventative advice:

Finally I would like to take this opportunity to share the following lessons with you based on my experience with sickness and my sister’s misfortune of being hit by the road:

1.       No matter how busy you are, please put aside at least one hour every day for physical exercise/sports to keep yourself strong enough to fight against virus.
2.       Please stay warm by wearing more clothes and keep your glass windows fully closed at night when you are sleeping.
3.       Wear scarf.
4.       When you feel your face, neck or ears chilled, please rub them till warm, or take a hot shower right away, if possible.
5.       Please don’t buy things by the road where there are motored vehicles running (While my sister was buying apples by the road of her residence compound, she was hit by a motored tricycle, and five ribs were broken and the lung was prickled by broken bones. This happened in mid September. She had the operation and now in the process of recovery).
6.       Live a healthy life and don’t stay up late at night.
7.       Be cheerful and don’t let stress rule over you no matter what happened.
I feel very grateful that nothing is fatal for my sister and me. And I have learned another lesson to be always positive and cheerful. Every day of our life is so precious and we must take good care of ourselves first if we want to take care of others. J

I really like #7, an excellent reminder to live well! Thank you!