life lesson

Lion King always knows best

As of today I have been living my life in Switzerland for exactly 33 weeks. . Which leaves me exactly 3 months left. I use to be so excited to go home. When I went to the airport in January with all the Aussie's who were going home, I was jealous of them. Jealous that they had already completed their entire year and got to go home, when I hadn't even made it to my half way point.

Well, the halfway mark has come and gone and every day I dread the future a little bit more. Because the problem is, each day in Switzerland is getting a little bit better. New adventures are arising, the weather is getting warmer and easter break is in the near future. Each day I get a little bit happier, but each day I get closer to July 8th. I made a countdown on my calendar in the beginning of January, but even then, I couldn't write anything for the 8th. It just has a very small zero in the corner, reminding me that time will eventually run out. I don't even know what I would write in that little box... Home? That doesn't seem right to me. When I return to Ohio I will be moving into a house that I've never slept in. I have to set up my room, unpack boxes and adjust myself into a house I've never lived in before. I won't know where the plates are, where we keep the spare key, or how to load the dishwasher. And of course, I went through all of that last year while moving to Switzerland, so it's not like I can't do it again. But the thing is, this is my home now. Can you honestly leave home and go home at the same time?

wanderlust

The spring of my Junior year the questions started: "Where are you going to college? What are you going to study?" and my answer was always "I have no idea."

That's when I started looking into studying abroad. I figured there's no time like the present, especially when I had nothing else planned for the future. I didn't want to take the normal path that everyone else in my class was doing, I wanted to do something different, I wanted adventures. I remember one night I was attempting to get some sleep before school the next morning, but I was too excited just thinking about the potential for my future. Living somewhere exotic and taking adventures everyday. For endless nights I would sneak out of bed and research on the internet for hours. Reading blogs of people who studied abroad and looking up costs and benefits of a year abroad. I wanted to make sure that I knew everything possible, that way when I finally approached my parents I would be confident and know exactly what to tell them. I had the idea of europe in my head for about a month before I told a single person. It seemed like such a far out idea that would never happen, so I kept it quiet until I was completely sure it was what I wanted. I don't actually remember telling my parents that this is what I wanted, but apparently whatever I said was convincing, because a year later I was on a plane bound for Switzerland!

Well, now it's time for round 2. I officially have the travel bug inside of me, and the thought of being bound to tiny little Athens, Ohio for 4 years makes me feel claustrophobic. The world is massive and I've only managed to see a tiny corner of it. The reason I was so happy during the month of March was because I was actually doing something. I saw so many new things and met amazing people while doing it. I had new horizons and languages everyday and was walking around with 4 currencies in my wallet. It reminded me that there is still so much to see. I know that college is important, but who says I have to stay in Ohio the whole time? Maybe I'll give myself a break from learning new languages, which puts Australia as my number one. and whatya know, Ohio University works with a program that sends people to Sydney! So parents, if you're reading this, be prepared because I'm doing my research!

100

The month of March was without a doubt my best month here. It was the first time that I was actually busy and got out of the boring pattern of school everyday. I had the first week off for Carnaval (hands down best holiday ever), the second weekend I was in Milan, the third I was in Ireland and last weekend I was in Amsterdam. and on top of that I got to spend a week in Switzerland with my sister who came over for a little visit! I was so happy to actually be doing something, because not gonna lie, it can get pretty dull over here.
Now that March is over, time is flying. I've received emails from AFS informing me on my flight info for July, and I'm receiving countless emails from Ohio University with endless lists of things I need to accomplish in order to enroll for the fall quarter.
I don't want to go back to reality. I'm so happy here in my little Swiss bubble. I don't have to deal with stupid american drama like who's dating who or what party got busted over the weekend. I've realized that in the past I stressed and cared about the stupidest things, and I find it hard to believe that everyone back home is still the same. Don't get me wrong, I love my friends back home, but there is always some sort of drama happening. People are always fighting and taking things for granted. They need to realize how fortunate they are. I would give anything to be able to pick up the phone and call my friends or family, but that's pretty hard to do when there's an ocean and 6 hour time difference between us. Friendships back home have fallen apart this year, and they claim it's because they don't get to see each other anymore. Phones were invented for a reason, and you should feel lucky that you are still in the same time zone as the ones you love. Make the effort and drive 4 hours over the weekend to visit your best friend, because you're so lucky to have them in your life.
In 100 days I have to go home. But it doesn't even feel like home anymore, this is my home. I feel like I've grown up so much this year and I've finally realized what's really important. and it kills me that I have to return to high school drama that should be long gone by now. But for now, I'm just going to live in this moment and enjoy the next 100 days, because I have everything I need right here.

la folie de voyager

The past couple of days I've gotten the opportunity to do a bit of traveling around europe! Last weekend I popped on over to Milan, Italy with Mylisha for the day. It's only a 3 hour train ride from our town, so we figured it was a good way to spend our saturday. While there I've decided after I master french (it will happen, I swear.) I will learn Italian!

The Duomo in the center of Milan

Free hugs in the train station <3

For St. Patrick's Day I went to Dublin, Ireland for a couple of days. For those of you who know the awesome travel writer Rick Steves, he has a son Andy who does weekend trips in Europe for people studying abroad. The program is called WSA (weekend student adventures) and each weekend he goes to a different city and organizes trips for college students. He has programs in Prague, Dublin, Paris, London, Swiss Alps, Rome and Barcelona. If you're ever studying abroad in Europe, I highly suggest you check out his program, because it was amazing.

The Liffey River that runs through the streets of Dublin

Learning to play the Irish national sport of Hurling! (not my idea of a good time...)

Our awesome Irish tour guide Stephen and Andy Steves!

Waiting for the parade to start with my roommates and our tour guide

Roommates out on the town!

The whole gang

Roommates!

They filmed scenes of PS I Love You near here

I met so many awesome people and had 4 jam packed days of fun! We had VIP tickets to the parade, toured the Guinness factory and got a bus tour out into the countryside. Going there was the best decision I've made so far this year.

Life's good.

Not really sure how to describe it, but I think I've finally reached that point where I'm just extremely content with my life in Switzerland. It took me a lot longer than other exchangies, but now that I'm there, I'm so happy! I've stopped missing the aspects of home that at one point made me horribly homesick. because the thing is, although those people and places are still missing from my life, I still have so much going for me. I've made amazing friends who have taught me so much, and they make up for the things from home that I'm lacking. Today I went over to Meredith's house (another exchangie from the US) and we messed around on her piano for literally 2 hours. I don't necessarily consider myself being talented on the piano, but it's something I've always fiddled with at home. For the past 7 months I've been trying to find a piano to play, and what do you know, it was right in front of me! It brought back memories of my life in Bay, playing songs that my mom taught me or ones my sister and I would try to play together. But it wasn't sad, if anything it made me happy to have those forgotten memories back in my mind. Afterwards, I went out to eat with my family at our favorite restaurant in town. The owner is a family friend and when I walked in he greeted me by singing Michelle Ma Belle and then said "it's good to be home, right?" because we seriously eat there every week and I've been 3 times in the past 5 days. I can greet the waitresses by name and can order without even glancing at a menu, because the truth is, it is home. Maybe not the restaurant specifically, but just Fribourg. I came over here completely alone and never imagined I was capable of creating a world I would love.

fasnacht

Ladies and gentlemen, I have discovered my new favorite holiday.

CARNAVAL!!!

and no, i'm not stupid, that is the french spelling of it. And in german it's called Fasnacht.

Carnaval is a catholic holiday that is celebrated right before lent. It's basically the same concept of mardi gras, just more hard core. It's a 5 day event where you party it up right before you have to stop drinking/partying/having fun during lent. It's europe's version of Halloween (if you recall, my halloween was rather uneventful and my family didn't even realize it was halloween.) This is the time of the year to dress up and party like crazy! Each town has their own carnaval for the most part, so I stayed in my town of Fribourg. I went into town friday night and saturday without a costume, and I literally felt like a freak. Sunday there was a parade during the day and then l'homme qui brûle (the burning man.) I'm still not exactly sure what the burning man symbolizes, but I'm gonna take a wild guess and say it represents the end of winter. Tuesday night was the last night of Carnaval, so I dressed up and danced the night away! Enjoy some marvelous pictures below!

The parade! Confetti was everywhere and covered my clothes/hair/purse, therefore covering my house once I got home.

Saturday night with Mylisha and Grace

Mario!

L'homme qui brûle

Every single swiss student has this brand of highlighters.

At the parade with Mylisha

Grace and some NASA guys

Banana and the bee!