When the Heat Becomes Too Much to Handle

Honestly, this heat in Nigeria is something else. I don’t know if it’s just me or if the sun is suddenly closer to the earth. Everywhere is hot. Even the ground feels like it wants to burn person leg. It’s not even funny again.

I used to think harmattan heat in February was bad, but this one that came with July is like punishment. You will bathe and still be sweating while you are tying your towel. I go out in the morning and by the time I come back, I look like someone that just finished running marathon. The sun is not playing with anybody.

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And here in the northern part of the country, it’s worse. No amount of sunscreen can hold the sunburn. My skin is tired. One of my friends even joked that from our city to hell fire is just a little token for transportation because of how hot it is here. And the way we thought rain would come and suppress the heat, but instead the sun seems to be getting stronger every day. The rain will fall and still leave the air hot and sticky. Confusion everywhere.

What Have I Been Doing To Cope?

First thing I did was to reduce my movements during the day. I only go out when it's very necessary. If I can call or send message, I just do that. If I go out under that sun for long, I will start having headache and feel weak. So I just stay indoors most times and try to keep my space cool.

For someone like me that doesn’t have constant light you know how NEPA behaves, I had to find my own small way of staying fresh. I got a solar rechargeable fan. That fan has saved my life many times once I position it well and sit in front of it, it helps me a lot.

Another thing that has helped me is drinking cold water. I make sure I always have water in my freezer or at least in a bottle inside a bucket of water to stay cool. Anytime I feel like I’m about to melt, I just carry my bottle and drink. Sometimes, I even use the cold water to clean my face and neck.

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You see cold baths? I take them like three times a day now. In the morning when I wake up, in the afternoon if I’m home, and at night before I sleep. If I don’t bathe before sleeping, forget it, I won’t sleep well. The heat will not allow me. Sometimes, I even use wet towel to clean my body and lie down like that. Na survival mode we dey now.

My clothes have changed too. All those thick clothes, I packed them away. I now wear light gowns, shorts, and sleeveless tops at home. If you wear anything tight now, your body will roast like plantain.

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Even at night, I now sleep on the floor sometimes. I spread mat and lie down near the window where I can get small breeze. Mattress dey sweat person too much.

To be honest, this heat has humbled all of us. But we move. We just have to look for ways to stay sane. I know rain will still come, and the weather will balance out again. But till then, na to manage and keep ourselves safe.

This is my entry for this week's episode of #indiaunited community prompt #iucontest

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