Before coming to Boston, the season of fall was a foreign concept. In Texas, we acknowledge the seasonal transition only because the calendar tells us to. There were some glaring differences when I arrived in New England.
1. The leaves actually fall
Down south, our trees are self-conscious and keep their clothes on. Here in New England, the trees strip it down. The leaves flutter down in all directions and coat the ground in orange, red and yellow. You don’t see that in Texas.
2. The temperature changes
Whenever the temperature drops below seventy before mid-December I am always surprised by force of habit. I wear an unnecessary amount of clothing and am confused and sweaty when the temperature rises in the afternoon.
3. People drink hot, seasonal beverages
Down south the thought of drinking a steamy cup of coffee with hints of maple or pumpkin is unappealing when your drinking water is steamy unless it’s sitting in a yeti cup that has ice cubes in it. However, in New England, almost everyone is walking around with hot cups and hot drinks.
4. Fall fashion actually exists
Everyone in Massachusetts has an adorable line up of sweaters, boots, leggings, and light jackets. My fall fashion at home was just a continuation of my summer wardrobe with a dress-code-appropriate element. I also still wore beach clothes comfortably on the weekends. Everyone else followed suit.
5. No one cares about high school football
The Friday night lights are probably the only things that actually enforce autumn in Texas. It is fall’s defining feature down south. Perhaps since New England has the weather and the pumpkin spice latte as their key features, high school football is put on the backburner.