HEAT
Prompt - Heat : Write about being overheated and sweltering
I was warned. Several times, especially by my Swedish friends. So it's my own fault and I deserve the humiliation. I know I do. Why did I let pride, and a burgeoning friendship, fool me into going along with it?
It was my first time in the country and I'd been looking forward to it so much. From a fascinating old capital city to start out on, to exploring further and further towards the Arctic Circle, into vast expanses of trees and water and wildlife and not much else. Into genuinely underpopulated regions, something a man from the British Isles had never experienced. Plus getting an opportunity to learn more about their progressive social policies, and just why they were consistently so successful in being one of the happiest places on the planet.
I drew the line at trying to learn the language of course - that way lies madness. I should have drawn a second line.
But I met Lassi. Lovely guy, a history professor steeped in knowledge of the land and people, and a fellow runner. He initiated me into their ways (and dramatically increased my caffeine intake!) and eventually persuaded me to take the ultimate challenge.
I've been in North Africa. I've been to the Arizona desert. I've experienced the humidity of Vietnamese forest. I've been in plenty of hot situations, and I've coped. My preference will always be for more temperate climes, but if going somewhere interesting means I have to endure a bit of sweltering then so be it.
And none of those prepared me. For the steam, for sense of being broiled alive, for the feeling of every pore in my body opening wide and pouring forth my life juices. Or for the laughter of Lassi and his pals as I admitted defeat, while they settled in comfortably. There is nothing - absolutely nothing - prepares you for being in a Finnish sauna. Never again....
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