When we moved to Arizona on December 15, 2017, it was as if we had landed on another planet. Just days before, we were living in cold, snowy England, bundled up in hats, puffer jackets, and scarves. Suddenly, we found ourselves in a desert state, where winter felt more like summer. The shock was immediate! I remember Christmas Day like it was yesterday – it was 65°F (about 20°C), and for us, that felt like a heatwave. So what did we do? Naturally, we celebrated Christmas by the pool, which was heated, and had a BBQ. It was an experience I’ll never forget, a very different kind of Christmas. We haven’t repeated it since, though – we have acclimatized to the Arizona heat, and these days 65°F feels quite cool! But back then, we were in disbelief.
I am sure the neighbors thought we were insane, lounging by the pool while they walked past in jackets. Some gave us incredulous looks as if we were from another planet, and to be honest, I don’t blame them. The idea of swimming on Christmas Day was as far from our usual tradition as you could imagine, but it was fun, memorable, and so very different from our lives in England and Italy. And that is something I have learned about moving and adapting to new places – it is the surprises and unexpected moments that make it all worthwhile.
Italy: bundle up or you’ll get sick!
Growing up in Italy, the approach to cold was completely different. My parents and grandparents would always tell us to wrap up, or we’d get sick. It didn’t matter if you were hot under all those layers – the rule was simple: cover up, or risk a cold. We’d be dressed in so many layers that we’d end up sweating, and funnily enough, we’d still catch a cold!
When I became a mom to Elisa, I quickly realized how ingrained this mentality was in Italian culture. I remember when our pediatrician called my mother to express concern that I was being a little too “sporty” in how I dressed Elisa. According to him, I was far too relaxed about keeping her covered up. But Pietro and I always believed in listening to Elisa’s needs rather than following rigid rules. If we touched her chest and found her sweaty, we’d remove a layer, regardless of the temperature outside. We always dressed the kids in layers, making it easier to adjust based on how they felt rather than simply how cold it was.
One of the most significant moments where this difference in approach became apparent was during a family trip to Alaska. Elisa was one month and a half and my parents insisted that she needed to be bundled up constantly, while we disagreed. We had learned to trust our instincts, and there were some tense moments before we made it clear that we would follow our own approach. “Valentina, Elisa is going to get cold… cover her up!” my parents would say, but we knew our child, and we were confident in our decisions.
The UK: adapt or stay inside forever
In the UK, it is a completely different story. You simply have to adapt to the weather because if you stay inside every time it rains or gets cold, you’ll never leave the house! The British rarely use umbrellas. Rain is such a normal part of life that it just doesn’t bother anyone. I love that concept, and over time, I started to enjoy the feeling of raindrops on my face too. In Italy, getting soaked in the rain would seem insane. An umbrella is a must-have for any outing, and people would give you strange looks if you dared to leave the house without one.
School was no exception. Each school term, kids are offered a different sport during PE, and they participate no matter the conditions. I remember when Elisa’s class started swimming lessons. They would walk 20 minutes from their primary school to the nearby secondary school’s pool, rain or shine. We had just moved to the UK, and my Italian mindset still had me worried about her walking outside with wet hair, especially if it was raining.
So, one day I went to speak with Mrs. Ash, her teacher, and expressed my concerns. I asked if I could drive Elisa to the pool and back myself since it was her first lesson, explaining that I was worried she might catch a cold if she walked in the cold with wet hair. Mrs. Ash smiled kindly and said, “Don’t worry, we’ll take care of her. I promise you, Elisa won’t get sick.” Pietro and I were shocked, but we trusted them. And guess what? Elisa never did get sick after swimming.
Over time, we got used to walking in all kinds of weather. Rain, fog, cold – nothing stopped us from enjoying life. In fact, it became a bit of an adventure. We learned to embrace every moment, even the rain, and it gave our life in the UK a certain charm. Whether it was a walk in the mist or a sunny day, we found joy in every type of weather, and it made our experience all the richer.
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- 10 Tips for living abroad as an expat
- Hydration in everyday life: how much water should we really drink?
- The power of hydration: why drinking water matters and tips for staying hydrated
Water bottles and the importance of hydration
One of the biggest changes I have noticed across these countries is how much water I drink. In Italy, I never carried a water bottle with me, not even in the summer. It just wasn’t something we did. In the UK, I started getting used to the idea of carrying a bottle around. People are always hydrated there, and reusable water bottles are a part of everyday life. But when we moved to Arizona? Well, let’s just say the bigger the bottle, the better! Hydration is essential here, and you need to drink constantly to keep up with the dry heat.
Missing the seasons, but loving the sun
Arizona is a completely different challenge. I have always loved the changing seasons, though I was never a fan of the deep cold of January. After moving to Arizona, I realized I missed having distinct seasons a little bit, but I also love the weather here. Sure, the summers are brutal – reaching up to 113°F (45°C), making it impossible to go outside for most of the day. It feels like standing behind a bus with its engine running, that intense blast of heat. But the rest of the year more than makes up for it. Fall and spring are my favorite times, with temperatures between 68-86°F (20-30°C), perfect for outdoor activities, BBQs, and enjoying life outside.
There is something about waking up to sunshine almost every day that makes me happy. Having lived in Italy and England, I never considered myself to be affected by the weather, but now that I have experienced constant sunshine, I realize how uplifting it is. It brings positivity into my life in ways I didn’t expect. I’d trade a few months of intense heat for that constant sunny glow any day.
Interestingly, I believe the human body adapts over time to the climate where you live. When we first moved from Italy to the UK, the cold felt biting, especially because we arrived in March. That first year, we bundled up a lot, but by the second year, we had adjusted. Suddenly, 20°C felt like a warm, summery day, whereas before it would have been considered chilly. Similarly, moving to Arizona, we initially found it incredibly hot, but over time, we have acclimatized. Now, Marco never wears a jacket, even in winter, and he’s almost always in shorts. He seems to think it is always warm here!
One thing we have always done, no matter where we have lived, is to embrace the weather without complaint. We have learned to make the best of it, turning every situation into an adventure. Whether it is a walk in the rain in the UK or finding shade during the scorching Arizona summer, we have adapted to each place we have called home, and that’s made all the difference.
Thanks for hanging out with me today!
See you next time.
Valentina
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