cold blooded heathen

In a pretty innocent conversation the other day I was talking to a Japanese chap about the heat. through one thing and another we got onto the subject of body temperature and to my utter astonishment it turns out the accepted average temperature of the Japanese is 36.2 degrees celsius. assuming he was wildy mistaken I have been asking randomly since, and there has been alot of sharp intakes of breath as I tell them (certainly northern) europeans are over 37 degrees.

I guess it's not so odd given that bodys have to adjust to their given climate, and counteract any extremes, but not being too scientifically minded I was very impressed. I got home and shoved a thermometer under my arm and would you believe it - I'm 36.3 - almost acclimatised but no cigar. give me another year.

As I understand it, humidity also makes sweat evaporation harder - which probably explains the sweat blisters.

If only I'd listened in science class.