By the last week of October, it had cooled off enough to the point where it’s too chilly to have my window open all day. The leaves are changing colors, people outside are starting to wear their heavier coats, and the tree outside my window is slowly shedding its leaves. There’s a gentle wind that’s drying out my skin and chapping my lips. 

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The sun is setting earlier; I can tell because it’s low enough to shine though my window at the office, and it’s too hot on my back mid-afternoon. It wasn’t like this before.

Even the light and smells are different. The whole world is more golden and even-toned than the bright summer sun. The smells are smokier and sharper, and there’s a tiny cold shock when I breathe in deeply.

All of this might be totally normal for you, but I grew up in southern California so it’s really strange and alien for me. My body is used to having sunshine and hot temperatures all year round, so this cooler climate is making me feel off. I almost feel like it’s a fall rainy weekend that’s going to go away soon. It hasn’t. It’s just seasons, and I’m not sure that I like them! More sunny days, please.

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The Sunday before last, it was so cold that I decided to never get out of bed ever again (but I got hungry and bored). Then in Asturias this weekend, it was even chillier and I thought my freezing nose was never going to feel normal again (it did!).

It’s not even that cold here, but I’m still at a loss when I have to choose my clothes for the day.Winter wear for me is leggings and a sweater with a scarf if it’s ‘really’ cold. I bought my first-ever proper coat just last year. I wore all my ‘winter’ clothes during October, so I have no idea what I’m going to wear to stay warm for November, let alone December.

Ok, you can say it – people from California are spoiled! Will somebody please help me figure out how to deal with real seasons?

Besos!

-Jess