South Australians are warm people. Today I found them particularly warm and chatty. Perhaps the 70-year record temperature of 45,7 degrees has something to do with it. “Our air conditioner packed up,” someone shared, half smiling. “It’s too hot to eat — I’ve lost my appetite,” said another. Global warming, warned the television. Expect more of it.
I remember feeling for Upington in summer. Mostly, it’s the hottest place in South Africa, according to the weather forecasts. But now I’m experiencing an Aussie heat
wave, which beats Upington, and my heart’s thumping and my brain feels fried.
It’s the wild birds I worry about. I’ve placed an assortment of containers outside in hope that the cool water will resuscitate the magpies, miners, rosellas and lorikeets. Most sport has been stopped and the ambulance services have had a 12 % increase in call-outs to assist the elderly in Adelaide who have dehydrated.
I’m not sure how the Proteas managed to play in the heat on Monday. “Who did you support?” is the question posed by all my South African friends. It’s complicated (sounds like a relationship status on a teenager’s Facebook profile). Some expats vow from day one to support the Aussies, no matter what. They train and reprogramme their brains and this can take a month, a year or more. I started off the day of the cricket in a patriotic manner. I bought a chocolate cake with an Australia Day flag stuck in the middle. After polishing half the cake (showing true and complete support of Aussie Day and Aussie confectionary) I joined the family on a trip to braai and watch the cricket with other expats. We passed a car with a huge South African flag hanging out a window. In an instant I forgot my loyalty and commitment to cake and country. I waved and flung my arms about wildly, almost falling out the car. I believe expats at the cricket oval were divided in their reactions. Most of those of two years and less supported the Proteas. Apparently, some expats have been known to astound themselves by suddenly shouting for and supporting the Aussies. Once it happens, there’s no turning back. Then there are the others who work diligently and for many years “to do the right thing” ie. become one with all Australian teams. For them, it happens in the head but never from the heart.
I really find the Australians warm and friendly and I can’t deny that, given some time, I’ll be cheering enthusiastically for teams from Down Under. That’s providing I don’t spontaneously combust before then, of course.
Heh heh – I know how you feel. It gets that hot in parts of the US too. What’s worked for me, regarding the patriotic-thing, is to be a sort of dual-patriot: I love where I live and consider the US home now, but will always be African at heart and still follow South African news daily (all my family are still there). Maybe this wouldn’t work for everyone and I’m a bit wierd, but I feel just fine this way – one foot in Africa and one in the US …!
I enjoyed reading this, thanks!
(I assume you’re in ‘Melbin’? A friend told me that Adelaide’s even worse iro heat I gather, and is thinking of moving to somewhere like Tasmania if the trend continues, or until guvmints do something BIG about combatting global warming.)
Water outside for the poor birds – how could you? Don’t you know that South Australian water is the pits- the absolute worst in Australia? And you are giving more of it to those poor birds …..
Don’t worry – I lived there for a few years and I do know what it tasted like and remember it still.
Of course, I was there in my formative years, and I also remember that Adelaide has the record (if one could be proud of it) for the highest recorded temperature for a capital city in Australia – 115 degrees – but I could have sworn it was hotter…
As for extremes I was once working on some machinery at Curtin Springs – not far from Ulurhu (Ayers Rock for the unfamiliar) where the temperature INSIDE the bar was 45 degrees at about 3PM in the afternoon but when I woke in the morning (in my down sleeping bag) I was covered in ice flakes and frost – a kind of five dog night….
Any wonders I now prefer the uncomfortable tropics where the only thing I have to worry about is the humidity occasionally….
What a lovely piece of down to earth writing. Like the part of the SA flag and supporters. I hope this is understood the SA patriots who think that everyone is a deserter or racist. That those who leave are not necessary anti Blacks just against the laws and performance that go with a black government
shame hugh. your thoughts do betray you.
South Africans seldom appreciate how fotunate we generally are regarding climate. We live in relative comfort compared with most other countries. The downside is that we hardly do anything to alleviate the extremes. There are excellent reasons why the Americans have had air conditioning for ages.
@ CB
So it seems straddling two continents IS possible?
@ Ash
I’m in Adelaide which has today equalled its record for the number of consecutive days of 40 degrees Celsius and more (set in 1908).
@ jay
The water is better than the tap water in Port Elizabeth! Our water here is rationed at the moment and they promote drinking from the tap to reduce the amount of plastic water bottles which in turn will reduce carbon emissions which will reduce global warming which will hopefully normalise the rainfall patterns!
@chris2
I hear that the Eastern Cape farmers are suffering badly from drought conditions and farms have been reduced to dust bowls.
I must admit that the heatwave in Adelaide is frightening, scorching plants and people…even the locals didn’t expect the intensity and duration of this wave. At least 21 elderly people died suddenly in Adelaide today as a direct result of the heat and meltdown of airconditioning systems. At about 11pm last night we were alerted by SMS by local government and warned about the seriousness of the present situation (keep hydrated, stay indoors,check on elderly neighbours etc).
Global warming is serious and deadly (an inconvenient truth…?)