The Shocking Seoul Winter

Seems funny that we haven't written about this before. I guess it's just so much a part of life here that it didn't strike us as something others wouldn't know.

As you're well aware if you're anywhere north of the Tropic of Cancer, it's blinkin' freezin' at the moment. It's been dipping below zero regularly here in Seoul. We've had two days where snow fell. Okay it didn't settle but it still snowed so that counts...

Anyway, the fact that it's cold can hardly be called riveting. What is unique about the Seoul winter though is that along with the cold, the air gets incredibly dry. Sore throats sweep the nation and forest fires are a very real threat as precipitation drops markedly in comparison to the rest of the year.

Along with this bout of dry air comes a phenomenon that we love to hate: static. I've been cursing my hirsute-ness recently as every time I put on a jumper that is more than 0.000000000000001% polyester it clings to me like I'm the mother it never knew. Door knobs become live electric sockets, wheeling your chair across the class is a recipe for death to any student who so much as dares to close the circuit and touch you, and you should see what Pooko does if you touch her nose!

Ah well, it'll only last for another five months or so. In the meantime, can someone send me one of those earthing strips you get to go on the back of cars that supposedly stop people being car sick? I'm thinking of sewing it onto my trousers.