Another solo trip to another mountain top. It is now December and I have only one week to prepare myself for leaving. How can I explain how the air here soothes my soul, how being one step away from the mountains brings the easy rhythm to my heart? The joy of independence and the pride I have for getting myself here. Switzerland, you are the piece of my independent heart. You have provided me a space to find myself, and for that, I am forever indebted to you.
Tag: europe
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My Mom made it to Geneva
I try to only post pictures of the places I go…BUT, this moment, the time I got to spend with my MOM, was unforgetable for me! She is THE most amazing woman I know and I was so proud and happy that she came! And shortly after her arrival, the fun began to unfold. First stop for us was Gstaad, then Paris, then Vienna, Budapesht and finally Prague.
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Time keeps flying
I, at this point, am really struggling to keep this blog up at the pace I would like to. I am so incredibly busy. I have visited a lot of new places in the last couple months. Some old places too, like home (Texas). And where I am at right now, is working 40 hrs. a week as an intern with CARE International (a non-profit humanitarian organization) (an awesome one at that) and finishing up my Masters Program in Geneva. I have to make so many decisions soon. How do I choose between wanting to be with Rob in the Netherlands, wanting to do field work (IE… somewhere in Africa, Asia, or Middle East) or find a niche that can within a year or two help me get my foot in the door into a big non-profit . The right thing to do, for my career, would be to get field work. And if I can get one job, I know eventually that I can find a way to WRITE for an organization and travel. To give people real perspective on what is going on outside of the U.S.. I also still want to apply to the discovery channel and travel channel. So that is definitely not off my list. Hoping to start applying everywhere by this coming OCTOBER. But as I walk around SWITZERLAND, I cannot help but think of how much I am going to miss this country. So much of me wants to stay here. And I can’t say it is for the people or such… but it is for the air. For the water. And for their home, the mountains. It all feels so alive and so vital to my life. My freedom. My clarity. I step outside, breathe, and its like each breath I take or water I sip, it can never last long enough. The air and water are characteristically so crisp, faultless, unprocessed. They are critical to my ecstasy. I could write a full novel about the earth and its life, and its soul- the ALPS.
Anyways, I need to soak up my time here. Winter is on the brink. And my days of full enjoyment are almost up. Sad as it is. I hate that I feel the end of my time here coming. I am forever torn between the breath of life of the Swiss Apls, the peace and truisms I hold dear in Asia, my heart in the Netherlands, and my family heart home in Texas.
I know there is so much life ahead, well I hope anyways. And I know nothing is forever, but to live a full life, I need somehow to incorporate all these pieces in one big picture. Problem is I do live for right now- since as I said, forever is not promised.
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Toledo, Spain
Toledo- said to have been populated since the Bronze Age, and one of the oldest fortified cities in Spain. The whole city is surrounded by water, with impressive castles and and churches galore. Some of the streets are so small, you need to form a line to get through. The best part about our visit to Toledo, was the fact that my friend Lucas, who is originally from the Toledo area, showed us around the city. We ate, we drank, we walked, we all talked, and by the evening time, we got to settle in a bar near Lucas’ home. Oh yeah, PS- the stories are true. Tapas are free if you buy drinks!
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Day dreaming in leather
Old roads through the Netherlands, Germany, Luxembourg and Belgium. Though I am decked out in leather and riding on a motorcycle, I somehow always find a way to be with nature.
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Returning to Geneva
I thought returning to Europe after living for 4 months in Asia would be hard. As I was leaving my Bangkok life, I had tears in my eyes. I of course knew that one day I would return to Asia, but it felt so final. Like I would be missing out on a whole side of me if I left. But, fate always has a way of knowing what is best for you. My return to Europe meant finding Rob again, it meant enjoying Europe in a whole different way than before, and it meant accomplishing what I set out to do it the first place- getting my Masters. And what better place to be than Geneva. With Lac Leman, the Rhone, Boulangeries, hearing 5 languages at once often, being close to the mountains, fresh air and smiles out of self-pride.
Allison A Janssen 