I think I'm going to write a Friday letter, because why not? I can't see this becoming a habit because usually I've turned into a total slug by Fridays after work and various activities. I don't want to promise (or threaten!) anything by then.
Dear Germany: please, please stop being so freakin' hot! We're melting here with the temperatures in the 100s. It appears that high temperatures will continue in the next week. Ugh.
Dear stores that actually have air conditioning: why in the world do you keep your front doors open with the air on? That is DUMB and wasteful! These same stores keep the doors open during the winter, too. As environmentally conscious as Germany normally is, this behavior is completely out of line.
Dear German citizens who were wearing long sleeves/long trousers today, and the guy who was wearing a vest when the temperatures were in the high 90s: how on earth do you do that? Is there a secret? I was in capris and a t-shirt and was roasting.
Dear Volkspark: thank you for being a lovely, green oasis to sit on grass with friends.
Dear grass: I offer you no thanks for turning me into an itchy mess before I fell asleep. Dear self: I also offer you no thanks for not being smarter about the fact that you are allergic to grass and should have predicted this.
Dear people at the Volkspark who were doing...uh, something that you shouldn't have (to what percentage, I don't know/care): get a room. The Volkspark is not that room.
Dear little dog friends who are my company right now: you are rather cute, despite burping/snorting/panting in my face.
"Dear German citizens who were wearing long sleeves/long trousers today, and the guy who was wearing a vest when the temperatures were in the high 90s: how on earth do you do that? Is there a secret? I was in capris and a t-shirt and was roasting."
ReplyDeleteInteresting, isn't it? While I was living in the US (as a German), I developed the theory that Americans have a different temperature regulation of their bodies than, for example, Germans. There seems to be a greater preference for low temperatures and 'venting' in Americans. Ice cold drinks, ice cold rooms, wearing flip-flops everywhere and even in Autumn or Spring. Obviously, it can't be genetic, so I suppose it's a lifelong adaptation to the availability of cooling in hot environments.
Three years ago, when I was visiting family in Mexico, I almost fainted when I saw roadworkers working in the heat of noon in the caribbean (close to 40° celsius) in dark long trousers and sleeves without the slightest indication of overheating.
Anyways - the heat of yesterday and today reminds me of Columbus, Ohio, Summer of 2004, when a German couple that was determined to live without airconditioning gave in after a few sleepless nights and rented an in-window-frame machine :-)
Usually Germany isn't so hot, so I can see where air conditioning might not be widely available here, but with it being in the 30-40 degree Celsius ranges, it's crazy!
ReplyDeleteMy friend said she just ordered a fan for her apartment since it's rather hot for her. She lives in the Dachgeschoss so I can only imagine how hot it is! Another friend has no fan and doesn't plan to get one either. I can understand not having AC since these heat waves aren't that prevalent, but having no fan is a different concept to me. It's amazing how nicely they can help a person cool off without AC. At work, we don't have AC either and it gets quite hot. I can bare it when I direct the fan on my face or on my sandaled (without socks ;) feet. If I didn't have that, I'd probably get Hulk Angry and...I don't know, maybe not get much work done?
By "bare it," I actually mean "bear it." Apparently the heat was affecting my brain.
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