Chongqing pollution

First thing this morning after I walked another PCV to the subway station at the bottom of the hill and said “good luck,” I stopped at the market, just like a local.  The other PCV could easily make it to the subway on her own; she had already made the cross-Chongqing journey without getting lost yesterday, a commendable feat for someone whose volunteer site is a tiny, rural town without even a bus system.  She stayed overnight at my apartment, just one stop on her epic return journey north.  She left facing a subway ride, a 30 hour train ride, and a 7 hour bus ride.  “At some point, it’s worth buying a plane ticket,” I said.  “Yeah, they were sold out.”  And, that’s the conclusion of spring festival 2013 in China.

At the market, I scored in the produce section, where big bags of culled, slightly damaged fruits and veggies are sold for next to nothing.  Cheap food, it’s a PCV dream come true.  In season now are these small, addictive, sweet mangos, so I also grabbed a bag of those.

What I really wanted to do this morning was run, not shop.  It’s been months, way too long, and I’m feeling antsy.  I need to run.  I can’t fully explain it, except to say it keeps me sane, reducing stress so I don’t obsess about world problems.  I can think of many, many reasons to get outside and exercise and one huge reason to stay inside: pollution.

Before I came to China, everyone warned me about the pollution; China has a worldwide claim to fame for polluted cities.  Our 165 page PC China Heath Handbook, says “China is the world’s largest producer of greenhouse gases, and the World Bank has warned that China is home to 16 of the planet’s most air-polluted cities.  Acid rain hit 30% of China’s total area.”  China has cities more polluted than radioactive Chernobyl, Ukraine! 

I expected Chongqing to be polluted.  

Our Handbook goes on to say that the best time to exercise outside is early morning when ozone levels are lowest and right after or during rain, but not during the first 10 minutes, the acid rain period. 

depressing

In several China cities, the US Consulate monitors and publishes an accurate pollution index.  The pollution index is a compilation of readings, including ozone, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and nitrous oxide. 

Chongqing's reading is not from the US, but it uses the same EPA standards.   On the other hand, the Chinese government's pollution index is 2 to 3 times lower than the US government's, meaning they say it's not as polluted.  For the days that are rated hazardous, I just stay inside as much as possible.

Most days in the winter when pollution is worse, I need to exercise inside with the air purifier running.  At a minimum, I try to do daily 30 minutes of yoga using an app on my iPad, while studying Chinese using ChinesePod on the computer.  It’s genius, except it’s only 30minutes and I’m exercising right next to the kitchen.  I’ll go in for water, get distracted, eat a few bites.  I go back to exercise.  Two hours go by, I haven’t broken a sweat and I’m stuffed.  That’s how I ate both an entire bag of mangos and tangerines this morning. 

view from my window,
can't even see across campus

I gave up and headed up the mountain for a walk in the woods under a gray sky with poor visibility.  It’s now springtime here so trees and plants are blooming and I hear more birds, a perfect time of year for walking.  It’s a beautiful and peaceful scene, and it’s unhealthy.  In bad pollution, I have burning eyes and a scratchy throat that lasts long after I’ve come inside.  No way will I run until the air clears.

In the meantime, I’ll exercise inside with extra attention to kitchen resistance training.  I wish the school had a gym, like US universities, but it doesn’t.  One possibility is to look at public gyms, but then I have to factor in the demotivating factor of having to take a crowded bus.

it's not running

home gym snack bar

changing air purifier filter