Global Warming and Korea

Well it's raining hard now. Over the past week we've had a few heavy rains. One day about 5pm I was about to go home and looked outside to see what looked like sideways rain. It was raining so hard and was so windy that the rain was moving sideways. The glass doors to my building are normally kept open. The security guard went to close them and his hat blew off. I decided to take a taxi home and invited a few students to come with me. Taking the bus would mean waiting in that rain and then walking home a few minutes from the bus stop.

This summer in Korea was hot, really hot and humid. I realized it was worse than last summer and talked to someone else who agreed. I can't say it was the worst summer ever but I can say it was worse than last. The high humidity made the start of last week unbearable. Two mornings I left my apartment by 8am and went to the air conditioned convenience store to enjoy the cool air. Luckily there are a few tables and chairs to sit and eat/drink. I don't think all of these stores have them but in my town they do.

In the USA it was even hotter this summer but most have air conditioning there. Last summer I was in Korea most of the summer and didn't mind not having "air con" as Koreans call it, but last week just using my fan as I normally do was not enough. Thank God for convenience stores!

I don't want to spend the money for an air-conditioning unit when summer is almost over now.

When I think of next summer being like this or worse and then the next and the next....I don't know what think. How are we going to be able to tolerate this around the world? And air conditioning is bad for the envirionment too. Is there an eco-friendly version?

I'm thankful for the rain and also thankful Korea has a rainy season in summer. If it weren't for that the entire summer would be hard to take and sometimes unbearable.

Try going into a building with no air conditioning and not many windows which has been closed overnight. If you go in the morning it's hotter inside than out. The high humidity makes it extremely hot and uncomfortable. One day this week I waited outside until it was time for class to start.

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