A New Reality

It's an interesting feeling being on your own.  There is always this mixture between excitement, relief, fright, and loneliness.  We all experience these feelings sometime or another in life.

Mom has been with me during my time in Europe so far.  She has been such a sense of comfort  and security. Now that she's gone, I'm slightly in shock. I think it is at times like these when you can choose how you want to feel at a particular moment. I've elected to choose excitement and happiness. 

The past weekend I spent in Bern and Zurich with Mom. We had a wonderful time shopping for local handicrafts, wandering the streets, pondering art museums and galleries, and of course enjoying Swiss  fine dining. Mom and I had to quickly and abruptly part ways at the Zurich train station.  Now that I'm on the train home to Geneva alone, I notice her absence, yet I am excited about the independent adventure ahead.  Living in Geneva is my new reality. Switzerland is my home.  I hope soon I will feel just as the locals do :-).

Au revoir for now,
Kira

So Far, So Good!

Blog #2:  So, I’ve only been in Switzerland for 4 days but it feels like I’ve been here for two weeks!  Mom and I have been running around like crazy shopping, exploring, and sight seeing.  Saturday we walked all over town and went into to a slew of department stores for “necessities.”  We hit up “Globus” the chic/fancy department store that reminds me of a combination of Whole Foods and Neiman Marcus in one.   Loved it…but no purchased were made.

Next…the Coop.  For all you Italy frequenters out there…you should know the store well. Italy’s version of Super Target.  Luckily, the Swiss are avid IKEA lovers just like the Americans.  Mom and I felt right at home browsing through the familiar store grounds.  We’ve literally been shopping to death, but have taken time for some nice meals; often in La Vielle-Ville or in the Jardin Anglais by the lake and the famous Jet d’Eau.

Jet d'Eau

I live right in the middle of Geneva’s Ville-Ville (or old town).  I walk out of Home St. Pierre and find myself in a huge courtyard next to the grand Cathedral St. Pierre.  To my left is a little Crêperie, and the old the narrow streets surrounding my home are filled with unique shops and art galleries.  Just down the cobblestone path leads me to another very popular and charming court.  Yellow umbrellas hang above the many petite outdoor tables, the overlooking balconies are filled with flowers, and there are always street musicians found playing a violin or an accordion.  The ambiance could not be more perfect.  I know……..I am so lucky!

Sunday, Mom and I took a day trip to the Chateau de Chillon.  It is Switzerland’s oldest medieval castle.  Check out the pictures I’ve posted.  Too beautiful for words. So far life is good. I’ve started my French schooling at the Université de Genève and am meeting people from all over the world.  Now I better go to do some French homework.  Au Revoir!

Mom and I in Montreux

Chateau de Chillon

Ginebra, Genève,Geneva, Ginevra, Genf ..Here I am!

June 24, 2011

Here it goes. Blog post #1. 

Location:  Up in the clouds somewhere in between Madrid, Espana and Ginebra, Suiza (as they announced in Spain). 

Really I can’t believe I’m in Europe already.  There is something astounding and strange about waking up on a new continent, in a new country, after a red-eye plane flight. I’m not sure if I like the feeling or not. 

Regardless, I’m excited to be here.  I am actually shaking with excitement. Except, I’m not sure if I’m really shaking from hunger, jet lag and/or traveler’s exhaustion.  So, I decided to order a jamón baguette con aceite de oliva just to calm my jitters in case they were associated with hunger.  Sort of worked…ha ha  

Overall though, the strangest thing about this whole experience is I have no idea what will happen today, tomorrow, next week, next month, next year…. For the first time in my life I am forced to live completely in the present.  The “here” and “now” are the only moments that I can comprehend and take in at this point.  I’ve never really experienced a feeling of total unknown before.  I’ve always identified “what’s next.”  I’ve planned out years and years of school, down to individual lunch dates, my weekends, and my summers…

I already know from the start that my time in Geneva will be different.  While I am still going to school, everything else is just….well, up to how the wind blows.  There are no sororities to join here, and I’m not going to go to squirrel camp before my classes start.  There is no R.A. to give any living guidance, and everyone of course doesn’t speak English. Gotta learn that French s'il vous plaît!!  But that’s what makes this adventure all the more exciting.  I’m ready to seek my potential.  What will I make of myself in this busy international city? Luckily, I have quite a bit of time to figure things out, and I’m in no rush. 

PS:  Spotted; a whole slew of native Swiss school children chanting a tune that mostly contained the words “Reuse & Recycle.” Their thick French accents reciting words like “recycle” with such enthusiasm over and over again made me giggle.  Boy the Swiss are sure on top of their sustainable environment education agenda!