Have you ever walked outside and felt like your skin was melting off because it was so damn hot? Did you enjoy that feeling of utter misery? If so, move to Thailand immediately.
This is the weather for 9 out of 12 months. WHY DO I LIVE HERE AGAIN?!?!
I knew Thailand was hot before I came. But, I didn't realize I'd be living in hell the majority of the year. Places in the states are hot. Atlanta in the summer months is absolutely miserable. But, we're smart. We can escape the heat. Walk into any building, house, car, whatever, and the AC is blasting, so you can immediately feel cold again.
It's not like that here. Thailand doesn't escape the heat; they embrace it. Nothing is air conditioned. Restaurants, classrooms, and night markets are all outside. Forget trying to cool off with a cold shower. Since the water tank is outside, it's literally boiling water that comes out of the tap. Living here is the definition of hell on Earth. I feel like the Wicked Witch from the West because I am actually melting.
The absolute worst part about the heat is driving a scooter. The best way to describe this form of torture is the feeling you get when you're waiting on Thanksgiving dinner, and you keep opening the oven to check the turkey. There's a big heat wave that smacks you in the face, which you immediately back away from. Now, imagine driving a scooter into that oven. Saying it's hard to breathe is the understatement of the century. It feels like you're suffocating by asphyxiation on lava.
Worst of all, it's not like you can drive around naked on your scooter (not that you'd want to anyway considering skin cancer is no joke), but, as we know, showing skin is frowned upon in Thailand. So instead, you go straight Tuareg style and drive around completely covered up. It helps to keep the sweat trapped against your skin, avoid inhaling car exhaust, and best of all, escaping third degree burns.
Standard scooter attire. Good news: long pants generate quite a bit of ass-sweat. Swamp-ass is another serious problem in Thailand.
I have never been this sweaty this consistently. I sweat when I'm sleeping, showering, walking, teaching, blinking, etc. I'm constantly dehydrated because I'm constantly sweating. It is unbearably hot, and I'm unbearably sweating at all times.
Asians don't sweat, so they can't relate to my torment. I don't know what happened with their genetic evolution, but they literally never sweat. It's insanity. But, there is one person in KPP who understands my suffering more than anyone: my American roommate from Colorado. Nothing like going to an air conditioned gym and wringing out your shirt prior to your workout.
This is the only air conditioned gym in all of KPP... But Adam and I still rain down sweat inside this place.
Most places have fans blowing to at least circulate the heat around the room. It doesn't do much good, but it's better than nothing.
Standard "restaurant" in KPP.
It's tough for me to figure out why people live in this climate by choice. But, then I remember that I'm living here by choice. Dehydration must be messing with my thought process because I'm clearly not thinking straight. Could someone remind me why I'm choosing this over an air conditioned room, a cold shower, and a comfy bed?
Next stop: Antarctica.