I made a big mistake when moving to Canada from Dubai earlier this year — and that was throwing out most of my summer clothes.
For some reason, I just assumed that the land of snow would, well, perpetually be cold. I was warned that things could get heated during Canadian summers, but I laughed off these suggestions.
As someone born in the desert country of Oman, and who spent years in the UAE, the thought of Canada being too warm seemed hilarious!
After all, in the UAE, the average summer temperature regularly goes above 45 C — there are even viral videos of people cooking up eggs in their balcony or on the hood of their car — during this time.
To further put it into context, my iPhone would regularly stop working if I was outdoors in the Dubai sun because it was overheated.
In short, for me, "heat" is defined as anything with temperatures over 40 C. Anything less will probably just be a good time. Or so I thought.
But, I was wrong.
When summer started in Toronto, where I'm currently based, I remember being excited.
But even then, the first time I was out in the sun for a light jog, I remember getting a slight headache. I wish I could express with complete accuracy why, but the sun directly overhead felt just as intense here as it did in Dubai.
As the months went on, it became clear that despite having a very high tolerance for heat, I had completely underestimated the Toronto sun!
Here are some of the reasons why the Canadian summer left me, well, shook!
Most places simply aren't built for the heat
Janice Rodrigues with a rocky, sandy UAE backdrop in 2021.
When it comes to weather, Dubai is the polar opposite of Toronto, so it makes sense that much of its architecture reflects this.
In Dubai, everything from buildings to vehicles have been designed to withstand incredibly high temperatures.
Meanwhile, most houses and buildings in Toronto, as far as I could see, have been designed with the idea of trapping heat, using thick walls and insulating materials.
That's honestly great during the winter. But in summer, I absolutely had to crack open a window in the hopes for a breeze – and even then, was left wanting.
Air conditioning isn't as common in Canada
In the UAE, air conditioning isn't seen as a luxury, but a necessity.
Everything is air-conditioned. I'm talking about that local grocery store down the street and even some bus stops.
And just like Toronto has The Path, Dubai has an air-conditioned metro system, which is connected to popular tourist spots like The Dubai Mall and Mall of the Emirates. So, you don't even have to step into the heat if you don't want to.
Meanwhile, in Toronto, air-conditioning isn't as prevalent in my experience. Sure, a lot of condos and stores have it, but not the buses… or many houses.
And since I am staying in a property without air conditioning, a fan has quickly become my new best friend!
The days are longer during summer
This is another thing that caught me off-guard about Canadian summers.
With UAE being closer to the equator, there is only a marginal difference in the number of daylight hours between summer and winter months.
For example, the sun would usually set latest 7 p.m. on a summer day, and perhaps around 5:30 p.m. during winter.
It's not even comparable to Toronto, where the sun has been setting at almost close to 9 p.m. in July.
That just means more daylight hours, more sun, more heat, and me constantly losing track of time because I assume it's still early as it's light outside.
It's more humid than I expected
Living in a house that's designed to trap heat, sleeping in a thicker duvet than I'm used to, and using a single fan and no air conditioning, all mean that there have been some days where it was hard for me to fall asleep at night.
Because, while I found the fan great for general heat, Canada's humidity is a different topic!
Meanwhile, UAE is known more for its dry heat. That isn't to say it doesn't get humid there – it definitely does – but on those days, most people retreat to the comfort of their air conditioning.
Thankfully I did find the seriously humid days in Toronto few and far in between!
Janice Rodrigues enjoying her time in the sun during a backpacking trip in Ontario.Janice Rodrigues | Narcity
So, if you're like me, and you've come from a seriously hot country, don't be in a rush to get rid of your summer clothes, and hold onto that sunscreen! You will most definitely be glad you did.
In the meantime, don't forget to stay cool – however possible – and hydrated.
And appreciate the warmth. Because winter will be here before you know it!