In the 1970s, the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia was so simple. The weather did not change much then and although we were just kids, I guess part of its constant charm still lingers in our tiny memories. The sandstorms in the early spring, and the severe cold winters were not a joke. But both were part of the normal fabric that we enjoyed. And when I went abroad in the early 1980s to a girls’ high school, things began to fade and change and a sense of false identity began to creep over our original Bedouin skins. I remember the first time I complained about our weather and how and why I had to stay at least three months in the summer in Europe. Gradually and over time, my complaints became ridiculous and not logical. I would insist that I stay in an air-conditioned hotel since I could not bear a couple of days of heat — that was the climax to me becoming spoiled.

I used to enjoy all kinds of weather but suddenly I could not bear a few degrees of heat? It all built up to a situation when I was shopping at a supermarket last week, and an old American expat with a friendly face asked me about the weather as we waited for the cashier. My answer was that it was great, with only a couple of weeks before the sandstorms. He returned my smile and answered, “Well it will be exciting to see a sandstorm since I have only seen such things in old movies.”

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Dear Nadia

I just moved to Saudi Arabia from the Philippines as a mechanical engineer. My expertise is in oil pipelines and my company moves us around from one country to the other. I got the job three years ago when the company was involved in maintaining off-shore oil rigs. We are now working in the Arabian desert and what fascinates me are the sandstorms that I have heard about during late spring and summer. My information is sketchy and I got it through the Internet. Can you tell me where I can get more information about sandstorms in Arabia from locals?

— Emilio, Philippines

Dear Emilio

I know that in the old American movies, the Arabian desert storms were part of the mystery and sizzle that the drama needed. In a way it is true, some of these storms are severe and can block vision in the streets. And in many cases even airport traffic is temporarily stopped. But such storms are not that frequent, and more likely, and especially in the Eastern Province where I live, humidity is more of an item to be dealt with during the summer. We used to welcome, we the locals in the old days, the sandstorms even with their disastrous effects. For a couple of days, we endured because after the storm, there would be a period of pleasant weather without the terrible sticky humidity. Now saying that does not mean that everything is the same through the years. I think your best source of information is the local weather forecasters.