A foreign student asked a Korean friend, "Why have you had no energy lately?" he asked. The friend answered, "I think I'm 'riding autumn.'" The student was startled. Autumn isn't a bus, so why would you say you "ride" it? ## September, When the Wind Changes When the wind turns cool in the mornings and evenings, some people find their mood sinking for no reason. The verb '타다' used here is not the '타다' in "to take a bus." It's the same '타다' that appears in '추위를 타다' (to be sensitive to the cold) and '간지럼을 타다' (to be ticklish). It means to sense a certain energy more easily than others and to react to it. ## October, When the Leaves Fall So why do we say '가을을 탄다' rather than '가을이 탄다'? It's because the one who "rides" the autumn isn't the autumn, but me. Autumn is the feeling I sense, and that's why the particle '을' is attached. "내가 가을을 타요" is the correct way to say it. Because Korea has distinct seasons, many people feel that their bodies and minds waver together when the weather changes. That's why people say this expression came about naturally. Autumn in particular is a time when the days get shorter and leaves fall, so it goes well with a feeling of loneliness. ## November, when winter draws near You can start using it right now. - "I guess I'm feeling autumn blues these days." (when you feel lonely for no reason) - "I get spring fever." (when you feel sleepy and restless in spring) - "I really feel the cold." (When you feel the cold more easily than others) When a friend says, "Looks like you've got the autumn blues," they aren't teasing you; they're showing they understand how you feel. When that happens, just smile and say, "You're right, I guess I've got the autumn blues."