Heat Index

The second day I was in Spokane during my recent retreat in the USA, the temperature hit 104 degrees Fahrenheit.  It also hit a blistering 98 in temperate Seattle.  Both of those marks are hot by anybody's standards, but, and I am not trying to make all you Pac Northwester's sound like a bunch of sissies, it just didn't strike me as particularly oppressive.  Surprisingly, as far as I know it rarely gets above 90 in tropical Belize.  I say as far as I know because I don't actually have a thermometer.  I know that 104 in the desert heat of Eastern Washington is not quite the same as a comparable temperature in the dripping wet rain forest of Central America, but without an accurate gauge and some meteorological research I just couldn't be sure.

In the spirit of good empiricism I stopped by the nearest mega-multi-purpose-store that makes America so American (don't you dare judge me) and purchased a pocket sized digital thermometer/humidity gauge combo for only $8.99.  I carried that thing (and at least 100 additional pounds of crap that I probably wont need here in Belize but looked so pretty and useful up there in the USA) all the way back to my village.  And it works too.  But back to the problem of the heat/humidity interaction, known as the Heat Index to ever-zealous weather reporters.  This was a job for the internet.  It was here that I found a great Heat Index table that I immediately copied onto the yellow ledger that was on Jeff's desk and later taped to my bedroom wall.  No longer would I be curious about the temperature outside (which is always the same as the temperature inside) as well as how hot it felt to us of the human species.  Which brings up the question, does the heat index apply to cats and lizards as well?  Anyways, here is what I learned during my first day as amateur jungle weather recorder.  

• 7am: temp = 80 F, humidity = 74%, feels like = 83 F (chilly)
• 2pm: temp = 91 F, humidity = 79%, feels like = 112 F (I’m melting)
• 7pm: temp = 84 F, humidity = 78%, feels like = 93 F (I’m not even sweating)
  

I will resist the urge to bore you with the weather every time I write, but do expect updates on the most extreme situations.  For instance, if the Heat Index tops 125 F, you will be hearing about it because that is just ridiculous.  With that, I leave you to enjoy your climate controlled 68.  

Coast to coast

You know it's going to be a long day when your watch reads 8:15am and you
have already been up for 5 hours. That was today, my last full day in the
USA for another year. I could try to sum up my last 12 days of vacation in
the states, but it would make for a long read. The most notable aspect of
my trip was the lack of shock and the ease of adjustment. I really was
expecting a difficult, or at least weird experience as I entered my old life
after a year gone, but it was easy. It was almost too easy. Sure, the
grocery store was a fun experience, but I knew exactly what I wanted and
where to find it, even Target was a pleasant outing. So maybe I am not as
hard-core as I like to think I am, or maybe Belize isn't far removed enough
from life in the states. In any case, I am ready to get back to Belize, but
spending a few weeks in my old shoes reminded me how great it will be to
return as well.

So now I sit in a shady Miami Airport hotel watching cable and eating Trader
Joes Wasabi Peas for dinner. Hey, for $59 a night it's not like I am
getting room service, but I do have a bed and a shower all to myself.
Tomorrow I begin Shella in Belize, the Second Season. Stayed tuned for more
rants about rice and tales of tarantulas.