Ku hisa chaha…

The phrase I’ve repeated the most over the past two weeks is ku hisa chaha or kwa cisa ahulu. Whether I’m talking to someone in the village in Sifwe or sympahizing with a learner in Silozi, the meaning is the same: it is so hot. October is the hottest month in the Zambezi, and this one is living up to its expectations. I don’t run hot in general and I love the warm climate here, but even I am complaining. Ku hisa chaaaaaha. (I love Sifwe because it has so much rhythm and emphasis–you can put so much emotion into what you’re saying. Like when you’re hot). We’ve had multiple heat wave danger warnings and consecutive days of triple digits. And no escape to AC.

*Danger!

I go to bed sweating, I have a brief respite of 80 degree coolness (can I call that cool?) from around 3-4am, then I wake up sweating. Somehow I’m supposed to motivate 170 kids to learn math (who are also sweating) but really most of the time I feel like I’m motivating them to zuha (wake up) more often than teaching anything new.

Luckily, October is almost over and with November (should) come the rains. Last year had hardly any rain, so I’m hoping this is not a repeat. I want to see the days and days of rain everyone talks about (I promise I won’t complain about it in a future post if it does). Last night may have been a preview. No rain was forecasted, but you can’t tell the rain when to come. I was walking back from evening study when the wind started really whirling and bringing fat, heavy drops with it. Then came on-and-off downpours for the rest of the night. It was glorious. I threw my windows open and was able to get some cool rest for a few hours. Until the winds picked up so much they carried a nice layer of wet sand into my room–through my mosquito net and all over me and my bed. I was the lint roller to the storms wet sandy lint. But my extra sweeping and laundry and bath was worth the coolness! And this morning was glorious. Just in time for my learners too, who are starting to write their end of term of exams and won’t fall asleep in the heat.

*Rain is life…and destruction. One of the school trees was split in half during the storm!

As I’m sitting on my bed in the afternoon, clouds gone and heat back, it all seems like a mirage. Here’s to hoping these clouds come back just as quickly as they left.

–I hear the snows came early to CO this year… you can pretend you’re in my heat and I can pretend I’m in your cold. To be honest though I think I still prefer the warmth… I am going to freeze when I visit this winter!