Our water pipes run either in the attic or along the outside walls of the house. By time it reaches the shower head the water has warmed up to a nice luke-warmy temperature.
The Heffners and Mphapuli's have generously allowed us to come swim at their houses. We've got a little plastic pool in the back for the kiddos, but the water changes funny colors sometimes. So, a refreshing dip in a proper pool is great!
Some places in South Africa already need to bring water in on trucks. Other places have been put on strict water rations. Our local government hasn't said a thing...not because we don't need the rations, but because a) They are short-sighted and inept & b) Everyone would disregard them anyway. But in an effort to be environmentally, economically, socially and botanically responsible, we bathe Travis in a bucket and then use the water to keep our trees alive.
7. The best way to stay cool is to soak your shirt in water.
As it evaporates, especially if you're using a fan, it keeps you nice and cool. And if you're in bed, add wet socks to the equation and Bingo!, you're cool as a cucumber. Only remember to wait a minute before putting your newly wet shirt back on, so as to allow the water you soaked it with to cool off, as it comes out of the pipes almost as steam.
6. 40 degrees Celsius is WAYYY hotter than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
40 degrees Celsius is equivalent to 104 Fahrenheit. That's hot! I don't care about the proverbial "dry heat!" A family in our church are partners in a heating/cooling business. Last week his instruments measured that it felt like 50 degrees Celsius in the sun, 43 in the shade. That's 122 & 110 Fahrenheit, respectively. Ouch!
Hence, the wet socks. Our indoor high temp was 39 degrees.
4. You look forward to the one day that week when the forecast calls for a high of only 97 degrees.
This week's forecast? Highs in the upper 80's with chances of rain every day. Woo-Hoo!!! We'll keep praying this happens. Yesterday was our first rain in a lonngggg time. We got 1.5 inches according to the reports. What a blessing that the dust is now mud!
3. When the temperature drops to 86 degrees, the kids wrap up in blankets during family devotions.
I always wondered how Africans can wear winter coats, caps and gloves when its in the 60's. I guess my kids are officially Africans now.
2. Eggs hard-boil themselves.
It got so hot in the kitchen at camp that when we tried to use the left-over eggs we found out they had hard boiled. Or mostly so, anyway. So the dogs got a nice little mostly hard-boiled treat.
...[Drumroll]...
1. There is no cool side of the pillow.
Do I really need to say anything about this? If Stuart Scott lived in South Africa during El Nino his one-liners wouldn't make any sense.
Oh, and as a fun little post-script, we accidentally learned how to brew alcoholic sun tea. Learned that the hard way. That foam on the top? That's because it's bubbling all on it's own. So this jug is going down the drain.
No comments:
Post a Comment