Beijing’s first snow dusting came on November 6. The snow didn’t stick but the cold did. Then came of series of horrible pollution days. The second and third set of pollution days triggered red alert days. School and work were canceled, car restrictions enforced, and factories temporarily closed. We donned our face masks, invested in a home air filter, and complained with everyone else about Beijing’s severe pollution problem.
The last couple weeks, thanks to a strong icy wind, Beijing’s skies have been blue. No longer are we complaining about pollution. Now we are complaining about the heart-stopping, slap-you-in-the-face, nose-sniffle-inducing, lung-chilling air. Yesterday’s high was 30 year record breaking 11°F and low of 2°F. Strong winds plummeted the “feels like” temperature to the -20°Fs.
And what does -20°F wind chill feel like? It’s COLD. A brief foray into Beijing’s brutal ice winds leaves you winded and exhausted. No amount of clothes is enough. The wind pierces through the layers of down, fur, and fleece like daggers. Any exposed skin is red and chilled.
But the winds have died down. We are looking forward to a toasty high of 36°F tomorrow.
Chinese Word of the Blog: 大风 Dàfēng (literally “big wind”)
I remember when we used to ride bicycles everywhere Even in the winter time, we would still ride around everywhere I can remember when we used to ride bicycles everywhere Even in the winter time, we would still ride around everywhere -Chad Vangaalen
Last October, I had mentally prepared myself for another tortuous Beijing
winter complete with rain, snow, wind, smog, bone-chilling cold, frozen toes, and 5 to 6 months of gray skies. However, this past winter— compared
to last year, anyway—has been pretty mild, and surprisingly pleasant. Don’t
misunderstand me—it’s still cold, but the amount of days with blue, sunny skies seems
to outnumber the smoggy ones. The blue skies may be the result of the wind
carrying the smog all the way to California (or so my mother tells me). Sorry
California!
Nevertheless, our anticipation for snow grew keener and keener as the days
grew colder and colder.
Then finally…it snowed! Last Friday, the frigid skies graced Beijing with a
generous dusting of white froth, concealing the everyday grime and filth and
luring gleeful children outside for snowball fights.
Snow or no snow, we still have things to do and places to be. So on our trusty bicycles we go—this means wearing a
lot of necessary clothing. Warm hat—necessary. Double lined woven gloves –necessary. Thick scarf—necessary. Long underwear—necessary. Big, poofy down
coat—necessary. Styling your hair—unnecessary. Everyone has hat head here (except birdMAN). Wearing
all those clothes makes me feel like a giant stuffed animal. A giant
stuffed animal on a bike in the snow. But I am not cold.
Chinese Word
of the Blog: 填充动物玩具Tiánchōng dòngwù wánjù (literally: stuffed animal toy)
English
Translation: Stuffed Animal
Sample
Sentence:
我好像一个很大的填充动物玩具因为我穿太多的衣服。
Wǒ hǎoxiàng
yīgè hěn dà de tiánchōng dòngwù wánjù yīnwèi wǒ chuān tài duō de yīfú.
I wear
so many clothes that I am like a giant stuffed animal.
Trying to be fashionable in my puffy coat
Don't be fooled, there is plenty of filth under that white stuff
