Summer is officially here. This statement will invariably evoke different emotions for the different people reading this. If you are currently in school, summer might evoke the lazy and fun days of the holidays.
If you live in colder parts of the world, summer might be welcomed with an even more enthusiastic attitude filled with gratitude, a reprise from the many layers you have to wear, and the shovelling…
And if you live in Baja full time, summer is the time of year when you stay indoors from “11 am till November” as this reporter is being led to believe. (If I had the opportunity to use an emoji, this is where I’d insert a winking face!)
This summer is going to be my first here, and as a non-Baja native, I have been warned about how uncomfortable and unpleasant the experience is going to be. Warned by who, you may ask? Warned by everybody that I intend to remain in La Paz this summer. It’s been declared unanimously, from the most serious of tones to the more joking ones: summers in BCS are horrific.
“You’ll see many grey clouds, far in the distant mountains and you will beg for the wind to blow them towards you. You will beg for them to bring some well-deserved rain to refresh and revitalize everyone. But alas, the clouds will ceremoniously provide you with a lightning show from afar, allowing you to be an ocular witness of their beauty in the breezeless heat of Centro,”
or
“Naailah, if you absolutely need to go out in the heat, you absolutely need to cover your entire face. You simply can’t leave any skin exposed. It’s terrible. And make sure you drink more than you think you should. Dehydration is often identified too late.”
My last two summers were spent in the more humid parts of the Caribbean side of Mexico. Summer there was experienced year-round and 24-7, unlike Baja where the temperature fluctuates significantly from daytime to nighttime and month to month. The paradox of the desert meets the ocean has fascinated me since I moved here, and I am curious about the next months.
Humans are extremely adaptable which is probably one of the abilities that I value and admire the most. Our ancestors managed to survive in both heat and cold extremes, for thousands of years; and I emphasize, with significantly less access to resources.
Why is it that despite all our comfort gadgets and advanced HVAC systems (Heat Ventilation Air Conditioning) we are affected so adversely by our temporal environment? Sure, one can argue that we have been experiencing more extreme temperatures in recent years, breaking new heat and cold records. These, while true, are not factoring in weather patterns beyond the last few centuries. Our ancestors had to face some tough weather conditions, and they did it pretty spectacularly in my opinion.
I attribute their success in large part to the fact that our ancestors lived lives that were seasonally attuned. Through experiences and wisdom, ancient cultures and tribes transitioned from one season to the next with changes to their diets, habits, practices and traditions. Each season preparing and welcoming the next.
Some of these practices are still preserved in some ways in more rural areas and in some cultures around the world. These days though, they are mostly considered cultural rather than beneficial or necessary. Even in Chinese Traditional medicine or Ayurveda, each season is approached differently.
I am very grateful to have learned some of this wisdom from my dad from a very young age. During hot summer days, my dad would promote drinking a cooling drink made by boiling barley and flaxseed to reduce our internal heat. If consumed regularly in the winter, it will cause shivers as it has a tremendous cooling effect on the body. With a lack of education on these concepts and the almost instant availability of most products year-round, we no longer eat according to the seasons, but rather according to our cravings, which could make us feel hotter in the summer and vice versa in the winter.
This can be tough on the body, and even impact our mood. In recent years, we have also seen an increase in seasonal mood disorders. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is typically linked to reduced winter sunlight, but some experience Summer Onset SAD (S-SAD) with increased sun and heat. Symptoms can include anxiety, sleep problems, and low mood. Educating ourselves and shifting our patterns seasonally can result in a more comfortable and manageable summer.
Additionally, to combat the Baja summer heat and potentially mitigate S-SAD symptoms, prioritize your hydration.
Hydration does not simply mean drinking plenty of water throughout the day. Try incorporating cooling foods like watermelon and cucumber into your diet. It will quench your thirst as well as hydrate you. Consider increasing your mineral intake as you start to sweat more. This can be as easy as adding a pinch of salt to every glass of water you drink. I have observed increased dryness of my overall skin when I do not add salt to my drinking water. These days, I love soaking Jamaica tea, a handful of dry dates and a pinch of salt overnight for an affordable and delicious hydration packed with minerals.
In anticipation of the escalating heat, I also invested in a ridiculously large sombrero, a recommendation that came highly. I noticed walking longer and preserving more of my energy since my hat upgrade. Another classic yet underrated piece of advice, this summer, choose comfort over fashion. Normalize wearing loose, breathable clothing in natural fabrics. Your body will thank you!
Extreme weather patterns can also be very isolating. With many expats away for the season and most people here staying indoors during the peak heat hours, it is easy to get trapped in loneliness. My friend Brad curbed the issue by creating a Whatsapp group he called “Summer Survivors”, to share social events, gatherings and invites to rotating private pool parties.
Instead of apprehension, I am approaching Baja's summer with an open mind and a thirst for knowledge (both literal and metaphorical). I'm curious to unearth more of the wisdom of past generations who thrived in harsher conditions. If you are aware of local practices and seasonal foods that help cool the body, feel free to share them with me. I look forward to learning from you and incorporating them into my summer! Instagram: @naailahauladin
