I can't believe how fast the past month has gone! It has definitely been a while since I posted here, but I'll attempt to get caught up in the next few days.
Right before I went back to Minnesota for Christmas, I spent a weekend in Strasbourg with my dear friend Aurore exploring the Christmas markets and getting caught up on everything that has happened since we last saw each other in April. (I'll probably post more details and pictures later...)
The next week was full of last minute shopping and packing and research before I flew back to Minnesota on the 15th of December. Thankfully, the weather was perfect and I had no delays to start off my two and a half weeks back home.
I had an absolutely lovely time seeing friends and family and the puppy. There is something that is really special about being with loved ones for the holidays. My one disappointment was the lack of snow, but otherwise the time was perfect. We celebrated my dad's 50th birthday, had an amazing Christmas, shopped together, cooked together, went for walks together and generally had fun together. I even managed to squeeze in a trip to the dentist and the hair salon somewhere along the way.
I unfortunately have zero pictures, as they are all on my parent's camera, but it truly was a fantastic time. I am so thankful for my friends and family!
There was also something a little surreal about this time at home that is hard to describe.
The first few days back in Minnesota were strange, and I had to adjust not only to the time difference but to being able to understand what everyone was saying, driving (or being driven) everywhere I wanted to go, huge drink sizes (or sizes in general), saying distances in miles and weight in ounces or pounds and a million other little things.
Then, when I returned to Switzerland, I felt a little as though I had just had my head underwater for 2.5 weeks and was emerging into real life. I had a little taste of what my life would be like if I was living in Minnesota, and in some ways it was just so much easier than life here. I could understand everyone and do laundry whenever I wanted and know which stores had the things I wanted and be with people who have known me for a long time and go shopping on Sundays if I wanted and be showered with love in ways that just aren't possible in a place you haven't lived for very long.
Coming back to Zürich felt a bit like waking up and having to get re-acquainted with reality all over again. Even in that short time, I had forgotten about the reality of church bells chiming every 15 minutes and what it is like to be surrounded by people speaking Swiss German and how it can be a challenge just to read your mail. At the same time, it felt good to be back. I was happy to get back to my flat and my job, and I was definitely super excited for my first glimpse of the snow-covered Alps.
(I actually had a funny moment in Minnesota when I caught a glimpse of what looked like snow-covered mountains in the distance and got really excited. When I looked more closely, I realized that it was clouds from a smokestack. I'm not sure why I thought that a new mountain range in Minnesota was within the realm of possibility, but I guess I've just gotten used to having mountains on the horizon?)
I was struck this time around by the fact that I do have two homes now. Minnesota will always be my home, but the longer I stay here in Zürich, the more it feels like home. It feels a little like being pulled between two lives, and neither quite fits right- only the combination works.
Right before I went back to Minnesota for Christmas, I spent a weekend in Strasbourg with my dear friend Aurore exploring the Christmas markets and getting caught up on everything that has happened since we last saw each other in April. (I'll probably post more details and pictures later...)
The next week was full of last minute shopping and packing and research before I flew back to Minnesota on the 15th of December. Thankfully, the weather was perfect and I had no delays to start off my two and a half weeks back home.
I had an absolutely lovely time seeing friends and family and the puppy. There is something that is really special about being with loved ones for the holidays. My one disappointment was the lack of snow, but otherwise the time was perfect. We celebrated my dad's 50th birthday, had an amazing Christmas, shopped together, cooked together, went for walks together and generally had fun together. I even managed to squeeze in a trip to the dentist and the hair salon somewhere along the way.
I unfortunately have zero pictures, as they are all on my parent's camera, but it truly was a fantastic time. I am so thankful for my friends and family!
There was also something a little surreal about this time at home that is hard to describe.
The first few days back in Minnesota were strange, and I had to adjust not only to the time difference but to being able to understand what everyone was saying, driving (or being driven) everywhere I wanted to go, huge drink sizes (or sizes in general), saying distances in miles and weight in ounces or pounds and a million other little things.
Then, when I returned to Switzerland, I felt a little as though I had just had my head underwater for 2.5 weeks and was emerging into real life. I had a little taste of what my life would be like if I was living in Minnesota, and in some ways it was just so much easier than life here. I could understand everyone and do laundry whenever I wanted and know which stores had the things I wanted and be with people who have known me for a long time and go shopping on Sundays if I wanted and be showered with love in ways that just aren't possible in a place you haven't lived for very long.
Coming back to Zürich felt a bit like waking up and having to get re-acquainted with reality all over again. Even in that short time, I had forgotten about the reality of church bells chiming every 15 minutes and what it is like to be surrounded by people speaking Swiss German and how it can be a challenge just to read your mail. At the same time, it felt good to be back. I was happy to get back to my flat and my job, and I was definitely super excited for my first glimpse of the snow-covered Alps.
(I actually had a funny moment in Minnesota when I caught a glimpse of what looked like snow-covered mountains in the distance and got really excited. When I looked more closely, I realized that it was clouds from a smokestack. I'm not sure why I thought that a new mountain range in Minnesota was within the realm of possibility, but I guess I've just gotten used to having mountains on the horizon?)
I was struck this time around by the fact that I do have two homes now. Minnesota will always be my home, but the longer I stay here in Zürich, the more it feels like home. It feels a little like being pulled between two lives, and neither quite fits right- only the combination works.
