graduation, going on a road trip, and moving to Switzerland have all been some of the bigger events this year. oh and spending my first Christmas without my family.
graduation signified the end of one chapter and the beginning of another. many people would say it's the start of the 'real world', but the day after graduation i went on a three week road trip with Nina, which definitely didn't seem all that bad if that was what the real world was all about.
Switzerland for summer vacation ... sounds good to most people, right? well, during the 5 weeks i spent in Switzerland, i came to realize that this vacation could become more permanent. i had finished college, didn't really want to work applebee's anymore, and was young enough to make big changes without having to think too much about the consequences. i learned pretty quickly once i told Chris i was staying, that i hadn't really thought everything through to the very last, very important, detail that was Chris. somehow i knew the second i decided to stay that he wasn't meant to be. most people wouldn't be able to let someone go just because they want to 'try' something new - like live in Switzerland. and since i came to my decision so easily, and still didn't waver when he came to visit, i knew it was the right thing to do.
after making the big decision, it was time to get my act together, find a job and figure out my living situation until i had some money in the bank in order to support myself. i was lucky to find a trial job fairly quickly, got to work there for 2 days in order to see if i fit in with the small team, and knew i was starting work in the beginning of October, which, at the time, left me with about a month of nothing to do. fortunately, there was an opportunity to help out on a class biking trip for a week and another chance to go to Spain for a week soon after that. when i got back from Spain, i had a week left to relax, then i would start work. small detail: when i was trial working, a certain someone stuck out - a mild attraction at the time, which, since October, has turned into something so much more than a mild attraction. I'm even practically living with him. and, as mom agrees is a good thing, everyone else at work doesn't know about it. there's something about mixing business with pleasure that isn't too good of an idea - and that was Fabian's idea first, i just agreed.
since i started work in October, time has flown and suddenly there were Christmas decorations all over Bern, the Christmas market was in full swing, and on Saturday afternoons when i went to work at 3 PM, the restaurant was so full of holiday shoppers that i almost didn't make it into the place. it's good for business, but I'm also looking forward to it quieting down a bit so that i can get all my work done on time.
this Christmas, i spend the 24th in Lyss with everyone and on the 25th, i took the train to Brig, Fabian came to get me and we followed the winding road all the way to the back of the valley to Oberwald (in the wallis) where i met his mom, his step dad, and a very close family friend. on the 25th, we walked up the mountain in the freezing cold weather, had fondue and sledded back down when we were done. it was a wonderful evening. on the 26th we went to Leukerbad for a swim and on the 27th we headed back down to Bern. it was a wonderful weekend of relaxation and getting to know new people.
this week it's just work, work, work. i have off on the 31st at night, but I'm not sure what I'm going to be doing - Fabian has to work. I'll figure something out.
this year hasn't only brought change to me, but there have been so many births, marriages, fights, and break ups among so many people i am acquainted to and i wish everyone the very best for the new year!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!
I LOVE YOU SO MUCH.
Carolineli.
