2002-05-29 - 10:01 a.m.

I can drink 1.5 liters of water in under 20 seconds. Is that a world record? Someone should check. It’s hot here. I’m not talking about 90 degree “oh my armpits are sweaty” heat. I’m talking 120 degree “dear god I think my skin is melting” kind of heat. Audrey has taken to filling one of our basins with water and sitting in it from 11-4. Though I scoff at her antics, I am silently jealous of her tiny size that allows her to fit inside the green tubs. Personally I take 4-5 showers a day just to cool off. I have to wear pants and a dress shirt when I’m out on the streets, but as soon as I’m in the house it’s underwear time. Once daunted by our peeping neighbours, we have all taken to a “who care’s, we’re in our own house” attitude, and walk around in the near buff for most of the day.
Yesterday we had a soccer game at 4. Our practices have been pushed back to 6 due to the intense heat, but the game, which was scheduled during the cool season, couldn’t be changed. Sitting in the shade before the match I was sweating like a pig. Once out on the field, perspiration poured off of my body. Thank God I’m the worst player on the team. They took me out before the end of the first half. I watched the rest of the game from the bench with a cooler of water nearby (final score 0-0). My dark skinned teammates dump water on their heads at half time. Someone fills a bag with water and pokes holes in it creating a small shower for himself.
My fellow volunteers and I have begun preparing for the summer. Water balloons and squirt guns have been collected. Todd got two squirt bottles for ketchup and mustard. Our new favourite pastime is to fill them with ice and water then douse ourselves with the liquid from head to toe. Water balloon ambushes are not only desired, but encouraged. Our unused cistern is to be turned into a closed top pool. We will fill it waist high, then we can crawl down into its cool dark depths. I wanted to install a water slide going into it, but since the opening is only 2 x 1.5ft, chance of a concussion is too high.

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