Physical Dangers of Beijing

Beijing is a pretty dry place and dry air encourages static electricity shocks.
Static electricity shocks happen when many electrons jump from one object to another. There are usually electrons moving between objects. When that movement becomes harder, there is more electron build up, until there are so many electrons there is a big jump and we feel a shock. Water in the air allows electrons to move more easily between objects which prevents as much electron build up.
More humidity = more water particles in the air = easier electron transfer = less static electricity build up = less noticable electric shocks. (Yes we are both total geeks. We are also expecting lots of detailed scientific responces explaining why this definition is not adequate.)

The point of all that is that winter in Beijing is really dry so we get shocks constantly around here. So, we hear you thinking, (because we have such amazing hearing - goes across time and oceans) what's the big deal? People get shocked all the time. Its not so bad.

Hah!

We agree that a shock now and then is nothing to worry about, but imagine if you can what would happen if every single time you went to kiss your partner - every time mind you! - you received a very strong electric shock to the extremely sensitive skin of your lips.

We'll just assure you now this is not so fun.

There are ways around this though it is tougher when you are outside in winter and your only exposed skin is your face. We have developed something we refer to as the 'Beijing kiss' where we touch cheeks before kissing to deal with those situations. But even inside there are problems. Not even touching the door knob always works as on occasion we have kissed, gotten the shock, hugged with a little back scratching while wearing a certain fleece, which was apparently enough to cause a second shock when we went to kiss again.

Why is this such a concern? Becuase through this relentless training we have both developed the Pavlovian response of now flinching just before a kiss.

Somehow that just doesn't seem right in a newly-wed couple.