Winter has arrived here in Nagakute. Unfortunately, I believe the worst is yet to come. It is unbearably cold with temperatures as low as 29F as night approaches.
This winter I have two main things pulling against me. The first is the fact that I have been lucky enough to have avoided any temperature lower than 70F since May 2011. Secondly, at KIS (and other traditional Japanese schools) they believe that children's bodies must learn to regulate themselves. Therefore, we are not able to turn the heat on in our classrooms when the children are present. I am not sure when and if these circumstances will change. These fact alone would make for an unfortunate winter. But pair that with the lack of insulation in any Japanese structure and I am doomed.
I have recently learned (by word of mouth through Kimmy) that because of the extreme weather conditions Japan faces throughout the year their houses must be built accordingly. In the summertime Japan is extremely hot and humid. In the winter it gets incredibly cold. Due to the humidity in the summers the building structures must be able to breath to avoid cracking and/or molding. This results in zero insulation in most buildings that occupy Japan and leads to unfavorable winters.
I have also read somewhere that there is no insulation due to Japan's size and the fact that adding three inches to all buildings occupying the country would result in no extra space for human residents. However Kimmy says this "must be a joke."
To make up for the lack of insulation during the chilled winters, Japan has come up with several alternatives. Heated toilet seats and heated rugs are common in houses and non-residential buildings as well as heated blankets and what can only be described as heated tables. But for those who are not fortunate enough to have either, there is Heattech.
Heattech (short for Heat Technology) is a type of clothing designed to keep you warm! It is thin and breathable yet keeps the heat that your body already has inside. I have already purchased two long sleeved undershirts, a pair of leggings, a pair of leg warmers and three pairs of socks. These have been my saviors the past month. I have a feeling this is just the beginning of my Heattech purchases.
With all this being said, I have yet to turn the heat in my apartment on! We'll see how long this will last...
This winter I have two main things pulling against me. The first is the fact that I have been lucky enough to have avoided any temperature lower than 70F since May 2011. Secondly, at KIS (and other traditional Japanese schools) they believe that children's bodies must learn to regulate themselves. Therefore, we are not able to turn the heat on in our classrooms when the children are present. I am not sure when and if these circumstances will change. These fact alone would make for an unfortunate winter. But pair that with the lack of insulation in any Japanese structure and I am doomed.
I have recently learned (by word of mouth through Kimmy) that because of the extreme weather conditions Japan faces throughout the year their houses must be built accordingly. In the summertime Japan is extremely hot and humid. In the winter it gets incredibly cold. Due to the humidity in the summers the building structures must be able to breath to avoid cracking and/or molding. This results in zero insulation in most buildings that occupy Japan and leads to unfavorable winters.
I have also read somewhere that there is no insulation due to Japan's size and the fact that adding three inches to all buildings occupying the country would result in no extra space for human residents. However Kimmy says this "must be a joke."
To make up for the lack of insulation during the chilled winters, Japan has come up with several alternatives. Heated toilet seats and heated rugs are common in houses and non-residential buildings as well as heated blankets and what can only be described as heated tables. But for those who are not fortunate enough to have either, there is Heattech.
With all this being said, I have yet to turn the heat in my apartment on! We'll see how long this will last...
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