Yogi Berra had said that "It ain't the heat, it's the humility."
I'd like to change that phrase a little bit: "It ain't the heat, it's the humidity." It's common knowledge that Cambodia is hot all year round. However, the actual "hot season" comes around every year during late March to early June (give or take a week). According to my Khmer friends, this hot season is by far the hottest they have experienced in years. I think the average temperature of Cambodian summers are similar to my Maryland summers back home. The only differences between the US and Cambodia summers are that most of us volunteers do NOT have Air Conditioning, a fridge at home for cool drinks or ice, or reliable electricity to even use an electric fan. Of course the heat itself can be pretty intense already. However, humidity makes it worse. Heat is the hotness of temperature, and humidity is the amount of moisture or water vapor in the atmosphere. Both of these factors combined can be a even bigger problem! Humidity can make the air feel drastically hotter. Humidity causes the air to be saturated with moisture, and sweat does not evaporate as quickly when the weather is humid. This evaporation is a major method by which the body cools itself. That is why high humidity levels won't allow our bodies to cool off like we normally would. I am suddenly feeling very thankful for the Air Conditioning I had at home, in my car, and every building I walked into when I was living in Maryland during summer time. It makes me realize that we take many things for granted in life, especially in the US. The things we consider as basic rights in the US is not even really a basic need here in Cambodia. Imagine the farmers working under this heat just to feed their family or support village economy. Just a little something to think about. ;)
1 Comment
YM
4/18/2019 06:48:35 pm
I will not survive a week in that hotness. Only a hot thing like you can survive this! You go YM!
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Christine can be reached at [email protected].
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