Escaping the Heat

When people used to ask me why I went to Emory, I said “for the weather.” Then I moved to Boston and was quickly reminded what living in the cold can do to a person. Now that I am back in a land of heat and humidity, I relish the warm weather….that is of course, during the months of the year that is not 90 degrees with 70% humidity.

When foreigners come to Tel Aviv in the hot summer months, many of them cannot understand how people live in these kinds of conditions. Just like any uncomfortable situation, the heat becomes relative and people build up a tolerance. Therefore, when it is only 50% humidity and cloudy, you feel refreshed and relieved that you have a break from the heat.

One tip that I have picked up from watching the natives (which I guess I am now a part of) is to walk in the shade whenever possible, even if that means zigzagging across a street or stopping at a red light far away from the curb because you are standing under an awning of a store who has its door open with the AC blowing out.

At the beginning of the summer I was out on the beach sun-tanning next to the next girl, but by August the sun only got stronger. Now I walk down the side of the street with the most trees and go to the beach right before sunset.

You know that the day is too hot when you get a popsicle and have to race to finish it before it drips all over you and falls on the sidewalk.