Hot Like a Hot Dog

It's the middle of hot season here, and we can feel it more than ever.  Some days are better than others but all are still VERY hot.  The weather here never drops below 75 degrees (or not since we have lived here) all year round, but March, April, and May are labeled the months of "hot season."

During these three months it is when we don't get the cool down in the mornings and evenings.  Even though it's not much the rest of the year, you can at least wake up to feel a cooler breeze, or sit on the porch at night in mild comfort.

Usually, the temperture sits around 95 degrees, with about 80% humidity, making our heat index anywhere from 105-115.  I try to tell myself everyday that it is not really that hot, and it isn't, but the killer is not having aircon. I think about the South in the US, and how they often are that hot, but the key difference is central air in homes, restaurants, shops, etc.  We just don't have those spots of relief here. 

The other major issue is that we don't have consistant power.  Cambodia doesn't have the infrastructure to get power to the whole country or to growing areas in the cities.  Our electricty is diesel fuel powered through Thailand. At both our work places we lose power everyday for anywhere between 1-5 hours, and some days (the long ones) all day.  This is brutal.  Without a fan directly on you, the sweat just pours.  We find ourself praying, "Lord please just give us power for half the day today."  These times without power, seem the most draining, and are when it takes all your energy to just not freak out but try to find other ways to cool your body down (and try to keep working...).

Some examples of our thoughts and experiences:
- Driving home I said to myself, "It feel like a global size hair dryer is on me at full blast heat."
- While trying to buy fabric at the market I was sweating through all my clothes so bad (even pants) that the lady told me to sit down, drink some water, and she started to fan me while laughing."  Very kind of her but a tad embarrasing.
- Walking out of our bedroom in the morning after sleeping in aircon, Chris says, "it feels like a legitimate sauna in our living room."  I choose to stay in our bedroom for another 30 minutes.
- This morning I told Chris, "I only have 3 days this week that I won't be in aircon.  It's going to be a good week."


 This hot season has been trying but we are near the end. The monsoon rains are back again and it seems as if the whole country is getting a much deserved bath. The heat index is typically still above 105 degrees but, the rains give us a respite from the torching sun a couple of afternoons per week now.

Soon we will be cold. Numb fingers, numb nose, shivering cold. It will be great, and we will wish for the heat.