How My Mentality Towards Fall in South Asia Has Changed This Past Year

Last year during this time, we had just arrived in South Asia and were thrown into the whirlwind of trying to figure out where to get groceries & produce, how to say basic phrases for survival in another language, and how to just live. We came at the beginning of fall and although it actually was a little chilly it felt nothing like fall. I was trying to be positive (see this blog post) but it was honestly a struggle.

A year later I have a different perspective.

Fall is still different here.

• Instead of buying a can of pumpkin puree, I drive my scooter to the sabzee walla (person who sells veggies), buy a pumpkin, put it inside my scooter seat compartment, drive it home, clean it, cook it, de-seed it, pulse the meat in a blender, and then I finally have 1 or 1.5 cans of pumpkin puree.
• There is no Starbucks down the road with fall decorations, autumn vibes, the smell of pumpkin + coffee, and PSL written on every cup and sign.
• There are a few trees (within the whole city) that are slightly changing color but there are no forests or sidewalks of vibrant red, orange, and yellow trees like I grew up seeing in the fall.
• There are no fall candles or decorations for sale, no public apple orchards, football watch parties, or corn mazes.

“Autumn shows us how beautiful it is to let things go.”

-Author Unknown

I am trying to let go of the things that have been and bask in the beauty of the way things are. Such as…

a leaf banner from Target that I hauled across the Atlantic

a “Hello fall” cross-stitch that I made while curled up at an airport Starbucks during our travels this year. (pinned onto a fall colored placemat from the Maldives)

Apple Coffee Cake with Homemade Salted Carmel Sauce for a Saturday Sabbath Breakfast

needing to wear a sweatshirt when I jump on the back of the motorcycle for date night and we drive up the mountain for dinner

cleaning pumpkin seeds (let me know if you have an easy way) and roasting them with cinnamon and sugar for a grab and go fall treat

I might not have a fall scented candle but fall still fills the house when pumpkin is cooking in the oven.

making homemade pumpkin coffee creamer with pumpkin pie spice (from America), pumpkin puree, heavy cream, and sweetened condensed milk

making pumpkin soup for dinner

flavoring home-brewed kombucha with chia spices (cardamom, cinnamon sticks & cloves) that smell and taste exactly like fall should

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no matter where you are

no matter if it’s still 100 degrees outside

no matter if no one else is celebrating