One Step

Today, I am on my way to the small city of St. Gallen, Switzerland, nestled in the Alps and just a skip, hop, and jump away from Germany, Austria, and Liechtenstein. The city rests among lush hills by a glassy lake and the local library is a UNESCO world heritage site.  I imagine that when walking around campus between classes, I'll gaze down on the center of town and try pointlessly to catch a glimpse of my apartment among the dense mass of quaint buildings.  The air smells  . . . stale and feels . . . dusty. Wait, that's not right. 

Unfortunately, I am not in Switzerland yet. Instead, I’m in a United States Post Office where the air is most definitely stale and dusty.  But despite the less than exotic location, my heart pounds in anticipation of what is to come. Today I am taking the first step on my journey to St. Gallen.  I’m taking that big ole step right up to the post office counter, which is actually kind of intimidating in the face of the disgruntled workers, and I am mailing my visa application – certified and all – to the Embassy of Switzerland in Washington, D.C. And then I’ll have to wait, anxiously, until my visa is mailed to me. The jittery, nervous, but terribly excited tangled mess sitting in my stomach is something akin to the anticipation a child feels while waiting for a parent to sign a permission slip for an adventurous field trip.  That’s what study abroad is at its core – the field trip of a lifetime! 

As a passionate lover of languages, avid traveler, and voracious reader of any sort of literature that transports me to another world, I’m already carving out a special place in my memory in preparation for all that I’m about to learn.  If you would do the same, I would love to invite you to share the adventure of this coming semester with me. Only so much can be communicated through words and pictures but I intend to immerse you in the wonders of St. Gallen as best I can. 

Now that you have (hopefully) opted to join me on this crazy journey, I guess I should let you know a little more about me. I hail from Richmond, Virginia and am in my second year at the University of South Carolina but plan on graduating next May. Outside of academia, I dedicate my time to giving back to the Carolina community that has already given so much to me by serving as Press Secretary on the Student Government communications team and Pledge mom for Sigma Omega Upsilon International Business Fraternity.  I love sailing, all aspects of language, a good book paired with a rainy day, steaming cups of black coffee, and exploring the great outdoors.  I hope that I will be able to both expand and expound upon these interests while abroad.  As we discover Switzerland together this coming spring, please feel free to comment on my posts.  I’d love to receive feedback and answer any questions you may have.

Thus far, the time leading up to my semester in Switzerland has been, to be honest, quite stressful.  Between visa applications, managing housing, pre-departure orientation, all the forms, and everything else – Switzerland seems even farther away than it already is.  However, after I handed that envelope to the surprisingly pleasant attendant at the post office, the stress melted away.  Now I have taken the first step to Switzerland. We have taken the first step – the first step on an unforgettable, unimaginable, breath-taking adventure.

*Please note that this was written in November 2014 when I was going through the visa application process but I wanted to post it now anyway as I thought it was a good place to start!