It's sweltering. Asians from places where extreme heat is typical share how to cope.
Much of the world right now is dealing with mind-numbing heat.
Much of the world right now is dealing with mind-numbing heat. But there are places where such stifling, health-imperiling temperatures are common — and air conditioning isn’t. Asian immigrants from regions where sweltering is the norm have been offering their time-tested advice on how to stay cool without electricity or technology.
In parts of Asia that have long grappled with heat waves, families have developed their own cooling rituals over generations. Some say they have slept on the floor in kitchens, where tile surfaces retain less heat, or spread bamboo mats around the house for the same reason. Others advised wearing lungis, thin cloths tied around the waist, and eating cold seasonal foods like noodles or lassi to help keep the heat at bay.
When Mehr Singh was growing up in Delhi, India, the blistering heat and frequent power cuts often left her family baking without air conditioning.
“Delhi heat is very dry,” said Singh, who moved to New York in 2016. “NYC summer is humid but not nearly as harsh.”
Heat wave in U.S. continues to break record temperaturesJuly 20, 202202:42Experiences like this forced her to develop some life hacks — wearing damp cotton T-shirts to bed alongside an “army of floor fans,” showering in cold water, and chugging nimbu pani (Indian lemonade) were all part of her summertime routine.
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