Staying Warm

For the most part, I haven't had much trouble staying warm but I am prepared for a chilly winter. Before I came to Korea I received many warnings about the relentless, deathly cold Korean Winter. I'm convinced everyone was being a little over-dramatic. For people who like charts (represent!), you can see here that the biggest difference in climate between Denver and Gwangju is the humidity level. Which I'm assuming will not be a fun experience. But really. I can handle it.

[hide]Climate data for Denver (DIA), 1981−2010 normals, extremes 1872−present[a]
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Record high °F (°C)	76 (24)	77 (25)	84 (29)	90 (32)	95 (35)	105 (41)	105 (41)	105 (41)	97 (36)	90 (32)	80 (27)	79 (26)	105 (41)
Average high °F (°C)	44.0 (6.7)	46.2 (7.9)	54.4 (12.4)	61.5 (16.4)	71.5 (21.9)	82.4 (28)	89.4 (31.9)	87.2 (30.7)	78.5 (25.8)	65.3 (18.5)	52.1 (11.2)	42.8 (6)	64.6 (18.1)
Average low °F (°C)	17.4 (−8.1)	18.9 (−7.3)	26.4 (−3.1)	33.3 (0.7)	42.7 (5.9)	52.3 (11.3)	58.9 (14.9)	57.9 (14.4)	48.3 (9.1)	36.6 (2.6)	24.5 (−4.2)	17.1 (−8.3)	36.2 (2.3)
Record low °F (°C)	−29 (−34)	−25 (−32)	−11 (−24)	−2 (−19)	19 (−7)	30 (−1)	42 (6)	40 (4)	17 (−8)	−2 (−19)	−18 (−28)	−25 (−32)	−29 (−34)
Precipitation inches (mm)	0.41 (10.4)	0.37 (9.4)	0.92 (23.4)	1.71 (43.4)	2.12 (53.8)	1.98 (50.3)	2.16 (54.9)	1.69 (42.9)	0.96 (24.4)	1.02 (25.9)	0.61 (15.5)	0.35 (8.9)	14.30 (363.2)
Snowfall inches (cm)	7.0 (17.8)	5.7 (14.5)	10.7 (27.2)	6.8 (17.3)	1.1 (2.8)	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1.3 (3.3)	4.0 (10.2)	8.7 (22.1)	8.5 (21.6)	53.8 (136.7)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.01 in)	4.1	5.3	5.9	9.1	9.4	8.4	8.3	8.6	6.5	5.3	4.7	4.1	79.7
Avg. snowy days (≥ 0.1 in)	5.0	5.3	5.8	4.1	0.6	0	0	0	0.5	1.8	4.9	5.3	33.3
% humidity	55.2	55.8	53.7	49.6	51.7	49.3	47.8	49.3	50.1	49.2	56.3	56.6	52.0
Mean monthly sunshine hours	215.3	211.1	255.6	276.2	290.0	315.3	325.0	306.4	272.3	249.2	194.3	195.9	3,106.6
Percent possible sunshine	72	70	69	69	65	70	71	72	73	72	65	67	70
Source: NOAA (sun 1961−1990)[51][57][58][59]

[hide]Climate data for Gwangju (1981–2010)
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	5.3 (41.5)	7.8 (46)	13.0 (55.4)	19.6 (67.3)	24.3 (75.7)	27.5 (81.5)	29.6 (85.3)	30.7 (87.3)	26.9 (80.4)	21.8 (71.2)	14.6 (58.3)	8.1 (46.6)	19.1 (66.4)
Daily mean °C (°F)	0.6 (33.1)	2.5 (36.5)	7.0 (44.6)	13.2 (55.8)	18.3 (64.9)	22.4 (72.3)	25.6 (78.1)	26.2 (79.2)	21.9 (71.4)	15.8 (60.4)	9.1 (48.4)	3.1 (37.6)	13.8 (56.8)
Average low °C (°F)	−3.1 (26.4)	−1.8 (28.8)	2.1 (35.8)	7.5 (45.5)	13.0 (55.4)	18.2 (64.8)	22.5 (72.5)	22.8 (73)	17.8 (64)	10.9 (51.6)	4.5 (40.1)	−0.9 (30.4)	9.5 (49.1)
Precipitation mm (inches)	37.1 (1.461)	47.9 (1.886)	60.8 (2.394)	80.7 (3.177)	96.6 (3.803)	181.5 (7.146)	308.9 (12.161)	297.8 (11.724)	150.5 (5.925)	46.8 (1.843)	48.8 (1.921)	33.5 (1.319)	1,391 (54.764)
Avg. precipitation days (≥ 0.1 mm)	11.0	9.0	9.5	8.9	9.3	10.7	15.5	14.9	9.8	6.8	9.0	10.0	124.4
% humidity	67.7	65.2	62.9	61.9	66.4	72.8	80.0	78.1	74.3	68.4	68.1	68.8	69.5
Mean monthly sunshine hours	159.9	164.6	192.0	213.0	222.8	169.2	145.4	172.6	172.3	205.2	163.6	155.9	2,136.3
Source: Korea Meteorological Administration[3]

Regardless, I do not enjoy the cold! Here is how I am keeping warm through autumn so far:

I don't have a space heater but I have this boiler gizmo that heats my floor.

I really enjoy the floor heating!

Kimchi stew! Mmmm

It's especially nice to eat warm kimchi stew while sitting on my warm floor

I usually start my day with a cup of herbal tea

Thank goodness for electric blankets!

I'm not positive what all the Korean on the control says but all that matters is I know how to turn it on

I've been stocking up on sweaters and long sleeved shirts

And I bought delightfully cozy mittens. I love the reindeer on them!

I don't know how much I'll be travelling in the near future with winter on its way. This is why I decided to sign up for a 7 week Korean language class on Saturdays. Saturdays are usually my only day to do an out-of-town adventure but they are also the only day I can do a Korean class at the Gwangju International Center. So, I figured this was a good time during the year to take the classes. I hope everyone else is staying warm! It sounds like most of my friends and family in the States have already had their first snow. No snow here yet but I'm already dreaming of a White Christmas!