Obsession with vests, socks, any kind of cool air, air conditioning

[waterbottless]

I am away in Italy at the moment and this is all people talk about in relation to my kids and themselves.

It's like 35 degrees every day and still 30 at night and yet, apparently they need to wear a vest.

I am staying with some of my H's relatives, but there have also been friends visiting who are just horrified at the air conditioning being on 22 degrees. Apparently it's like being at the North Pole. They put their aircon on 27 and on low.

We went to a shopping centres and I was sweating as the air con was on so little.

I know in places like the states and Dubai, maybe occasionally it can get a bit chilly inside, but I would prefer that.

Apparently we are all going to get really really sick from the cold air. Are there more sick people in places that use air con more ? I doubt it.

My kids should also wear socks in the house as there are tiles on the floor and they'll get sick from walking barefoot.

If we are ever outside at night ( at 30 degrees ) and a tiny bit of wind blows, they all start freaking out and getting a cardigan for their shoulders, so they don't get sick.

I find it totally OTT and I am genuinely wondering if Italians get sick less because of these habits ? They seem obsessed with getting a chill.

And also, if someone is used to temps in the 30s all the time, 22 is going to feel chilly to them. I’ve been to Cyprus in November and watched the local people wearing jumpers and scarves when it was 24C

This does make a lot of sense. I hate to admit it through gritted teeth.

We had a holiday in Ischia some years ago in August (never again, way too hot!). Most of the other guests were Italian. Every time their kids got wet in the pool or sea, they would be immediately thoroughly dried and put in dry swimwear. They must have gone through at least 6 changes of swimwear in a day. Of course we just dried off in the sun in our wet swimmers with wet hair. I thought they were bonkers

Aircon is not mainstream in houses across southern Europe unless new builds. It's does seem odd to feel cold at 30 degrees but it's what you are used to. They would be horrified that beyond preschool very few British kids wear vests in winter!

That's funny, because in neighbouring Switzerland most folks fling the windows open for at least 30 minutes everyday to let the fresh air in. Usually duvets go over the balcony for that time too if its dry. 😂

I took baby DS to an Italian walk in clinic once. Tuscany in summer. He was about 9 months old with a temperature. I walked him down in the push chair just dressed in a vest and nappy with a sun shade and as I entered the building the nurse screamed and threw a blanket on him. He was rushed immediately into a side room with a paediatrician and wrapped up warmly whilst he was examined! (He was fine they were just really quiet that day so saw him quickly). We were discharged with an order to give him cold chamomile tea and given a right bolllocking from Matron about how we needed to keep him much warmer.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/C9Wkw3js8l-/?hl=en

Hope that clears it up.

Similarly, drinking a cold drink is very bad for you as it will chill your stomach. Also, you cannot eat anything at least two hours before you go swimming because you will die. I used to be told stories about a waiter who had eaten one panino before he went swimming and then drowned.

It really pisses me off too OP. Lived in Spain for 10 years and was sick of these comments. If I am cold I will put a coat on. If I am not, leave me be. Why do they feel the need to offer advice that is not asked for when it doesn't affect them? Likewise, I have naturally pink skin, especially when I get hot. The amount of 'ohhhh you are burned' really hacked me off. NO I AM NOT THAT IS MY COLOUR. Why comment on other peoples' bodies??? And as for kids, I stopped meeting one friend due to her non stop coddling of her baby, grabbing his hands and feet to check if he was cold (the kid was fine and it was freaking summer at 35 degrees).

Colpo d'aria is a deadly serious medical condition that should be avoided at all costs. The fact that only Italian people suffer from it is immaterial.

See also "Les jambes lourdes" - a serious medical condition, supporting a multi-million euro market in medical treatment, that inexplicably only affects French people.

It's a culture-bound syndrome - the wikipedia article is good: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Culture-bound_syndrome

Oooh, I just thought of another one: Kreislaufkollaps - it is a complete collapse of the circulatory system which, interestingly, doesn't result in rapid brain death, but does result in having to take several days off work. It only affect Germans and Austrians.

My Portuguese partner used to freak at me taking a bath after dinner. Everyone knew someone who knew someone who knew some old lady in the village found dead in the bath after dinner. Maybe the clue there was "old".

Then his half German daughter said one night, after I was getting scolded for saying I was going to shower, that at home with her mum, she showered after dinner all the time. He nearly fainted.

I always ask him how much water after dinner is the crisis level....feet in a bowl of water? Hands in the sink? Walking the dog in the rain...?

Guys ! Update ! Colpo d'aria got me !

Sore throat and fever. Could it be the colpo d'aria or was it the relatives that came to visit after they'd all just got over a bad virus with fevers?

They came to see us once they were well, so about a week after symptom onset. Kids ok for now.

My Mum would love it there -she is obsessed with "getting a chill ",recoils in horror if I walk on my wooden floor in bare feet ,or dare to open a window .
Was an absolute nitemare ,trying to deal with the menopause when she was visiting !!

I like a cool room, especially after being in the heat all day. All the advice I've read about sleeping temperatures suggest 16-20 degrees, as per this one I just googled https://bedadvice.co.uk/beds-and-beyond/bedroom-temperature/#:~:text=An%20ideal%20bedroom%20temperature%20is,it%20difficult%20to%20drop%20off.

I shared a holiday with relatives once where the outside temperature was touching 40. As soon as I turned the villa thermo below 25 it was all "I'm freezing!! Look, I'm turning blue!" and they'd whack it up 5 degrees. If we go again I'll be insisting on separate rooms/villas.

I guess its conditioning. What you're used to and your composition too. But I always say, its easier to warm oneself up that it is to cool oneself down, err on the colder side!

@Everanewbie That ideal bedroom temperature is based on the UK climate, it isn’t appropriate in warmer climates. In some places I have stayed it isn’t possible to set the aircon below 25.

If it’s 40 outside, dropping to 25 is more than enough of a temperature drop to promote good sleep.

You don't get sick from walking barefoot ffs. Perhaps they're just acclimatised to the heat. My ds is 4 and would be a sweaty beast if we put a vest or cardigan on him in that kind of heat. I think he's going to need to a lot of deodorant when he's older though! I'd also prefer air con on high as I'm a sweaty person

I was an au pair in Greece one summer as a student. I was looking after a primary aged child and you can imagine the temperature, the child had a baby sibling and every time we went into a home or office everyone shouted to turn off the AC because the baby would DIE with it on.

It's interesting how many people on the Olympic Opening Ceremony thread last night were saying that the athletes would get ill from being out in the rain

I don’t agree. Sleeping is sleeping. We don’t freeze our bedrooms in winter to acclimatise to it being cold outside so why have it absurdly hot if you have means to achieve otherwise?

Then maybe separate accommodation is the best option for you.

Half the world would be suffering from chronic sleep deprivation if mildly warm bedrooms were a real issue, but I don’t think they are.

My dh was told by his doctor years ago to wear a vest when hot to soak up the sweat.

I hope none of you have forgotten the old advice about never sitting on a cold wall or step because it will give you piles! 😂 Just thought I would remind you.

When my DD was born, my MIL brought a 'chester' with her (they're from Asia)
Like a square of fabric, made of wool

Fuck me

She'd lose her fucking mind if DD wasn't wearing it 24/7

Bearing in mind that DD was born in July

And where they're from, it often drops well into double digit minus in winter

Let's just say that she NEVER wore it

Oh, and wearing wellies 'will make you ill'

🧐

I live in Italy, it's currently 38 & I have my aircon set at 29. It's true that 22 feels cool to us after months of hot weather, especially now that we're in the peak of summer, I would need long sleeves & autumn wear in 22 these days tbh and if it's 18 outside I'd have my heating on to make it feel like 22! I never used to be like this, I've just got used to the climate here.

Italians are very afraid of cold air, it'll give you all sorts of problems and no you cannot go with wet hair & getting wet in rain, that may kill you! I went out with semi wet hair today ( for a cappucio after 11am but that's another story!) and I felt like such a rebel and was a bit worried about the stares, but no one noticed.

@waterbottlessCovid is doing the rounds in Italy, we've all just had it, sore throat, fever etc.

@twilighteaser although of course getting wet/cold/hot while doing sport is fine, especially if it’s a proper Italian sport with stylish clothes, like skiing or cycling. Of course you can’t have a cold drink afterwards though as you will die.