Some Like it Hot
I come from a tropical country with temperatures reaching as high as 100F degrees. Hot tropical climate. Hot and sticky. Imagine walking from one room to the next, and before you can shout "ang init!", sweat starts to roll down your legs. That's what happened to me last year, as I was packing our belongings a few weeks before our migration to the US.

Going around the city doing last-minute errands and doctors' appointments before our migration, I was always armed with a small face towel. Believe it or not, you will really need a towel!

Have I told you what one of my extreme pet peeves is? It's sweating! I hate sweating. Waking up sweaty (even the least bit) makes me throw tantrums, and yes, at my age! I hate sweating, that I even bring a pamaypay (the Spanish type) with me to the gym whenever I work out ... the few times that I do work out. But at the gym, I am more forgiving and patient with perspiration.

I now live in scorching Phoenix in Arizona. I would like to say that this is the state from hell (literally), but that would be too mean. Besides, that observation or truth comes from only me. Apparently, others (I am referring to true-blue Whites) are green with envy that I live in this hot state.

In my line of work (Media advertising), I deal with media reps from various states here in the US -- Michigan, Ohio, Illinois, etc. It is not unusual to hear how they get excited over Phoenix weather, with one rep saying to me that she would move here in a heartbeat (to which I replied, "let's trade places!"). They live in dreary rainy states with nothing but biting cold weather, so that makes them want to live for the Phoenix sun (no, not the Phoenix Suns) or the hot Philippine climate (yes, I have heard of foreigners loving our hot Asian country). I guess for them, they much prefer "beach weather" all year long, versus cold, rain, or snow ... the sun-worshippers that they are.

AMERICAN: "oh, it's so nice outside right now!"
MARIFE: (says to self) "um, yeah, I LIKE being roasted!"

Besides, it is always a great opportunity for them to show off their slim and toned bodies (huh, mga Kano ba ang pinag-uusapan natin?! Hahaha), with matching fashionable mini-shorts and tank tops. Not once have I seen girls wear bandeau tops or even two-piece bikinis here in Phoenix. Talaga naman.

I would really love to move to a much cooler place (Miss Media Rep, let us trade places in a heartbeat!), without the hassle of shoveling snow off the driveway or clearing snow off the car windshield. But in the meantime, I will just have to wait out Spring and Summer for the next five months or so, suffer from the sun's torturous rays, and pray that I don't get another migraine attack (oh, I tremble in fear!). Knock on wood and God forgive me, but I really hate the sun -- I am blinded by it, and not even my ultra-dark tinted polarized Oakley sunglasses can help me. I think I need black cartolina/illustration board stuck to the lenses. Sometimes, I look silly with a towel or a hat covering my face, just to shield my eyes from the blinding sun. What's a girl to do?! Maybe I should buy a straw hat as outdoor wear. What did I say -- in this weather, it's a great opportunity to look fashionable!