As the calendar flips to June, I welcome this summer with lots of dreams. Dreams of waking up from the sound of birds instead of the alarm clock, watching glistering dawn dew on the grass, eating fresh sweet strawberries every morning on my terrace for breakfast, smelling the divine scent of my roses, making flower arrangments from all my garden blooms, wild berry foraging in the forest, morning and evening walks…
Many associate summer with ice-cold lemonade, sunny beaches, chilling in the parks, grilling in the yard, and spending much time outside connecting with nature. However, here, in the heart of the UAE, you can forget all this. You welcome each summer with the thoughts of “I just need to endure it.”
Summers here in the Middle East arrive in intensity, which makes me always question myself: Do I want to live here? There is no easing into summer in this region. The heat starts in May and intensifies each day until it becomes unbearable. The temperatures soar well above 40°C or 104°F, and the humidity makes it feel even hotter. Everyone who does not know this region is surprised about the humidity; they think it can not be humid in the desert. However, the average summertime humidity in Dubai is over 90%.
You feel like stepping into the oven when you leave the air-conditioned sanctuary. The heat clings to your skin and saps your energy. It even has a medical explanation. The hot temperature drops blood sugar dramatically. In the heat, blood vessels dilate. Therefore, insulin absorbtion is enhanced, leading to low blood sugar. Low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia, shows up as irritability, irregular heartbeat, headache, and fatigue. It is not a joke.
I love walking. Every day, I take walks with my two doggies. This is the time to clean my head, contemplate new ideas, make plans, or listen to an audiobook. However, from mid-May, this usually becomes a rare feat, reserved only for early mornings and late nights and only when I feel very brave or too foolish. At the moment, I do not take walks anymore. However, I do miss them a lot. Instead, we find ourselves shutting our lives between air-conditioned spaces and avoiding heat radiating outdoors.
At this time of year, my mind often drifts to Europe. I think of cobblestone streets in Paris infused with the scent of freshly baked pastries. I dream of afternoons in Italian piazzas with espresso aromas and gelaterias around. What about an early morning stroll through London parks? Count me in. I also fantasize about sunset driving down the narrow countryside roads with vineyards or lavender fields. And, of course, I long for a time at our summer residence in Vilnius. I missed street festivals, open-air markets, freshly picked produce, cinema under the stars, walking around, enjoying a leisurely bike ride, and dining al fresco with friends. There are so many enchanting versions of summer.
Usually, we leave Dubai for the kids’ summer holidays. So, I am counting the days. Until then, as I navigate the early days of yet another summer heat in Dubai, I find myself caught in the dream world and memories of mild, magical European summers.
Welcome, Summer! I can’t wait to meet you for real. Just a couple of more weeks… wait a bit. For now, I’ll keep dreaming.
