The giddy excitement reverberating through me stemmed from a decision that had finally come to fruition after weeks of contemplation. I had just booked my first flight of the fall semester to my dream destination – Switzerland! For 119 euros, I’d secured a round trip from my Copenhagen, my new home, to Genève Aéroport with three other students from my affiliate university, DIS.
We met once to plan, and then we were off. Around midnight, I landed in Geneva, exchanged my dollars for Swiss Francs, then hopped right on the first of many trains that night. The rides lasted between 10 and 95 minutes, often requiring us to wait at a train stop for more than an hour before making our next connection. As temperatures dropped, I found myself layering on every jacket and piece of clothing my backpack held. I savored the fleeting respite from the cold on each new train or bus we boarded.
Despite our overnight journey, I still captured glimpses of Swiss society here and there. On the buses, I noticed Swiss teens wearing unique black pieces of clothing and makeup as a collective fashion staple. Unlike the bustling U.S. towns I am used to, I often found myself in new places with not a single building or bathroom open within sight of the train stations, perhaps a testament to the much-admired work-life balance celebrated in Switzerland.
At 6:50 a.m., we reached Kandersteg, Switzerland, our mountainous destination. However, the gondola we planned to take hadn’t started operating yet. We unanimously decided to stay on the train until we hit its last planned stop and disembark once it reversed back to Kandersteg. Our hope was to catch some much-needed sleep before beginning our upcoming hike.
I opened my eyes as warm, inviting sunlight streamed through the windows. Subsequently, the announcement that we had reached Domodossola, Italy, boomed over the train’s loudspeaker. My long-standing dream to travel to Italy at some point in my life was realized when one of the train’s staff (a bit confused about our prolonged stay), told our group, “Girls, get up, you’re in Italy! Go explore!”
We left the train. The polizia checked our passports, and that was all the permission we needed to explore the small Italian town. I breathed in the fresh air and took in the colorful buildings. My heart buzzed as the cafe owners encouraged me to buy something from irresistible assortments of Italian food. I bought a delicious pizza slice and pistachio croissant from a woman who spoke only Italian and gave us a disapproving look for trying to start the exchange in English.
After a few train stops, a gorgeous gondola ride and a thrilling mountain roller coaster, I found myself savoring that same pizza slice while standing on the breathtaking Swiss Alps. The pizza fueled me for the short hike to Oeschinensee Lake, an icy blue oasis. No one else dared to swim, but after reassurance that it was safe, I waded shoulder-deep into the lake.
Any cold-induced loss of sensation my legs experienced was abated by the exhilaration of being present in that time and place.
Every struggle and indecisive thought leading to that perfectly imperfect moment simply became part of the journey toward a novel joy I would have otherwise never even known to miss. Amidst the stunning landscapes and unexpected stops in Italy, my adventure was the perfect mix of challenge and excitement. This trip, marking my first solo flight at 18, pushed me to expand my horizons – whether through chasing wanderlust or pursuing life objectives.
This post was contributed by Anika Srinivasan, a Global Ambassador for Fall 2024. Anika is a first year studying abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark.
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