On Thick Clothes

HOW TO STAY WARM IN CHINA

In China we don't have warm clothes. We have thick clothes. Literally. When I packed lots of pairs of standard-issue long underwear, I thought I'd be fine. But since none of the buildings on campus are heated until Mid-November and it's already in the single digits here (in centigrade of course), simply having your long underwear on hand does not cut it.

Lynn took me shopping for thick clothes. They sell long underwear that has a 1/4 of an inch thick layer of fleecy material lining it. And you wear these thick clothes under shirts and pants. They also sell these adorable little dresses that are similarly thick. Can you imagine it? A sleeveless dress that is supposed to act as an indoor jacket?

An "indoor jacket" is not an oxymoron here, in all the restaurants it is too cold to take off your outdoor clothes. In my classroom and my own home, I can only take off one of my many layers.

What is my usual outfit? Long underwear (top and bottom), pants and a top, wool socks, an insulating jacket, a heavier jacket, a hat, scarf, and gloves, and sometimes boots so my feet do not get cold. This may sound like a lot for the low forty's, but let me point out that you've probably never spent time in buildings that were not heated at this temperature. Winter is a lot more bitter when it's allowed to follow you inside. Luckily I have an electric heater, but as soon as I leave the room it's heating, it's back to "being outside" again.

Lynn and I finally found me something suitable to help me stay warm: a bright red, part-wool pea coat with little pleats that spins as well as a skirt does, complimented by a punk-y black and white star scarf. My students and fellow English teachers think I look super Chinese now. Upon entering one of my classes wearing the coat, I received "ooo"s and "ahhh"s and "pretty girl!". I like my coat, and I love that I am now not constantly shivering.

Bring it, winter!