So, a Northerner Walks into Guangzhou...
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Well folks, I've just arrived in Guangzhou for a pharmaceutical industry expo.
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After getting off the plane, oh my goodness, it feels like the air is as thin as high altitude and breathing is already difficult!
- Just standing by the roadside and waiting for a while, my shirt felt as if it had been washed in water - completely soaked.
- This feeling, damp, hot, and muggy, to exaggerate a bit, I feel like all the cows were running over here to kiss me! (Exactly how wet and uncomfortable it was!)
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Even staying at a hotel was no relaxation. The room had some issues, so I went through the hassle of changing rooms.
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At night, things became even odder, feeling inexplicably melancholic, I had tears in my eyes.
- I am usually the type who falls asleep as soon as my head hits the pillow, but now I tossed and turned unable to sleep, and eventually fell asleep, waking up three times within six hours!
- Furthermore, despite being someone who prides myself on enduring hardship and hard work, unexpectedly now I am extremely "sensitive." I do not understand why I feel like I am acting out unnecessarily, all my energy drained...
Ladies take note, if your constitution is similar to mine, these may be the reactions you encounter in Guangzhou (especially during humid weather):
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Physical Discomfort Pack:
- Difficulty in breathing, dizziness and light-headedness,
- Diarrhea (uh, too intricate to tell)
- No appetite, nothing sounds appealing
- Skin allergies, itching sensations
- Swollen eyelids resembling walnuts
- Easily sensitive, quick to become irritable
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Is this "water-soil dissonance"?
- (To explain to foreign friends, “water-soil dissonance” means that a sudden change in climatic conditions, diet or environment leads to discomfort.)
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Should one drink some “cool tea”?
- (By the way, “cool tea” is not iced tea! It’s a special herbal beverage in Guangdong which locals consume when they think the weather is too hot or their body is a bit ‘fiery’ and uncomfortable. They have a saying called “avoid fire,” meaning they should avoid eating too many foods that lead to bodily heat, especially during this weather. Cool tea serves to balance such situations.)
(It needs to be said that what I've experienced stems from my personal physical reactions. In itself, Guangzhou is still a beautiful city, don't let this convince you otherwise!)
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It's really tough on you all, coming to this 'exile' of a place. Even we locals can't stand it.
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It's so tough being a local here.
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You should try some Guangdong herbal tea. Isn't there tons of it in Guangzhou? By any chance, were you born on a Geng-Xin day and need to avoid 'fire'?
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Wow, master, you're spot on! I'm a Geng-Shen with a 'weak self' element.
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We locals experience this too, especially in August. Stepping outside, it's so hot you feel like you're running out of oxygen. The humidity is so heavy, you feel like a fish gasping for air on dry land.
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Wow, the weather in Guangzhou a couple of days ago... air humidity was 93%! I seriously felt like if I didn't evolve gills soon, I'd drown on dry land.
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The 'fire' element clashes with me. I'm in Guangzhou, so I drink herbal tea every day.
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That sounds really tough! You probably favor 'metal' and 'water' elements too. Right now, I'm in Beijing, and everything feels much more comfortable for me here.
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I really can't take it anymore. My whole body feels uncomfortable, and I have a sore throat.
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Mine's sore too! Yesterday, being outside, I felt like I could faint any second.
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Having some (herbal tea) might help. It's been raining the past few days, making the weather especially muggy. It's perfectly normal to feel unwell.
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Alright, I'll get some today.
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Anyone who thrives in 'fire' energy should head straight to Guangzhou!
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Oh, you poor thing! But seriously, it's been unbearable these last few days – so muggy, damp, and hot.
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You're welcome to come to Beijing to dry out!
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I'm heading back to Beijing tomorrow!
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It's been raining so much lately. I feel incredibly down every day, like I'm at my breaking point, and my temper is really short.