It may come as a surprise to you that someone who claims 'The Great White North’ as home, is hardly able to bear the cold Korean winters. But, I have a few good reasons. Although Canada can boast of some of the coldest temperatures imaginable,(I remember, walking around Calgary in -53 with wind chill conditions and thinking I was certain to die at any moment unless I popped into a café for respite), Canadians rarely endure the pain of the cold. We have automatic car starters, well-insulated buildings, and some fortunate Northerners even enjoy wood burning fire places that keep us in t-shirts and shorts throughout even the coldest months.
In South Korea sustainability trumps comfort when it comes to enduring the elements. SCHOOLS ARE NOT HEATED! Yes, you read that correctly. Public schools are not centrally heated. Thankfully, there ARE heaters in each classroom. However, when you step outside the classroom --to go to the photocopy room or washroom etc-- you must bundle up as though you are tackling the great outdoors. Windows are often open "for fresh air", and the trek from my upstairs classroom to the downstairs washroom is downright blustery. Thankfully, I can report that my school does provide the rare luxury of hot tap water during the winter months, unlike many public buildings, Yongsan Station included!
When I first arrived in Korea, I had no idea how to deal with this situation. I was literally* freezing. My classroom is huge and it takes 20-30 minutes to overcome its cold edge.
*If you think I'm using this word incorrectly
you should click on the link
and get with the times.
As a seasoned expat I now know a few great ways to combat the cold:
1. WOOL. WOOL. WOOL.
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| picture credit: Amanda Trizna |
2. Jimjillbang
Another great way to warm up during the cold winter months is by visiting your local jimjillbang. After a long day of work, I am sometimes so absolutely chilled to the bone, I feel as though I have been on the ski slopes all day wearing nothing but jeans and a hoodie. The hot tubs and saunas at the jimjillbang are a great way to restore warmth to a body that has been freezing for more or less 8 hours straight.
3. Winter Warmers
I always love starting the day off with a nice cup of hot coffee. But a Korean winter calls for days and nights full of delicious hot drinks with cayenne pepper. Cayenne pepper is not only delicious but it is also extremely healthy and promotes circulation while being a natural decongestant. Here are 3 of the my favourite recipes for warming up from the inside out:
1. Cold potion
1 teaspoon Freshly grated ginger
2 tablespoons honey
juice from half a lemon
½ teaspoon of cayenne pepper
This delicious drink will warm you up and scare off any bugs that are trying to attack your system. This is the first thing I turn to if I feel a cold approaching. Crank up the cayenne quantity for an extra spicy drink.
2. Homemade Hot Cocoa
2 tablespoons of cocoa
1.5 tablespoons honey
pinch of cinnamon
pinch of cayenne
pinch of chili powder
¾ cup of hot milk
¼ cup of boiled water
Adjust the recipe to your taste. I prefer a bitter hot chocolate with a generous pinch of cayenne (you probably won't . . . comment if you do...or if you don't). This delicious drink certainly warms you up from the inside out!
3. Turmeric Milk
1 teaspoon of turmeric
pinch of cayenne
2 teaspoons of honey
½ cup boiling water
½ cup cool milk
This is a nice warm drink to take in the morning as soon as you wake up, or in the evening just before bed. Apparently, turmeric is a great natural way to combat bronchitis and arthritis. I like mixing the drink with hot water and cool milk. It’s easy to drink quickly in the morning and it is the perfect temperature for a absolute comfort in the evening.
Here’s to a happy and warm winter!
