I’m back, folks! Back in the Netherlands, and I’m so happy to be home again. Taking a Dutch girl into the desert was clearly not a good idea.
They had assured me beforehand that it wouldn’t be hot in the “winter,” but with my luck, I ended up experiencing the warmest winter ever, with temperatures reaching 33 degrees Celsius. The air was bone dry, everything was covered in dust, and the overwhelming clear blue sky, paired with that relentless sun, didn’t change for a second. I learned that ‘Valley fever’ was a well-known phenomenon in the desert, affecting many who weren’t accustomed to the climate. I preferred to stay indoors. Outside, I felt like I was suffocating. Back in Oregon, before my accident, I used to go hiking often, but here in the desert, I rarely ventured out. Indoors, it was at least somewhat cooler. Even though I bought a humidifier and frequently hovered my nose over the moist air, I still suffered from this famous ‘dry heat’. Taking a shower felt like a celebration—the extreme humidity finally allowed me to breathe again.
No, I am definitely not made for desert life. But it wasn’t just the climate that was tough for me. When I landed in Portland, Oregon, in 2021, I felt safe and accepted there. In Europe, we often have strong opinions about ‘the American,’ but my experience in Portland didn’t align with those stereotypes at all. The people were kind, polite, calm, and friendly. Even when walking the streets at night, I felt safe. Before my car accident, I was never afraid in traffic, either. If I needed extra time at a traffic light where people could legally drive through on red, no one honked impatiently. Drivers weren’t reckless, and in tunnels, they honked just for fun—not out of frustration.
Phoenix, Arizona, was a completely different story. Here, everyone seemed to drive at least 25 miles per hour over the speed limit. Instead of 55, they sped along at 80 while cutting off other cars. Sirens blared constantly because, on the only access road to the city where I was staying, there was always an accident—a car flipped on its side, a collision, or even a fatality. I often found myself thinking, “What’s wrong with these people?”
Then there was the issue of firearms. In Oregon, carrying a weapon was illegal unless it was disassembled. In Arizona, however, people openly carried their full arsenal of weapons while doing groceries at Walmart. I might have felt less uneasy about this if everyone had the laid-back mentality of Oregonians, but unfortunately, many people here seemed short-tempered and easily agitated over nothing.
In the end, I was relieved to finally board my plane home after six weeks. “You’re coming home at the right time,” a friend texted me. “The weather is lovely and sunny.” I sighed—that was the last thing I wanted after six weeks of relentless sunshine. I checked my weather app and saw that at least it was pleasantly chilly. It might be sunny today, but I know from experience that March can be unpredictable, and even sweet April can sometimes bring a dusting of snow. I haven’t given up hope for a refreshing rain shower, they can have this bit of sunshine because for now, I’m happily staying in the cool, temperate Dutch climate!