Somehow I completely missed the month of April and just about lost posting anything in May. I've said it many times before, and I will reiterate time passes faster than the blink of an eye. The velocity of these past two months could have something to do with the fact that I was all over the place for school (and yes pleasure too. :) ) I was fortunate enough to visit the amazing city of Berlin--the wall and history of it completely mesmerized me, as those of you have seen my photos can easily see. I also felt like a legit serious academic at my first conference in Valencia. Spain continues to win my heart everytime I go, each location being more beautiful and entrancing than the next. I think I could seriously live there. And finally, as silly as it would seem I was finally able to see some of the glorious country that has so lovingly let me call it home for the past 2 years, Switzerland. Zurich has such an eclectic vibe of a big(ger) city that is truly Swiss, but also international. Then there are the unbelievable tiny jewels of Malvaglia and Biasca in the valley of Ticino tucked up in the hills of the mountains, yes...cascading waterfalls and all. Something out of a storybook really. And finally, my first glimpse of the French part of this small yet incredibly diverse country in Neuchatel.
I tell you by the middle of this month, I was literally exhausted from living out of a suitcase and hopping from train to plane and back to the train again. I literally spoke 5 different languages in the span of 24 hours (albeit most were only snippets of French, Spanish, and German. You know 'thank you' 'I would like this' etc., but hey....I can try to sound uber cool right??). Anyway, I don't know that I ever reached this point, where I had literally had enough of gypsy travel as I did when I finally arrived back home mid May. Now I know you're thinking, "right what is this 'woe is me' junk??" It's not really that. I am so very thankful for the opportunities that I have had studying and living here. I wouldn't trade it for anything. It was actually more of a huge surprise to have that sensation, this indescribable need and ache of wanting nothing more than my bed in the house where I grew up. It literally hurts physically. On top of that, I received some news that completely changed EVERY single plan I had made for the next 6 months. Needless to say....America had never sounded so good to me, and for more than just a visit.
But...yes....there is always a 'but'. I will be returning here to my little Swiss town for almost another year indefinitely. No negotiations. No other possible scenarios. While that is far from the worst thing that could ever happen to me, it was definitely a slap in the face regarding the reasons why. And I think from this unforeseen twist in my loose life-plan, I learned the ultimate and true definition of a 'blessing in disguise.' It's taken me several weeks to reason my stubborn self into this optimistic point-of-view, considering I have yet to realize or discover exactly what that particular blessing is. However, I am choosing to see the glass half full. Life in the last few weeks has handed me the largest bucket full of lemons I have ever laid my eyes upon, and it has taken numerous near-breakdowns/panic attacks to finally enact my philosophy of grabbing the vodka on the nearby liquor self and throwing a party. And no...it isn't a pity party. It's a middle-finger-in-the-air type of shin dig where I tell life whatever curve ball it throws at me, I'll hit it out of the park. I will succeed. So screw you. :)
So maybe what I'm trying to say more clearly is that life will NEVER cease to mess with the plans you have however nonchalant or loose they are. Always be prepared. Because that moment you let your guard down is when it will smack you in the face in an attempt to leave you scrambling. Yet, if you're like me...it's gonna take a whole lot more of a bucket full of lemons to have us drown in sorrows. I'm gonna win in the end. I imagine most of you will know you will too, so it's become entertaining to watch life put forth so much effort. And if you can keep that sense of hilarity and calm, nothing can stop you. Ever.
So that's it from me this time. I have t-minus 27 days until a much needed dose of America. Now if I could just concentrate on those last presentations before my visit home.....
