Weather might not seem as one of the interesting topics, however, I feel more them obliged to mention it since it has been totally killing me from the first moment I set my foot into this country. First three weeks got lost in an uncertain smudge of rain hanging over my memory... though, I remember it was so hot (at least that is what I thought back then... when I had no idea what was about to come).
Despite the incomprehensive amounts of water that were coming down from heavens every day in the form of waterfall rather than raindrops, the temperature of lovely 29-30 degrees Celsius stubbornly refused to drop even a degree... not speaking of air which behaved as if all that water cutting right through it did not exist and thus it did not feel like getting any fresher.
Now, all I have to say is that those first three weeks... it wasn’t hot at all.... not even close.
The rain came and went, giving way to heat and humid air which reigned over the city as if no such things as raindrops ever existed. Simply put, during summer, Shanghai is the world’s largest sauna (and I am NOT exaggerating).
Mariana and I developed a lovely habit of walking to and from work every day as being forced to sit for nine hours in front of a computer screen caused us insomnia... plus buses in Shanghai were like roller coasters in real live action... suddenly, crossing few intersections did not seem so suicidal at all. Well, it would be lovely indeed if not for the fact that each and every morning we would sweat all the liquid from our body within one minute of leaving the air-conditioned apartment and reaching the elevator.
It is in Shanghai where I, for the first time in my life, woke up, undrew the curtain, saw the incredibly blue, blue sky and said: Oh, shit! (We realised that the situation is getting serious when we found ourselves speaking encouraging words to the wind... there is nothing weird about me speaking to inanimate objects but Marianna? Yes, situation was serious)
Moreover, I don’t think I have ever before cared for my drinking regime so much. It was inevitable! I usually drink a lot of water but this was too much even for me... Each day I would drink more than five litters, three of which would be before noon... and I would still be thirsty!
Honestly, I deeply admire people who are capable of living in these conditions their all life... Constant nudging presence of heat throughout three or four months while one must still go on, go to work and continue dealing with busy city life...
So, when I say Shanghai during summer is like a Finish sauna it is not metaphorical. If you walk the streets... if you stay out you will sweat your soul out, you will feel as if you were not breathing at all because it did not seem to make any difference what-so-ever.
You can’t even imagine how much I am looking forward to be complaining about bloody cold wind and rain that falls horizontally!!! ;)
