Micro Climates

My family would visit California in the past during traditional school breaks, which lead me to believe the Bay Area had pretty much one climate: cold.

During Winter break, it was cold because it was December. During Spring break in March, it was cold because apparently the fog does something to keep it that way. During Summer break, when one would expect the weather in California to be sunny and warm, it was-you got it, still cold. I remember once being so cold they put me in bed wearing a sweater, a pile of quilts and with a cup of hot chocolate. I was still cold. It was June.

So for the first time in a while I’m visiting home when it’s the very end of Summer going in to Fall. School starts about now so we wouldn’t have visited during this time of year. It’s been a long time since I was here for this season; which is mild? I’m not going to say warm, but I’m getting to that later. You can see how I would be confused by the weather. I brought warm clothes but I’ve really only needed a light jacket, I even still wear flip-flops.

Besides the quirky Bay Area weather, there is also the extreme micro climates of our house. Now, nearly every single room has huge glass windows, some of them floor to ceiling. They were built about 60 years ago so they are single pained and pretty basic for windows (which are getting super technical these days). My bedroom for example, gets the most direct sun in the evening. It turns my room into a sweltering sauna. You have to close the curtains and open the doors and it’s still hot in there. On the other hand, the living room with it’s three walls of windows it usually chilly, no matter the weather.

Also in the back yard, if you sit in the sun it’s too hot, if you sit in the shade it’s too cold. The side porch it’s a similar problem of hot and cold, but with a breeze. Some rooms are too dark, no matter where the sun is or what it’s doing, other rooms are blindingly bright. The kitchen is an odd combination of both blinding bright and dark, you have to be standing in the right place to get the perfect light.

I’ve noticed that people here are probably used to the blinding sunsets. I’m not talk about the lovely colors, but when the sun is starting it’s slanting decline to the horizon. You can’t even look west without being literally blinded for a moment (or more).

My parents said they got used to the sunlight, but it’s still painful to me. It’s not like Texas’s sun wasn’t bright, you’d stand outside too long and get a burn, but something is different. The California sun is blinding but cool (unless you’re in a glass room). While Texas’s sun is hot but not overly bright. It’s like the difference between a 60 watt bulb and an LED light.

Now, for me, I tend to be a little colder in general, but I can get too hot in the sun. So I like to try and dress in layers. Here I can almost get away with moving to different areas of the house instead of layering up or down.

Then there is also the factor of where you are in the Bay Area which will determine the climate. We live up near the top of a hill, which is always cooler than the flats below us. But if we went through the tunnel it would be much warmer on the other side. It’s nearly impossible to dress for the weather, I seriously end up bringing the opposite of what I’m wearing just to cover all the bases (ex: if I’ve got on warm clothes, I bring flip-flops and a lighter shirt. If I’ve got on light clothes I bring shoes and a jacket). And I ask where we will be going to determine the warmth that I’ll need to dress.

But I Can say, at least it’s not humid and gross. Which makes this funny weather a win in my book.

60 Hours

I've been in my new/old home for just over two weeks. My parents are trying to sort through boxes and make new friends and reconnect with old friends. I've mostly been staring out my window at the inexplicably beautiful view.

One of my best friends, Allie, lives in California too. She drove 8+ hours to come visit me at our new home for a weekend. It was great, I got to be a tourist in my new/old home and drive myself around. There was a time when the only time I was in a car, I was driving it. Now mostly I'm in the backseat feeling like I'm a small child again. Anyway, we had a great weekend and it was a huge relief to have something fun to do.

She left Sunday afternoon and today my family drove to Napa valley to visit my uncle who lives there. I've been feeling like such a bitch since the whole move started. I just can't seem to relax when my parents (and everyone) have to tell you in step-by-step detail how to do the simplest things. It puts me on my last nerve and I snap and am moody. It sucks and I wish I was nicer. I'm not really mean, but I just don't like the way it feels inside when I know I've said something in a tone that was unnecessary.

But my day got better when Justin called, it always does. So we were talking and he pointed out that I was leaving in about 60 hours. My mind went to two places: how great it was going to be to finally see Justin again. And everything I had left to do (!).

I feel like there is a huge to do list and I'm not sure I'll get everything done on it. But I have to be ready to leave when the time comes. It's just crazy for me to think that a) I'm married to someone I haven't seen face-to-face in three months and b) that I'm going to get to see him soon.

I've got a lot to get done and maybe the next time I write, it's going to be from South Korea. wow.

It's all about Seoul

In less than two weeks I'll be flying to South Korea. It still doesn't seem real. The past year really hasn't seemed much like reality. More like a mixture of good and bad dreams. But I defiantly ended up on a positive and forward moving note.

In terms of moving overseas for a year (more like a year and three months actually) I'm either not thinking about it right or I'm actually that laid back about the whole thing. I'm probably just not thinking about it as what's really happening. I should be freaking out a lot more. A) I've never lived more than an hour away from my parents B) I've never lived in a foreign country C) I've never even visited a predominantly Asian country (unless you count Hawaii, but I was only there for a week anyway) D) I've also never been anywhere for an extended period of time that has actual seasons and a real (read: cold) winter.

In terms of getting to be with my husband. I am completely excited and confidant that being together in potentially high stress situations (such as living in a foreign place) will bring us even closer and be a positive experience for us. Ask me about our NYC trip some time and you'll see why I'm so confident. Being with him makes everything better, sometimes only a little better and sometimes it's the difference between night and day, better. But having him near me has never made anything worse. Ever. He is so completely loving and open and genuine. I don't think I could make this move if he were anything less than himself.

Leaving our home in Texas was kind of hard. We've been there for 20 years. It's hard be unattached to a place if you've been there that long. Plus everything was so close and convenient. Our house was odd but suited us perfectly (if my mom let me arrange things). Our friends there were the best you could find anywhere. The only thing that made it vaguely easy to leave on that mild winter day was the thought that summer would be in Texas soon. Most likely very soon, like March. And it would be humid.

So for the next few weeks I have here in California with my parents I'll be not packing, and trying to enjoy family time. Then I will start a new adventure in my life and this time, I don't speak the language.