Yesterday the thermometer on my balcony read 39C (about 102F). It was hot, hot, hot with a lot of humidity. Today the thermometer is reading 24C (about 76F)!? Nothing like a HUGE temperature difference!
I have all the windows flung wide open! I needed the relief today and there is rumor that the heat wave is over. Oh could it even be true?! I am trying to cool down the flat and get some fresh air circulating around here. There is a nice breeze and we have had a few calm, peaceful, easy rain showers. I know the humidity is still high (the frizzy hair I am sporting gives that away); just does not feel quite as oppressive as yesterday.
Perhaps I am the only one who enjoys the hint and possibility of autumn?! I suppose that I should find something besides weather to talk about - I am sure you guys would appreciate that. I will work on it. Until then, just know I am LOVIN' the coolness of today.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Summer Heat.
According to my national friends; these are the top three ways to survive the summer heat without air conditioning or any semblance of a breeze.
1. Drink lots of hot tea and eat loads of hot soup. Apparently, heating your insides hotter than your outsides makes you feel cooler. I tried this and commenced to sweat more than I already was ... still not convinced.
2. Sleep under a damp sheet. Right, sleep in a hot, stale room (because using a fan would be bad) under a wet sheet ... there are just so many things I could say ... but won't.
3. Wear nothing. Or as close to nothing as you can get. For the mental stability of my flatmate and others around me I've not tried this one. However, if this heat keeps up much longer I just might consider purchasing one of the popular crochet, barely there tops. At least people might not stand as close to me on the metro; then I'd only be drowning in my sweat rather than in their sweat too.
I did cover my windows with aluminum foil; that's helping. And I spend most of time sitting on the 'cooler' floor in front of the fan, if I have to go out I am thankful that I can walk because its way better than being smushed into an enclosed bus with other hot people and I've traded room temperature water for an occasional cold drink from the refrigerator. All in all, I think I've adjusted. Now I just wonder how I am going to handle the over abundance of air conditioning when I get back to America? I expect I'll survive just fine.
1. Drink lots of hot tea and eat loads of hot soup. Apparently, heating your insides hotter than your outsides makes you feel cooler. I tried this and commenced to sweat more than I already was ... still not convinced.
2. Sleep under a damp sheet. Right, sleep in a hot, stale room (because using a fan would be bad) under a wet sheet ... there are just so many things I could say ... but won't.
3. Wear nothing. Or as close to nothing as you can get. For the mental stability of my flatmate and others around me I've not tried this one. However, if this heat keeps up much longer I just might consider purchasing one of the popular crochet, barely there tops. At least people might not stand as close to me on the metro; then I'd only be drowning in my sweat rather than in their sweat too.
I did cover my windows with aluminum foil; that's helping. And I spend most of time sitting on the 'cooler' floor in front of the fan, if I have to go out I am thankful that I can walk because its way better than being smushed into an enclosed bus with other hot people and I've traded room temperature water for an occasional cold drink from the refrigerator. All in all, I think I've adjusted. Now I just wonder how I am going to handle the over abundance of air conditioning when I get back to America? I expect I'll survive just fine.
Monday, August 9, 2010
A Week In The Village.
Tetive is not technically a village; it is a small town with a population of about 15,000. Either way, its small compared to Kyiv! I spent this last week out there with a volunteer group from Mississippi. We had a great time doing an EFL camp, visiting the orphanage in Tetive and making humanitarian aid deliveries to various homes in town.
I ended up helping with the younger group of beginner students. Most of these kids didn't know any English at all. So we learned the ABC's, how to introduce ourselves and tell how old we are. We worked on learning colours, numbers and body parts. It was so fun to teach them the game Simon Says! We also had a lot of break times on the playground and the ever popular snack time.
One afternoon we went to the orphanage. The volunteer group, aided by their translators, put together a cute little program of songs and skits. The group brought a lot of gifts for the kids, so those got passed out. There was also a couple of lessons on American football - aided by one of the team members and his intense passion for American football!
The week out in Tetive was great. It was fun to watch the team interact with the kids from town and awesome to watch as they met physical needs and shared the love of the One who meets Spiritual needs. I really enjoyed getting to spend the week working with one of our students from seminary. He has such a heart and passion for the people of Tetive and I am honoured to have had the opportunity to assist him this past week.
I ended up helping with the younger group of beginner students. Most of these kids didn't know any English at all. So we learned the ABC's, how to introduce ourselves and tell how old we are. We worked on learning colours, numbers and body parts. It was so fun to teach them the game Simon Says! We also had a lot of break times on the playground and the ever popular snack time.
One afternoon we went to the orphanage. The volunteer group, aided by their translators, put together a cute little program of songs and skits. The group brought a lot of gifts for the kids, so those got passed out. There was also a couple of lessons on American football - aided by one of the team members and his intense passion for American football!
The week out in Tetive was great. It was fun to watch the team interact with the kids from town and awesome to watch as they met physical needs and shared the love of the One who meets Spiritual needs. I really enjoyed getting to spend the week working with one of our students from seminary. He has such a heart and passion for the people of Tetive and I am honoured to have had the opportunity to assist him this past week.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
