Temperature

People from back home have been asking me what the weather is like here. As we understand it, overall, the weather is very comparable to northern Florida with mild seasons, no snow, and hot summers. Of course, we haven't been here an entire season cycle. So we can't say for sure. And, apparently, this has been one of the warmest summers in recent memory.

But here is how it is different. The temperatures right now are highs in the 90's (or 100's a few weeks ago) but early in the morning and late at night they can swing into the low 70's.

This is different from a place like South Florida. While South Florida doesn't get quite as hot as it does here, it stays warmer. For instance, a few days ago, we had a high of 92 and a low of 70. When I looked at South Florida, the high was 92 or so and the low was 87. That's where the difference is.

It is getting better, but most people avoid doing anything between 10-3. Any other time of the day right now is pretty pleasant and even a bit "cool" sometimes.

Hard to believe that most Turks do not have air conditioning. And if they do, they have a unit in just one room. They have good ceiling fans and leave their windows open a lot, but AC is not then norm. Most restaurants and places of business have no air or a simple unit that doesn't really help all that much. Even places like malls, while air conditioned, are set much warmer than we are accustomed to. You don't get that "cooled off" feeling off-Base like you do on-Base.

Hatice told me that to put AC in their house and her husband's business would cost them about $600 a month. She makes less than that a month! Yikes!

Either way, we are really looking forward to nicer temperatures in the next few months. Bring it on!