When September ends...

Green Day may have been the first to popularize the month of October, but every year Brown students work tirelessly to assure it maintains its title as the most important (and arguably weirdest) month of the year. Each year, we spend eleven months appreciating non-flavored coffee and all the movies that didn't scar us at age six, but then October rolls around and everything changes. If you’re not from the Northeast, or you've never experienced a New England fall, it’s time to begin adjusting your expectations. Of course, you’ll see a few colorful trees and maybe experience a day or two that you can reasonably describe as “crisp.” But here on Brown’s campus, there is much about the fall that you won’t learn from watching Gilmore Girls or spending the holidays at your cousins’ in Connecticut.  One of the most obvious signs that fall is upon us (this one may have even started in late September) is the emergence of the pumpkin. This one is a national phenomenon, but pumpkins seem to be especially ubiquitous on College Hill. At the Ratty, you'll find that the menu for this week alone features treats ranging from pumpkin pancakes (okay this sounds pretty good) to “cranberry pumpkin seed energy bars” (excuse me?). Walk up Thayer (skirting around the thick, pumpkin-shaped bubble surrounding Starbucks) to find that Tropical Smoothie Café has rolled out new pumpkin-flavored smoothies. If you’re still feeling well enough after one of those, venture into CVS to find pumpkin-flavored Halo Top, pumpkin spice Milano cookies, and pumpkin-flavored Kind bars. If you're excited about this prospect now, I'm very happy for you. We'll talk in a month.  The next sign of October on Brown’s campus is the subtle mania that descends upon the mail room the moment the calendar changes. As soon as September ends, Halloween fanatics emerge from a deep slumber. Group chats blow up as people deliberate over every possible iteration of a lifeguard costume and students everywhere turn their life savings over to Jeff Bezos. If you can wait three more weeks to pick up that letter your mom sent you, you'll thank yourself for it.  Next we have the (Canada) Geese—the tell-tale sign that winter is coming (in like three months). Since at least 99% of this campus is from just outside of Boston, the first day of true fall weather will quickly expose the select few who aren’t. Over the course of the next few weeks, Californians will break out their brand new winter parkas while the Massachusetts-born point and laugh, wearing as little clothing as ever. They’ll be sure to tell you how warm it is and how much they love fall weather, shaming you right out of the long underwear your mom got you.Fall also means… tailgate season! Just kidding, you should probably transfer if you got excited about this one.Last but not least, the arrival of fall on College Hill means the reemergence of the Brown leaf bags. Keep your eyes and ears open, people—they could be appearing any day now (all leaf bag updates and information are welcomed and encouraged)!  Happy October! Images via, via, via, via, via.