March 14, 2020
I woke up to the sound of talking in the room next door and blearily opened my eyes to check the time – it wasn’t even 6 am. Half dragging myself out of bed, I went to see why my housemate and host mum was awake.
It was only a few days ago that President Trump’s Europe travel ban had sent shock waves through the world – and through our study abroad cohort. My housemate was up so early because she was packing to go home before the travel ban fell into effect. A quick look at our program’s group chat revealed that everyone – everyone – was half-panicking and many had already bought their tickets home.
COVID-19 was royally messing up my study abroad semester.
I still waited for the official announcement from our program director that I now believed inevitable. It still felt like my heart was sinking down to my feet when he confirmed the news I already knew: we needed to go back to the U.S.
What a dramatic ending to a semester-long adventure. I don’t think it’s fully kicked in, yet, that I’m really going home, in mid-March to face a 6-month long “summer vacation” until September.
I don’t regret coming to Switzerland – not in the least. But I do wish that I had had more time – to explore my neighborhood more, to see more of Switzerland (I didn’t even get to see Zurich!), to venture out into more of Europe.
I am going to miss all the small things I didn’t think to appreciate until I realized my time was limited – the wonderfully clean trains with the beautiful views of the lake, the full aisles of chocolate at the markets, and the undying exhilaration of being in the vibrant international city.
I will miss the one pub that was right across the Gland train station that became a regular meet-up spot, our “Gland Band” buddies, and the beautiful sky of the quiet night walks back home.
I will miss the small bonding adventures with my program where explored the numerous international organizations in Geneva – including the United Nations Headquarters!
I will miss the one wonderful pier in Coppet I discovered almost on accident – an ideal place of solace for self-healing and reflection — and my favorite place in all of Switzerland.
I will dearly miss the dinners with our host mum where we would talk about everything and anything, and her wonderful meals that were immediately followed by offers for dessert and tea. I will really miss you, Anne-Marie!
I didn’t get to see all that I had planned to see. But I did see and learn and grow – and now I leave, with my suitcase stuffed with souvenirs, chocolates, and memories, telling myself that I will most certainly return to live out my unfulfilled adventures and reconnect with my new Swiss friends.