how can we keep cool in daegu summer weather?

[meganekko]

so... any ideas? i'm thinking both of the daegu veterans that have suffered through summer here before and the poor noobs who have no idea what they're in for...

see, last year i thought it wouldn't be so bad, because i grew up in detroit (hot, humid summers) in an old house with no air conditioning. i'm tough, right?

wrong. despite my staying in air-conditioned rooms whenever possible, despite carrying around a fan to wave and a sun umbrella to hide under, despite drinking tons of water, the heat just kicked my ass. i could barely eat during the rainy season because having anything substantial in my stomach made me feel nauseated. it also didn't help that most places would have the AC on and the windows open, which pretty much cancel each other out, or that they didn't allow us to use the AC in school unless the students were nearly dropping from heat stroke.

i'm hoping other folks who've also lived here (or in other hot, humid places) might have some good ideas. other than taking weekend trips to busan, of course (^_^)b or maybe... we just have to suffer...

[unclefrank]

Cold showers. Frequently. Nothing is more refreshing.

[sweet_potato]

my school was being cheap during winter/summer camps with the heat and ac. i recommend getting the kids to tell their parents. as soon as the parents complain, it will be magically running.

[cruisemonkey]

Move to Alaska?

[meganekko]

http://www.greenlivingonline.com/article/hot-foods-keep-you-cool-summer

according to that article, spicy food is supposed to help, which makes sense. it's too bad alcohol doesn't really help, because the weather always makes me want to drink the coldest beer possible...

Construct a rudimentary air con out of Shift keys. They don't seem to be a necessity in this day and age.

unfortunately, i've found pointless snark to be less than useful at lowering body temperature.

[WorkingTitle3484]

Wear breathable wardrobe.  Buy some of those mesh trekking shirts, the ones that wick? more freely.  I've seen the Korean lady teachers wear the bejesus out of them at school.

Wear more flowy skirts and avoid tight pants.  Think linens and polyester rather than cottons and wools.

Change your diet, avoid kimchi and drink less coffee.  Fall in love with your watermelon man, he'll hook it up.

[meganekko]

Wear breathable wardrobe.  Buy some of those mesh trekking shirts, the ones that wick? more freely.  I've seen the Korean lady teachers wear the bejesus out of them at school.

Wear more flowy skirts and avoid tight pants.  Think linens and polyester rather than cottons and wools.

Change your diet, avoid kimchi and drink less coffee.  Fall in love with your watermelon man, he'll hook it up.

oh, man, last year it seemed like every other afternoon someone would bring in a watermelon to share with all of the teachers in the office! it was pretty great. and you've just reminded me about these things:

korean arm covers

i'd really like to try them. i think they would protect your skin from the sun as well as cool it. has anyone else tried them before?

[Waygookingumisi]

I lived up northern Gyeongbuk last year Mungeong and was hot there, but in Gumi now and its like a sauna now, just dripping with it on my back. I have no idea how much warmer it gets here than Mungeong but i know its the hottest in korean in august might get to around 35c 100% humidity maybe, its gonna be tough

[siamagoo]

They sell nice smelling water spritzes that really cool you down. I'm not sure where to get them, because I got mine as a gift. It's really great though - one moment you're feeling hot and sweaty and nasty, the next you feel cool and refreshed and you smell like perfume.

[She Follow Me]

eat a cup of 번데기 (spelling?) everyday. Keeps you cool and gives you nice breath.

[Rutherford]

Get one of those neck wraps that you soak in water and/or put in the freezer and then wear.  Ajossis usually sell them on the train.  In the summer I also wear nothing but UNIQLO quickdry clothes.

[cragesmure]

I'm from a hot, dry climate, and the humidity here kills me, even though it's not nearly as hot as it is as home.  Loose clothes, synthetic fibres, and stopping off at every convenience store you pass for a few minutes seems to help :)  Love that air-con.
I initially thought that cotton would be the best material, as it breathes, but it also holds the sweat, which makes me feel worse.
I feel for you, though.  I live on the south coast and find it bad enough here.  I've heard Daegu is a nightmare when it comes to summer weather.

[meganekko]

I lived up northern Gyeongbuk last year Mungeong and was hot there, but in Gumi now and its like a sauna now, just dripping with it on my back. I have no idea how much warmer it gets here than Mungeong but i know its the hottest in korean in august might get to around 35c 100% humidity maybe, its gonna be tough

it was regularly 38 and 39 degrees celsius here last summer, sometimes up to 42c with the heat index. and yeah, i don't think gumi's much better.

I'm from a hot, dry climate, and the humidity here kills me, even though it's not nearly as hot as it is as home.  Loose clothes, synthetic fibres, and stopping off at every convenience store you pass for a few minutes seems to help :)  Love that air-con.
I initially thought that cotton would be the best material, as it breathes, but it also holds the sweat, which makes me feel worse.
I feel for you, though.  I live on the south coast and find it bad enough here.  I've heard Daegu is a nightmare when it comes to summer weather.

yeah, it's really the humidity that makes it unbearable. and that coupled with all of the pollution (because daegu sits in a basin and everything just sinks down and stays here) means that sometimes the air gets so thick it made it difficult to breathe. sometimes it made me a bit dizzy. i don't think there's any way to deal with that other than to stay inside with air con, which sucks.

They sell nice smelling water spritzes that really cool you down. I'm not sure where to get them, because I got mine as a gift. It's really great though - one moment you're feeling hot and sweaty and nasty, the next you feel cool and refreshed and you smell like perfume.

last summer my co-teacher had an unscented evian one that i thought was the height of frivolousness, until i used it. it was definitely refreshing. i'm tempted to shell out for my own when the time comes.

[DWAEDGIMORIGUKBAP]

My regimine is cold shower in the morning (no hot shower first, or it isn't as good), cold shower when I get home and then stand drippin' wet under the air con set at 18c still dripping wet with cold water until dry.

You be assured that's a sight for sore eyes   

During the day, coffee, and running cold water over the veins in my forearms and wrists for 5 minutes at a time keeps me going....   Cools the blood throughout the body

[jhwife24]

Cold showers. Frequently. Nothing is more refreshing.
and watered tissue may help you a lot

[risateacher]

Loose fitting clothes, cold showers and air con. I had to ask my school to turn on the aircon when it was too unbearable and they usually did.

[rampancy]

according to that article, spicy food is supposed to help, which makes sense. it's too bad alcohol doesn't really help, because the weather always makes me want to drink the coldest beer possible...

On the contrary, alcohol is the last thing you should be drinking (at least right away) when you're hot, as alcohol dehydrates your body (this is also part of the reason why hangovers are so bad). Coffee and soda are just as bad, too.

[nzer-in-gyeongnam]

This summer is just on the brink of beginning and already its hitting 30C in some parts of the country.

How do you plan to stay cool this summer?

We can't use our A/C at present due to it being filled with mold and really not looking nice. I've told my co-teachers about it, and asked them to help me fix it, but they wont do anything. One co-teacher even told me I should try and break the A/C so the landlord would have to replace it - great idea until he decides to charge me for the replacement of it.

I don't know how we can get rid of the mold inside the A/C either, so right now, we have a fan going 24/7 or near enough too. Our hamsters are feeling the heat as well. I feel bad for them.

I wish we could get our AC working so that we could be sitting in comfort instead of melting like ice-blocks right now. Does anyone know how we can get it cleaned or replaced with relative ease?

[meganekko]

I wish we could get our AC working so that we could be sitting in comfort instead of melting like ice-blocks right now. Does anyone know how we can get it cleaned or replaced with relative ease?

You may need your landlord or maintenance guy to help you remove it, but you should be able to clean it yourself: http://www.ehow.com/how_5325738_rid-mold-air-conditioner.html

[Michaela]

Lol, this thread is scaring me!  I'm in Gumi too and I think it's ok at the moment - hot but still totally bearable.  I'm worried though!  They say tea is supposed to cool you off because it makes you sweat, which is supposed to be a good thing.  How much do you guys use your aircons btw?  When do you usually start using them - July?