Wednesday, July 8, 2009

In Paradise


I t seems the older I get, the less tolerant of heat I am. And as BAD luck would have it, I have managed to live in one hot place after another all my life. I grew up in the dry heat of Arizona and lived there mostly until I was 40, and suffered through chapped lips, cracked heels, bloody noses, and extremely dry skin. Then we moved to hot and humid South Florida, experiencing several summers when we lost power - meaning no air conditioning - often for weeks during hurricane season. My menopausal hot flashes were always embarrassing, always no fun and lasted for more than ten long years while I lived there. I could take a shower and step outside and in minutes, I felt as though I needed another shower again. My undergarments would always be soaking wet from sweat - yuk! And now I find myself living in one of the hottest places on the planet, Saudi Arabia! It is so hot there that most women simply just do not go outside unless they absolutely have to. Of course having to don a long black cloak over your regular clothes in 116 degree heat, plus having to cover your hair and neck as well, tends to make the women there even hotter - at least it does me!


I feel doomed to live in hot places all my life.

Now everyone has their own idea of what paradise means to them. Many people think of heaven as paradise, but I'm not talking about heaven. Here on earth, my idea of paradise is a place with cooler weather and plentiful rain, lots of green trees and colorful flowers and friendly people, and near a body of water. I arrived in paradise yesterday. I have been here many times to visit family and I always have felt a sense of belonging whenever I come here. I am now in the state of Washington in the Seattle area, and this part of the country is my idea of paradise.

The weather forecast here for the coming week predicts not one day over 76 degrees. The lows will be hovering in the mid-50s. And this is July! I just spent a week in Florida, where the temperatures usually don't reach 100, but guess what? The week I was there, they had record heat, over 100 degrees! It was brutal. And then I was in Arizona for about ten days, and Arizona is nothing BUT hot in the summertime. And of course I had to be there during the monsoon season, which means that the swamp coolers in many Arizona homes (different from air conditioning) don't really function well in the humidity, and it's hard to cool down.

So to arrive here yesterday to a cool 60 degrees - well, it just feels like heaven to me. I love sleeping with the window open and feeling cold enough that I can snuggle under a blanket at night. I love being outside in the summertime and not sweating like a pig. I love this cooler weather!

The photos in this post were all taken at my brother's home in the Seattle area where I am staying. There are wild deer and raccoons that visit the grounds frequently looking for food. The dahlias are among the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen. And the view is undeniably spectacular! See why I feel like I am in paradise?

53 comments:

  1. It does look like heaven!We have about ten more weeks of sweaty arm pit weather before fall kicks in.
    Send some of that cool weather east Suzie!

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  2. I have always loved the Pacific NW, however my heart will always be in Minnesota - now THAT'S a place worth oohing and aahing about! lol My son just got back from Saudi and arrived on a crisp 56-degree morning. Of course he called to rub it in! Looks like your repat is wonderful and just what you needed. The first question we ask when planning a repat is are there trees, green grass and water? If not, the place might be ok for a short visit, but definitely not a 6-wk repat!

    Take care and enjoy!

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  3. Hi Susie--glad you have found paradise on earth! Wave in the direction of Microsoft, to say hi to my expat cousin-moved for work, married an American, looks permanent, foiling his parents' plans to have him return "home". No wonder they holiday in Victoria, BC--also paradaisical, check it out if you have time. :)

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  4. I don't see how people manage life in the snow ..I love the desert ..I don't see myself in the snow . I was once in Wisconsin to visit a friend in the month of Dec..The day the snow arrived I escaped to California,but I wish you Susie happy days in Washington.

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  5. It is nice to know Susie, that you are enjoying your stay there.
    A free spirit may find this interesting - in the tropical South Asia, many people never get to see the snow and they go to the hill stations up north specially to look at and touch the snow if possible, touch the snow. Tourist ventures are organised to take the people in the Himalayas where they can touch the snow! Their excitement at seeing the snow is similar to the British seeing the Sun! South Asians of course, hate the sun.

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  6. LOL, your description of the hot flashes and showers sound SO familiar!! I just cringe at the thought of having to wear so much clothes when it's so incredibly hot. Enjoy your visit and treasure the memories.

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  7. Looks like a lovely place to visit. We have been blessed with truly unusual weather for Pennsylvania - in the 60s at night, 80s during the day with low humidity. It's wonderful to sleep with the windows open!

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  8. I know just what you mean. My home is in Port Townsend, but I've been living in Western Mass for a year. I'll be back home in Aug. and can't wait. I'm so tired of sticky, sweaty skin and clothes. Have a great time there.

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  9. Hi Susie!! Yes, you ARE in paradise! My friend who writes the blog 'As I See It' lives there in Seattle and I was lucky enough to visit her two years ago for my first time and wow.... to live there all year long would be such a treat!! I love the racoon picture!! I miss you!! I hope you are having a fantastic trip here state-side and just revelling in all there is to do and see and visit. : )) Love you!
    Carol

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  10. Susie my kindred soul!!! LOL, I too have been unfortunate enough to live in not only hot but extremely humid weather. It is the equivalent of a harsh winter. People who have not experienced it full time have no idea. Here the heat is unbearable, making it impossible for me to be outside. I have to run to my car when I go out because once out the door the mosquitos swarm you. To be able to sleep with the windows open and hearing nature....heaven.

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  11. I visited some friends in AZ about 2 years ago. They live in Bullhead City, which by all accounts makes the rest of the state look like it's a freezer. It was 120 degrees just about every day we were there, and while I loved the scenery, I realized that I could never, never live in a place like that full-time.

    Of course, if you want to go to the other extreme, you could come live here in upstate NY. We're having a comfortable summer, though the winters can be brutal.

    Pick your poison, as they say.

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  12. Sounds like you're in paradise, for you anyway. I got tired of the almost 9 months of greay sky. Yet I remember the beauty of the Dahlias when my hubby would bring me home local boquets. Enjoy it while you can.

    Are you sure it was menopause, in FL it might be hard to tell. LOL! I know it's not funny really. I suffered for almost a year before I found Black Cohosh which solved the flashes and sweats.

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  13. You're pretty close to me then ... it's been rather cool recently - it is so beautiful here though. :)

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  14. I live just outside of Vancouver and I LOVE it. It never gets too hot and doesn't get that cold either. I totally agree with you Susie, heat can really bite!

    I much prefer a cool climate, no wonder my favourite season is Autumn!
    Enjoy the rest of the cool weather on your vacation!

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  15. i hope your enjoying your trip across the States. I have to say that this is the first year since being in the states that i have attended a 4th of july celebration...and wow, it makes u proud to be here ( i never knew there were so many patriotic songs)
    i spent our holiday in Laughlin.. in nevada on the border of arizona....wow i swear that the california dessert is hotter than the middle east. i never felt anything like it...and am glad i live in california!

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  16. Hi Sister Susie,
    never know if i'm doing this right!
    Sorry i missed you in Tucson. Going there in 2 weeks to visit the family.
    Glad you and Adam are with
    "la familia"! Have fun, but don't get in the car with big brother!

    Love to all, Annie

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  17. Hey Susie! Sounds like you're having a great time in Seattle! I loved it when I visited there a few years back, and I would jump at the chance to go back. I also second Chiara - if you have time, check out Victoria, BC...gorgeous little city!

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  18. how wonderful you get to finally experience some nice weather. bet you feel so much better. maybe when you guys finally come back to the u.s. you can settle in the greater seattle area.

    are you going to get a chance to go to victoria island off vancouver b.c. by chance and have tea? i so love it there.

    have a wonderful time in seattle.

    hugs

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  20. I live in Vancouver, so the weather you are experiencing now is what I've grown up with. I would love to see the sunshine more often, have warmer days, but we all want what we don't have. Saudi is too hot for me, but there has to be a happy medium, summer here is fine but winter, and most of fall are way too cold.

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  21. Susie ~

    I use to teach at Sheila's school a few years ago. I just LOVE this post. I grew up in AZ and moved to Seattle 3 years ago. Like you said every time I would visit Seattle I just felt a sense of belonging. So I finally decided to just move! I LOVE it here. I have to actually try to contain my happiness when talking to my family back in AZ. I could talk about Seattle and all of its beauty all day long. I have never lives somewhere that I just feels like home...where I truly fit! I am glad you are enjoying your visit. Where are you at?

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  22. We're topping out at 105 degrees everyday here in Austin, Texas and I also feel doomed to never live in paradise myself.

    My idea of paradise is Cross Lake, Minnesota which is beautiful and cool. On the other hand, I'm afraid of harsh winters almost as much as summer.

    Oh I wish you can talk your husband into moving someday inshallah. Until then, hope you have a wonderful time in Washington and enjoy the weather! Love you lots.

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  23. Susie, it occurs to me that if I were to live in the KSA, I would not wear any clothes under the black robe. I would wear just underwear and that's it. No one will know, right? And at home you can change in a T-shirt. surely.
    It should ease the heat at least a little bit. :)

    best,
    Anna

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  24. What a change of scenery for you ! I'd say, just soak it all in! Enjoy!

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  25. Susie,
    How was AZ? I do miss it. More in my mind than when I get there I am afraid! I love living in this subtropical island. UNTIL I read what your weather is like. I just cannot imagine. How wonderful is that? The windows open in summer? I think the Army owes us after Florida,Korea, Louisiana, now Okinawa to go somewhere with nice summers. My only fear is with nice summers come the COLD winters.

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  26. Oh, the Seattle summers. The best part of the year there. Have a GREAT time on my behalf!!!

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  28. Oh I hope not only Susie but as many non Wahabi's as possible move here. It might help end some of the oppression.

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  29. Here is a book for all of you to read - What the Arabs Think of America, by Andrew Hammond (Greenwood World Press, Oxford, 2007) especially Chapter 6, which is on Saudi Arabia

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  30. Ohhh to be back in the sight of Mt. Rainier! I'm just a little jealous since WA is home to me and my fam. :) Thankfully Dubai offers more freedom to its expats and women. It's just a short hope from KSA and you can go to the movies. T-shirt and jeans are perfectly acceptable attire too.

    Hope you have a wonderful, wonderful trip!

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  31. I hope you have a wonderful trip Susie and decide to never come back.

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  32. Offf who are the anonymous losers who say you're not welcome in KSA? That's right, losers. Can't even put their real names because they don't have any faces to stand up for themselves.

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  33. Anon, grow some balls and actually post your name. Pretty brave in the anonymity of cyber space huh? Too afraid Susie will come after you while you shiver under the bed covers at night and not b/c KSA is experiencing a cold spell! LOL!

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  34. I'm tired of these guys. Don't feed the trolls...maybe they'll go away.

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  35. Susie, in the wake of the critical comments you are getting perhaps it is not all that safe for you to return for a while at least. May be you can consider postponing your return for a while.

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  36. Ina lighter vein - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/8145862.stm

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  37. Tell your husband to take you to Abha. It's green, cool, mountainous...

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  38. We do have the same idea of heaven. Cooler weather! yes! I loved Seattle for that very same reason. It's also so green and lush there.

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  39. I just awarded you at my public blog! Love you lots!

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  40. Hope you & Your son have a wonderful time in the States! Ilse.

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  41. Susie

    Saudi Arabia is fortunate to have you as a resident, you are the best!

    ch

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  42. Susie:
    Like you, I have always lived in hot, usually humid, climates...
    California (twice), Houston and Gulf Coast area of Texas (three times), Dhahran & Abqaiq, Saudi Arabia. Your time with your brother seems like paradise!
    Though I did just return from a week in the Arkansas mountains... heaven!

    May you and your son continue to enjoy this time home.
    Kay DH78

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  43. I can hardly wait to get to Riyadh to cool down! According to today's Arizona Republic, the high temp in Riyadh today is going to be a mere 110(F), whereas Phoenix is currently 112.

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  44. Hi Susie!
    I know exactly how you feel. Growing up in South Louisiana/Mississippi my idea of a good time in the summer is COLD weather. It's in the low 60s right now in Lausanne and it is LOVE.

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  45. Hi! I grew up in Indiana and hated the heat and humidity, also. Living in California for over 25 years I don't get the humidity, just high temps. I don't like it much over 80 degrees, in my older age. lol Nice pics and glad you are enjoying your vacation in paradise.

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  46. Come on up to the Fraser Valley in BC Canada :) Similar temps and wildlife here. Rains all winter with a touch of snow. Warm summers.

    Wondering how you are and WHERE you are!

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  47. I second the Fraser Valley BC., also the Okanagan Valley (great orchards too!), and Salt Spring Island (neo-hippy heaven) and well, most of BC--Taft should have acted on his election campaign slogan and taken 54-40 or faught! LOL :)

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  48. What a blessing for you! I love it there, but I think I like my desert better. I don't miss green. When it rains more than a couple of days, I start to get cranky here! But I'm so happy that you are getting to enjoy the cool and green! And the large body of water? Well, that's so wonderful that even for my increasingly-loving-warm-weather-self,that ANY climate is worth it!

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  49. If you would like a holiday in a paradise very similar to Seattle, but a bit more exotic, try the Northern Spanish province of Asturias! It's really nothing like Southern Spain at all - it really is like the Pacific NW! Green, drizzly rain nearly every other day, craggy coastline, lots of hiking in the hills and mountains. Incredible food and friendly people. Have a good time in the US!

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  50. Glad you are having a great vacation. Read in the paper today that unfortuntely the first film festival which was to be held in KSA has been cancelled.

    All the best from me at Sydney Daily Photo. I’m so busy with a new job I hardly have time to post, much less comment these days!

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  51. Dear Susie,

    I'm a long time reader who never leaves a message but I have loved your blog. I wonder if you are having a crisis of feeling right now. Whatever you decide we love you. a Fan

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  52. Seattle is a nice place but the traffic is not. It can be a nightmare. Especially the traffic in and out of microsoft campus.

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