Not Exactly Fall in New England

October 23, 2007 - 8:17 AM by

October is a tough month in Israel. Nights have grown cooler, tricking us all into believing that autumn is here. Daytime is a different story. While days are no longer sweltering, summer attire is still very much the norm, and most of the Anglos I know, no matter how long we’ve been living in Israel, still have difficulty reconciling the fact that October isn’t necessarily the time to break out the new fall wardrobe (unless, of course, you live in Jerusalem, where I’m guessing that long-sleeved shirts are already making their appearance, and jackets and sweaters are de rigueur at night).

FoliageI’ve been living in Israel for over sixteen years now, and without fail, just knowing that friends and family in the old country are experiencing fall foliage makes me homesick. I miss the brisk fall air, the crunching of the leaves beneath my feet. I miss the excitement that comes with the distinct changes in season. I even miss going apple picking, despite the fact that apples usually aren’t my fruit of choice.

Wherever I go, I hear the non-native Israelis grumbling about the never-ending summer, and I expect that hot weather in late October takes as much getting used to as having to work on Sundays (which everyone knows is the sacred day when you’re supposed to kick back and relax with a newspaper that’s thicker than a New York deli sandwich). As usual, one of my fave bloggers, Ra’anana Ramblings, spells out exactly what I’ve been feeling.

“I should know better by now, but I never learn. After 14 years in this desert country, I should realize that October does NOT mean that fall has arrived. But I guess this born ‘n bred in the USA gal just can’t get used to sweating this time of year. I go through this every October- the long, impatient wait for the cooler weather to kick in.”

Check out the rest of RR’s post here. You know you’ve got the time. After all, if you’re in Israel, it’s not like you’ve got to air out the heavy blankets yet…

Tags: • Category: General, Immigrant Moments 

Comments

3 Comments on Not Exactly Fall in New England

  1. Avi on Tue, Oct 23rd 2007 9:34 AM

    2. Oh, it’s sweltering in Jerusalem. I’m wearing a t-shirt. Jacket? What’s that?

    Now if only it would RAIN

  2. Rebecca on Thu, Oct 25th 2007 6:18 AM

    3. Well, this year fall is not all it should be in the northeast U.S. It’s been unseasonably hot, and only now in Ithaca are the leaves on the trees really changing color. It’s not as bad as Jerusalem, but global warming is definitely creeping in on our wonderful falls.

  3. RR on Thu, Oct 25th 2007 11:18 PM

    4. Aw, you’re too kind. Right back at ya :-)

    And it’s still hot out! Aargh!

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