The Chill Factor

Catching the news before heading to work, they said today is a freezing -9°C morning. At this point,

‘What exactly is the benchmark for cold?’

I wondered once more. When I was in San Francisco, it rarely dipped below 10°C even in winter. That’s the kind of weather in Seoul where you’d debate wearing a jacket over your shirt—a sweet spring or autumn vibe. Yet, I’d still step out in a thick coat! 🌅 During the day, I’d shed the coat as temps climbed, but by evening, I’d snug back into it. Although it’s been a while since I returned to Seoul, the San Francisco winter still haunts like a sinister figure lurking behind cork oaks. But here in Seoul, the winter is an extreme experience—a legend! ❄️ Just three weeks ago, the news screamed about the ‘colossal cold wave, -15°C Korean Peninsula’ as if war had erupted. I braced myself for the chill, but it wasn’t as bad as expected. I remember thinking, ‘-15°C isn’t as bad as 10°C?’ and feeling slightly let down.

Today’s news, predicting an end-of-the-world scenario, warned ‘you might freeze on your way to work,’ and the reporter, decked out in Eskimo gear, exaggerated, ‘It’s so cold, words freeze in my mouth.’ Watching that made me doubt my sanity because it’s just -9°C. The reporter made it seem colder than three weeks ago when it was -15°C! Maybe there wasn’t much news today, and they hyped the weather. But as I stepped out, those thoughts vanished—it was insanely cold. That reporter wasn’t exaggerating. Although it sounds unreasonable, today’s -9°C felt colder than the -15°C three weeks ago. 🥶

While reading a book on the subway, I stumbled upon this line:

I shivered with cold and tension. Despite being surprisingly warm for December, well above freezing, it felt as cold as Yakutsk, the world’s coldest city in Russia’s Far East.

Not sure if it’s warm or cold—like jumping into a cold bath with a hot pack—but I get it. It’s like why I felt chilly in San Francisco’s relatively warm winter. Weather perception is influenced by many subjective factors, making absolute objectivity hard to achieve. And over time, memories get distorted. 🌬️

Comparing it to Yakutsk while above freezing is a bit much (surely the writer hasn’t experienced Yakutsk’s climate), but still, that city holds the title for being the coldest. 🥶

Stepping back outside from the subway, the icy wind hit me, and I felt my body shrink.

‘In this weather, I might just rival Yakutsk!’

Mumbling, without ever visiting Yakutsk.