Bhubaneswar: As an intense heatwave swept across several European countries and pushed temperatures to record highs, Odia expats living in Munich and Krakow said they struggled to cope with the extreme heat. Homes, offices and public transport lack fans and air conditioners, the expats rued, adding that it forced them to rely on cafés, malls and portable cooling options.“In Odisha, when the temperature shoots up, we can switch on an air-conditioner or a fan to cool ourselves but there is no such provision in Munich, which has always been cooler,” said Saismita Das, an IT professional from Munich.The problem was compounded by shortage of cooling appliances. The houses built to preserve heat could not lose heat fast. And, fans as not manufactured on a large scale owing to weather conditions. Many people would have to wait for months to get a fan but for others, budgeting for it was difficult. “When I arrived in Munich last Oct, I was told summer is a happening time. But the excruciating heat this summer was a different experience altogether,” said Barsha Mishra, who is currently pursuing her master’s at Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich.For Aurobinda Behera, an engineer in Krakow, who is used to pleasant weather, the unbearable heat came as a shocker. “It was for the first time I was sweating in Poland. Krakow, being close to mountains, experiences pleasant temperatures during this time of the year. But last week, the temperature crossed 41°C, making life unbearable,” said Behera. “People were using pocket fans to cool themselves during travel,” he said.The heat was painful because days are longer and nights shorter in these countries, with daylight being there for around 16 to 17 hours unlike in India. Thus, exposure to the sun is more. “When I arrived in Europe, my circadian rhythm got disrupted. I could barely sleep. Then, slowly I got adjusted,” said Barsha. But it was difficult to travel on public buses, as there was no provision for opening windows. “It was suffocating inside buses with sweaty people all round,” she added.To cope with the heat, many opted to go swimming. “Schools cancelled afternoon classes. Our offices asked us to work from home. It was hot inside my house though it is well-ventilated. So, I preferred to go to a nearby air-conditioned cafe and work from there,” said Saismita, whose family often went for swims.Barsha preferred to spend time in malls, drink loads of electrolytes, juices, ice cream, and most importantly ‘pakhala’. Behera went hunting for fans and found one after much effort. Despite the heat, the German govt is not encouraging people to buy air-conditioners but asking them to plant trees. “There should be at least three trees in each house,” said Saismita.