When I was training to be a missionary in Hungary, our teacher gave us a less-than-helpful warning about the summer we were about to encounter in Budapest:
You think you've been hot before? Just wait.
Coming from Houston, a city with a similar summer climate (100% humidity, 100% of the time), I thought I was more then prepared to meet the heat. It's not til I arrived that I discovered it actually is possible to survive a summer sans A/C. It's just not very comfortable.
From June til September, I was in a perpetual state of sweat. When we were offered cold watermelon for a snack, I wanted to rub my face in it. When we weren't offered ice in our drinks because "it would make us catch cold," I wanted to curse. On our days off, we would go to the farthest grocery store in town, not because it was cheap, and not because it had good produce, but simply because it had A/C.
As I mentioned earlier, Houston is in the middle of a heat wave. Tomorrow, we're scheduled to break another record--hottest 4th of July ever. In honor of this historic occasion, I bring to you three tried-and-true methods to beat the heat. So if you're planning a summer jaunt to Eastern Europe... I hope you're taking notes.
You think you've been hot before? Just wait.
Coming from Houston, a city with a similar summer climate (100% humidity, 100% of the time), I thought I was more then prepared to meet the heat. It's not til I arrived that I discovered it actually is possible to survive a summer sans A/C. It's just not very comfortable.
From June til September, I was in a perpetual state of sweat. When we were offered cold watermelon for a snack, I wanted to rub my face in it. When we weren't offered ice in our drinks because "it would make us catch cold," I wanted to curse. On our days off, we would go to the farthest grocery store in town, not because it was cheap, and not because it had good produce, but simply because it had A/C.
As I mentioned earlier, Houston is in the middle of a heat wave. Tomorrow, we're scheduled to break another record--hottest 4th of July ever. In honor of this historic occasion, I bring to you three tried-and-true methods to beat the heat. So if you're planning a summer jaunt to Eastern Europe... I hope you're taking notes.
- Stick a bucket of ice water next to your bed. If you're anything like me, sleep and sweat just don't mix. Just swing those legs over the side of your bed, stick those feet in the ice water, and enjoy the shock as the cold sting moves from your feet to the rest of your body. Repeat throughout the night.
- Stick a fan above the bucket of ice water. It's homemade air conditioning, and it works. We kept multiple buckets of ice around the apartment--once it stopped working with the fan, we found it was still cold enough to work splendidly for trick #1.
- Stick a cold rag on your face or neck. In a bind, it also works quite well to use your handkerchief (aka sweat rag). Just pull it out of your pocket, wave it in the air a bit to cool it down, and place it on your face. Listed last because it's not as long-lasting or satisfying as the first two. But not bad for a momentary chill thrill.
9 comments:
wow. Those tips are fantastic. I wish I had thought of something like that on my mission.
I think Korea ranks pretty highly up there for hot/humidity in the summer. Tropical. I remember feeling like I could never get clean from the sweat. you'd take a shower and as soon as the water stops beads of sweat are already popping out on your forehead. We had an apartment on the 10th floor in Incheon, a city with absolutely no breeze. Our apartment had no refreshing air coursing through it, despite leaving doors and windows open in great hope. Atleast I didn't have a companion who wanted to turn on the floor heat at night (a very Korean thing to do, even in the dead of summer). I had the worst heat rash for about 3 months. ugh.
Good luck weathering Houston's heat wave!
I thought I liked heat. But then I got older. And wiser. And visited Phoenix. I almost died. I was in an easy bake oven the entire time. I don't understand how people can live in that. This wkd I was camping and woke up in the morning once again in the easy bake oven in the tent. It was nearly a real oven. I guess I really don't like heat as much as I thought. 70-80 degrees is the perfect temperature and I which it was that temp all the time. I also hate cold. Anyhow. nice tricks for heat. P.S. I want the peach pie recipe. P.P.S. I want to go to churrascos sooooo bad I might die. P.P.P.S. I saw you commented on my blog and I thought, Lisa is back from the dead! Sure enough, you have posted 50 million times since I last checked your blog. How does she do it folks?
Hope your hot 4th was full of ice, popsicles, and fireworks. I love the ice bucket idea. I swear my feet get hot flashes. :)
WOW. and I thought I was hot being 9 months pregnant in 90 degree weather. I won't complain anymore. :)
glad you'll be back in a week. crazy that after that I won't see you until the baby's here!
Did I understand #3 correctly? Cool yourself with your own sweat? Really?
Also. I am sure we will be here for Labor Day. Please come visit!
I could have used that whole'ice-bucket' idea this weekend. We hit 96 and I thought I might actually die.
Oh, and please come to the wedding! I would love to see you!
NO ME PUEDO IMAGINAR ALGO MAS CALIENTE QUE HOUSTON!!!
DAD
Lisa! I finally found you! So I'm a quick one, I couldn't figure out how to contact you because I didn't realize you were married and I couldn't remember your last name. huge congrats! He seems lovely. And you look so beautiful and happy.
Well this old roommate of yours is about to finish up PA school and I might just move back to Utah. We'll see. If your in contact with Brandi, give her a huge hug for me!
Jackie
ha, i bet my sister used those tips when she served in hungary!
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