While living in Seoul is an amazing experience for so many different reasons, one experience is much better to forgo altogether.
Indeed, little did I believe just a week ago that I'd be longing for the snow-infested climate of Montreal, but alas, when Yellow Dust Season begins in Korea, well, not much can be done to escape it.
"Yellow Dust" is exactly what it sounds like. Every Spring, heavy winds travel across much of Asia, kicking up thick clouds of fine, dry soil particles from the deserts in Kazakhstan, Mongolia and northern China. The winds are so persistent that they often end up carrying this sand throughout Eastern China and on to Korea, Japan, and later to the Pacific Ocean, where it usually dies down.
Korea tends to always be the hardest hit. As with any storm, it is strongest when it first makes landfall, then weakens as it moves forward. Dust storms, however, are not only dangerous as a result of the dust, but as a consequence of Chinese pollution. According to Wikipedia, many polltants (such as soot, ash and carbon monoxide, among others), carcinogens, bacteria, viruses and fungi are absorbed by the dust and cause serious health risks.
Here in Seoul, we were alerted a few days ago about an upcoming bout of Yellow Dust, and to take necessary precautions. The city was making all public transport free during the duration of these storms. Additionally, we are all encouraged to spend as little time as possible outdoors as to limit exposure to the dust. The dust started early Monday morning, and has been persisting until right now (and beyond).
And to be honest, living through these dust storms is absolutely horrible. Take a look at this map of the air quality in Seoul right now.
To be fair, in many parts of China, the AQI rating is well above 200, and often into the 300s and 400s (I'm not too sure how those people actually live with such poor air), but even when it's as high as it is now in Seoul, it really is not pleasant.
Breathing is painful for me as it stands, and you can smell a strong, foul odour coming from the streets, which, at time smells like burning. You can almost even feel the dust as you're walking! I can't even open any windows in my apartment to replenish my stuffy air, which is already infected with my sick germs from my cold. What's more, the pollution has definitely gotten into my lungs, as I'm coughing all day long.
All this, and I'm understanding more and more why many people in Asian countries so often wear masks. I got myself one, and I'll need to buy more with proper air filters.
I guess this is how I'll be walking around for the next few days/weeks until the dust dissipates.
-Daniele
