Dust, Sweat, and Tears

While most people reading this blog are currently in the midst of a very cold and particularly snowy Winter, I'm experiencing a season that is new to me, but is a regular part of this time of year for West Africans: it's called Harmattan (pronounced HAR-muh-tawn), and it is caused by a dry, dusty wind that blows in from the Sahara Desert.

source: http://updatesfromfreetown.blogspot.com/2015/12/harmattan-everybody-this-is-sahara.html

The best thing about Harmattan (and possibly the only good thing) is that it brings with it refreshingly cool nights. In fact, there was a period of about a week and a half recently that I actually slept under a quilt. (My fan was usually on too, but still, the need for a blanket is a big deal!)

Unfortunately, while the nights are cool, the days are continuing to get hotter and hotter. I have never sweat so much in my life.

The biggest downside of Harmattan is the dust. The bottoms of my feet are dark brown by the end of the day and the surfaces in my house are coated with a fine layer of dirt. The dust also causes sinus irritation, watery eyes, and other sicknesses, plus the risk of wildfires goes up.

source: http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y5749e/y5749e09.htm

And over here in Ivory Coast, we are much less affected than other countries, like Nigeria. When it's really bad, Harmattan can cause a thick haze in the air, severely limiting visibility and, apparently, even sometimes causing flights to be cancelled or re-routed. (read more here)

Here's a picture of Abidjan (the biggest city in Ivory Coast) during Harmattan a few years ago. 

source: http://koaci.com/cote-divoire-pluie-remplace-lharmattan-lorage-coupe-courant-87946.html