Most of you are just getting the day started, but it's just after 3 p.m. here and I wanted to note that at this very moment, it is just barely hotter in Jo'burg than Toronto or Kingston. These virtual thermometer gadgets from the Weather Network do a great job of illustrating the dramatic temperature changes of a South African winter. As I've already complained to many of you, it's cold here when the sun's not out. There were times in May and June when the temp would drop to -1 or -2 in the night. Then, when the sun was shining, it would shoot back up to 20 degrees. It gives the practice of layering whole new meaning.
It also probably explains why none of the houses are winterized and everybody buys individual space heaters.
Which explains the following ...
I have a new roommate arriving on Wednesday and I spent most of Saturday traipsing around the largest mall in South Africa looking for an electric space heater for her. No luck. Every single store that could possibly have space heaters was sold out of electric ones. So I bought a gas space heater ... which makes me a little nervous. And guilty.
Anyway, the point of this post was to comment on the dramatic daily temperature changes in Jo'burg and how it can mess with both your head and your morning-wardrobe decision.
It's funny: Before I left, lots of people made jokes about how hot it was going to be and would I be able to handle it, but most mornings I wake up shivering.
I left Canada the day after the unofficial opening of summer (Victoria Day) and a few weeks before it really got started; and I'll be in SA long enough to enjoy spring (which is supposed to be hotter than Canada's summer) and about a week of official summer before heading back just in time for Canada's winter.
But officially, 2007 will forever be known as my year without a summer.
What a depressing thought.
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