It's averaging 100F here, barely dipping into the 80s at night. The humidity feels like it's at 99% (really more like 60-75%). Heat index 115F and up. My friend told me it's the hottest summer here since the 1930s. Last Wednesday reached a record high, and last Friday had the hottest average temperature in 140 years. In summary, it is HOT!
I know there's a heat wave globally right now, so we're not the only ones experiencing this special kind of summer. Still, when coming from Colorado with it's comparably gorgeous weather, the oven that is Shanghai becomes particularly hard to handle. In an effort to make some ice cold lemonade from these sweltering lemons, here is my Top 10 list of the benefits to this ridiculous weather:
10. EVERYONE is sweaty, so for once it's not just me with the dripping forehead
9. Don't need to go to the gym to enjoy the sauna
8. Even the stingiest taxi drivers are cranking up the kongtiao (air con)
7. The humidity haze gives everything a nice dream-like sheen
6. No fear of cramping, as muscles stay nice and warm
5. Chance to see a wide variety of Chinese men's undergarments
4. Can practice Bikram (Hot) Yoga anytime, anywhere
3. Shower water is instantly hot without even needing to use our water heater
2. A glass of ice water tastes absolutely heavenly
1. Instant badass cred for surviving the heat
