Conversations during a morning commute, Namibian summer and winter

Today me and my flatmate undertook the 10 minute commute from our residence to respective places of work. We left home, in Windhoek, at around 7.20 a.m., our usual drive time. As is our habit we listen to the National Radio during the commute. One headline was on euthanasia in New Zealand, and how a man was arrested for 'murdering' a relative.

Shortly after the weather report was briefly shared, and it predicts a sunset at 8 minutes to 20h00 in the evening. My flatmate; "You know during summer the sun sets late, and it is very hot too. Last night I excited the gym at around 19h20, and the sun shone right into my eyes on my drive back (to our flat)." I nod in agreement.

Then we briefly consider how powerfully this opposes winter sun times. Barely after 17h00 during winter the sun usually has not only set, but it is pitch black outside. And we continue saying how its fairly reasonable to work later during summer than it is during winter. The unspoken consensus being that working whilst it's dark out is unpleasant, diplomatically speaking. Northern hemisphere folk might find it strange that we are willing to not only work, but also work late during summer.

That is how we do. The one thing which is really difficult to do though during summer is sleep. Having the sun shine, at immense temperatures, for around fourteen hours (6h00 to 20h00) daily makes for incredibly hot nights. During these nights I often crave death, I am 'melting' away in the insufferable heat. Yet I keep, and so too does the tiredness which I can't satiate during evenings.

Immense heat is however not always a cause of suffering toward an in-dignified death, so I can't request to be euthanized come the days when my tiredness has me make unreasonable request. Or leaves the believe that death is better than the state of constant sleeplessness.

I will gladly sacrifice the hot Namibian climate for a colder one, especially if the place with a colder climate allows summer holiday. There is not enough reason in expecting someone to be stuck indoors whilst the sun is pleasantly, albeit hotly, shining outside. It just messes with productivity, mine at least.

Regardless, there are some joys to the Namibian summer. Incredibly long days, with very clear skies. The only downer being that sleep is a luxury due to especially heat and a lack of dark time hours.