Because They're Burning Bricks

Posted By Sika on November 18, 2008

David was complaining to Flora that it is too hot* and how he wanted the rains to come. Flora’s response: The rains aren’t coming because people are still burning bricks (to cure them and make them usable).

David thought she was joking and laughed but she wasn’t. She explained that the bricks require heat and so as long as people are still burning bricks, the rains won’t come. She told David that he should yell at anyone he sees burning bricks, so that the rains will come.

Seems like as good of a reason as any. For anything. It’s my new, all-purpose excuse.

*Right now it’s hot and humid and gross. It’s the kind of weather where you get out of the shower and before you’re dry, you’ve started sweating again. It’s the kind of weather where a hot wind is almost pleasant because even if it’s not cool, at least you’re drying off. It’s the kind of weather where you stand up and the sweat drips from all the little pockets and hollows where it collected. And I live in the third coldest area of Malawi. It is so much worse in the hotter areas.

Categories: Malawi, Work
Tags: culture, Malawi, rainy season, weather