January 18, 2002
That's right... it's winter in Cote d'Ivoire, or as close as we ever get. The season is called Harmattan, when the winds from the Sahara desert come down all the way to the coast to give us a break for a little while.
It's dry... very, very dry. It's wonderful!!! I am using moisturizer and lots of chapstick for the first time since I arrived. And it's nice and cool from about 7pm until 10am. I would guess the lows are around 65 - 70. I actually turned off the fan last night!
During the day, it soars again up to about 85, but it's still dry. It's a wonderful change from the usual heat and humidity.
Here in the south where I live, we will have Harmattan for about two blessed weeks. In the north it can go as long as two months. After Harmattan it will be terribly hot and humid all through February and March. I've been complaining all fall about the temperatures; apparently, I ain't seen nothing yet! They keep telling me to brace myself...
What I really enjoy is watching the Africans adjust to this Harmattan season. They are wearing winter coats! Not little jackets, but actual winter coats with fur-lined hoods! Kids are bundled up for their walk to school in the morning. By the time they come home for lunch at noon, it's hot again, and everyone is dragging his or her coat in the dirt.
Yesterday morning was so cool that I actually broke down and put on the long sleeved shirt I brought with me. For eight months I've been wondering why on earth I brought a long sleeved shirt to the tropics. Finally I had a chance to wear it. But believe me, I was not tempted to don a winter coat!!
I will think of you in the States... scraping cars and making that long windy cold walk in from the parking lot... as long as you think of me here suffering in the heat starting February 1. Hmmm... perhaps this is a good time to come visit me?