What Do I Like About Fall?

Summary

The author reflects on the concept of fall, a season unfamiliar to them due to their Malaysian background, and imagines it as a time for cozy sweaters, warm coffee, and a sense of sorrowful nostalgia inspired by movies, books, and a Chinese poem.

Abstract

The author, based in Malaysia, which lacks a traditional fall season, explores their fascination with the idea of fall through various media. They were prompted to write about this season by Ellie Jacobson for the "Flint and Steel" publication. The author envisions fall as a time characterized by warm attire, the comfort of hot beverages, and the melancholic beauty of yellowish-brown leaves. Drawing from Chinese poetry, they interpret the season as a period that evokes deep emotions, particularly a bittersweet sorrow encapsulated in the Chinese character "愁" (chóu), which combines the characters for "fall" and "heart." The author expresses a desire to experience fall firsthand, hoping to fully understand its nostalgic and reflective essence.

Opinions

The author admits to a lack of personal experience with fall, having only known monsoon seasons in Malaysia.
They perceive fall as a season that might make a person appear sad when walking alone amidst falling leaves.
The author is intrigued by the portrayal of fall in media, which often emphasizes its coziness and aesthetic.
They are particularly moved by the Chinese poem's depiction of fall as a time of sorrow or deep contemplation.
The author equates the Chinese character "愁" (chóu) with a sensitive person's intense feelings during fall, suggesting a personal interpretation of the season as one of introspection and emotion.
There is an anticipation to visit a country during fall to personally encounter the season's characteristics and the emotions it is believed to invoke.

I am letting my imagination run wild

Fall.

I was supposed to write about this lovely season as a writing prompt by Ellie Jacobson for Flint and Steel.

Except I do not know what feelings this season would bring. I watched movies or read books to learn that fall might be a perfect season to wear that cozy sweater and hold a cup of warm coffee. The colour of the day should be yellowish-brown, which makes a person look sad if she walks alone under the falling leaves.

If you have no idea what I was talking about, neither did I.

Malaysia, where I come from, only has monsoon seasons that bring rain or hot and dry air.

Weather forecast screenshot by the author.

There is a Chinese poem that talks about how fall brings a sense of sorrow (愁). Although the Chinese word “愁” means worry, I prefer to take it as sorrow as it matches my imagination of a sad person walking under falling leaves.

“愁” (pronounced chóu) is comprised with two characters — 秋(fall) and 心 (heart).

So every time I thought about “fall”, I imagined a sensitive person who has intense feelings during this season and quickly wraps themself in solitude and sadness.

I hope someday I could visit a country during the fall, then I could learn about this season by feeling the temperature, seeing the falling leaves, and being nostalgic as this season seems to bring up some good old memories.