Solid at Room Temperature

Hide your eyes! Owen models proper cooking attire.

It’s hot.  According to physicists, a lot of matter is supposed to be solid at room temperature. What happens when this matter has been liquid for so long, that you start to wonder “whose room is this they were speaking of and how did they get such amazing climate control?” I know this doesn’t apply to you all who are suffering in subzero wind chills, but perhaps you will enjoy just a few tips we have learned from locals…

1. Lean out. You know how Americans are supposed to “lean in” and “git ‘er done?” Just don’t. Lean out. Lean waaaay back. The further back you lean, the slower you naturally walk, and the less you have to “git done.” I learned this one from my former counterpart, Kabelo. He got to work every day at 7:30 and tried to sit really still until 4:30. That, he said, is the trick to living in Botswana.

2. Don’t touch. No hugging. There is a season for that. This is not it. Don’t even let your own skin touch itself. Crossing your legs? Do you really want that puddle of sweat in your shoe from the stream of sweat running down your leg? I didn’t think so.

3. Lay on the floor, in a doorway, with as few clothes as possible. In the desert, the shade makes a huge difference. Even if the temperature is only in the upper 90s or 100s, the sun will DESTROY you! Tile or cement floors are cool, even if corrugated metal rooftops are not. A little breeze is a gift from God. Be thankful!

4. Letsatsi le letsatsi, go letsatsi (every day, its sunny).  In Setswana, the sun is so inescapable that it just means day. If you absolutely HAVE to move, at least stay out of the sun. Everyone carries an umbrella.

5. Have a Mayo (or a Cooltime). Yes, it sounds gross. We don’t mean mayonnaise. It’s kind of like a frozen Goghurt. Better yet, freeze a peeled kiwi, papaya, or mango. Yum! Have a salted tomato or cucumber- electrolytes.

6. Dunk your sheets or pajamas. When I first heard that people did this, I swore I would never be comfortable sleeping wet. It turns out, I was wrong. Evaporative cooling is a wonderful thing.

7. Remember to recharge. We don’t mean at the spa. Do NOT forget to plug in your solar panel and keep the battery charged thoroughly enough to deliver an artificial wind tunnel when you need it most.

8. Morning water is better. Morning everything is better (sometimes the busiest times in the neighborhood are 4am-7am). Water coming from the tap in the afternoon is hot hot. Run water in the morning for a cool bucket bath after work.

9. Move to Kansas. I hear it’s beautiful this time of year…all that sleet J