We are in the midst of the Moroccan winter, which is mild by most American standards, of course, except for the fact that the homes and buildings here are unheated. It doesn't seem to get down to freezing, but it may get to 40 or 50 or so, with heavy winds and rain on the worse days. Coming into an unheated home offers little relief and it's not easy to get used to it.
I learned quickly that Moroccans compensate in their own ways. Moroccans have lots and lots of blankets. Lots of blankets. Moroccan hosts routinely their wrap their guests in blankets as well plying them with with hot tea, coffee and food. A visit to a Moroccan home in mid-winter is reminiscent of a slumber party. Also, a trip to the hammam (ha MAM), the steam-filled, public baths frequented by Moroccans of all ages, is excellent for restoring warmth.
My first winter here took me quite by surprise. My Moroccan friends were telling me that heat dries you out and makes you sick. I looked at them. Yes, right, I got that. That's why vaporizers and humidifiers were invented. I was trying to tell them that no heat makes you dead, as in frozen popsicle dead. They looked at me. They didn't get it. Although they have had hail in during a bad winter, they had no frame of reference for things like snowdrifts and blizzard or below-freezing temperatures. I was distressed.
So I've decided now that I need to toughen up a bit and learn to adapt. I do have space heaters for the really cold weather, but I actually find myself not using them for just "normal" cold days. I have, instead, discovered the joy (that's not the right word, surely) of wearing up to 5 layers of clothing and sleeping nearly fully dressed. And of waking up because I'm too hot.
I learned quickly that Moroccans compensate in their own ways. Moroccans have lots and lots of blankets. Lots of blankets. Moroccan hosts routinely their wrap their guests in blankets as well plying them with with hot tea, coffee and food. A visit to a Moroccan home in mid-winter is reminiscent of a slumber party. Also, a trip to the hammam (ha MAM), the steam-filled, public baths frequented by Moroccans of all ages, is excellent for restoring warmth.
My first winter here took me quite by surprise. My Moroccan friends were telling me that heat dries you out and makes you sick. I looked at them. Yes, right, I got that. That's why vaporizers and humidifiers were invented. I was trying to tell them that no heat makes you dead, as in frozen popsicle dead. They looked at me. They didn't get it. Although they have had hail in during a bad winter, they had no frame of reference for things like snowdrifts and blizzard or below-freezing temperatures. I was distressed.
So I've decided now that I need to toughen up a bit and learn to adapt. I do have space heaters for the really cold weather, but I actually find myself not using them for just "normal" cold days. I have, instead, discovered the joy (that's not the right word, surely) of wearing up to 5 layers of clothing and sleeping nearly fully dressed. And of waking up because I'm too hot.
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