2 Months Abroad Update!
It has been quite a ride already and I can't believe its been 2, almost coming to 3 months that I've been here. For those of you who don't know, I decided to buy a one way ticket to Switzerland and travel the world. I knew this would be my first stop as I was here in Interlaken six years ago. Most of my friends who I kept in touch with throughout the years are still here, so its been lovely to catch up with everyone and also meet new faces that I have not seen.
Interlaken is quite a place. This is a very social town, everyone goes out together. It feels like one big family. I'm happy to be apart of it. This is what I'm looking for, a sense of community. Everyone is so friendly and curious to know what your story is of how you got here. I'm enjoying getting to know everyone, they all have been very kind.
On the other hand, my first month was not very easy. Transitioning to traveling again after so long was a shock in itself. I hadn't backpacked in six years, yes I have traveled here and there throughout my studies but I haven't bought the whole one-way ticket to travel the world. Last time I was here with my cousin, so I had family with me and someone to bounce things off of. I wasn't afraid of being alone because I don't mind being alone, I enjoy it actually from time to time but my mind was in denial that I was back here.
It took a while for it all to hit me that, "wow, I did it." I knew I was here physically but mentally I couldn't believe it. I had thought about this place probably everyday for the past six years. It was surreal.
Besides getting used to the fact that I was here, I found work (I work at a hotel) and a place to stay quite fast, which was good but that took some transitioning as well. I did not know the language, the Swiss way of doing things, which brought on bumping heads with some coworkers. Along with that I was sick probably the first month being here, I had a sinus cold at first and got over that but right when I was started to feel good again, I got what felt like a punch in the gut with a bad fever. So a mix of things going on at work and not feeling well, it all was affecting me spiritually and I started to question everything.
"Can I do this?"
"Is the travel life meant for me?"
"Should I go home?"
"I don't know if I like it here."
"I don't know what to do."
"I'm scared."
I was struggling with my past and present because last time I was 18 and now I'm 24. Doesn't seem like much but I'm not that wild party girl backpacker, yes I still like to go out and have a good time but I don't want to be drunk everyday like I was last time. I'm more spiritually in tune with myself, I just want to meditate, do yoga and have deep life talks with beautiful people all day. A bit different from getting trashed all the time.
I felt like I was fighting something that I already knew, which brought on anxious thoughts. I spoke with my boss and we had a meeting with everyone at work, all worked out well. I was really glad we had that meeting because it wound up being a miscommunication issue. I felt so relieved and things at work definitely got better. I'm still not sure if this place is meant for me. I don't know if I'm meant to stay here on a permanent basis and travel around while using this as a home base or if its only temporary/seasonal thing.
More people are back now for the Summer season which jumps off June-ish but really kicks off in July. I'm seeing how this Summer season goes as to what my next move is. The money is decent here but it is expensive to live here. I've been doing good with my money so far, barely touched my US account. I try to use cash as much as I can from what I make here.
I also recently just purchased a ticket to fly to Los Angeles, California to see my friend Kyle Cease at his event called Evolving Out Loud. Its a 3 day event but I'll be flying in the day before, sounds crazy but I'm taking a leap. He has been asking me to come to every event since the first one I went to back in the summer. He is a transformational comedian, its a seminar for spiritual self growth and to realize that anything is possible. I'm in a position where anything can happen and I'm open to it. I have nothing holding me back and I got that gut feeling again like I did last time to leap and go. So I know its my soul telling me to go. At first I wasn't sure about going because I didn't want to touch my travel funds, but Kyle told me something that really stuck in my head, "when your leap is bigger than your money, you have a more fulfilling life than everyone else."
That only validated my feeling even more, so I cannot wait to go. I leave June 26th-29th and then high season starts here in Switzerland, I'll be back just in time for it.
I'm so glad I did not give up when I felt like giving up. Everything was going wrong, I wasn't as healthy as I wanted to be, I was uncomfortable, I was completely outside my comfort zone but I stuck through it. My good friend Jack from Highly Conscious Man, called me and told me the best advice, I'm paraphrasing but it was something along the lines of "If you are outside your comfort zone, good stay there! Thats the only way you'll grow."
I'm so grateful to have so many supportive friends and family. The sun did come through the clouds and its shining. My energy is back and I'm staying true to myself. So much has happened since I've been here and it feels like I've been here for a months already. I have completely lost any kind of concept of time or what day it is. I'm lucky to know what time it is. But I am okay with that, I feel present.
This journey will continue. Where will my next stop be? I have no idea. I have a wonderful opportunity to meet with my beautiful friend, Andrea from Adventurous Andrea who is right now flying to Thailand! Thailand has always been a dream place to visit, so thats a very strong possibility. Also, Ryan from Just Chuckin' It will be back in Italy in June and I really felt inspired to go there.
Namastè