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Published: August 24th 2006
Thank goodness! Whereas in Latin and Central America I was counting money in terms of dollars and fractions of, now it seems to be in terms of hundreds and multiples of!!!
But it is kind of strange that I'm not coming back. This time, I'm jumping 100% into the unknown. India and Nepal I have never been to, neither do I speak the language (although I'm told English is spoken widely). Australia will also be somewhat unknown in that I'm coming back to live after living there only one year in the past eight!! It will be starting from zero, rebuilding job, friendships, apartment, and everything that goes with it!
The end of the Fete de Geneve when all my Brazillian and Argentinian friends went home brought a pang of nostalgia, realising that I wouldn't be seeing them again for quite some time, as for all my fabulous friends in Geneva who have helped me through the last 5+ years.
I went through the full spectrum of emotions during my one month here.
On my arrival I immediately saw what I did not like about Geneva - lack of colour, orderliness and perfection to the point of
Multipitch climbing at Flegere
My climbing partner (and lift) for the day, Malcolm, on a belay point (btw, he makes the BEST sandwiches!!)ridicule, lack of youth and feeling, too much revolving around money.
Then I went to Bern for the day, and suddenly I felt like I was travelling again. I hired a free scooter to visit the city, had lunch with a guy I met working in the Alpine museum, met an Australian man with his daughter... I realised that we tend to change when we are travelling - be more open to meeting people, to colliding with different situations and dealing with them in ways we'd never imagined. In Geneva, it has been as if I'm back living here. But I also realised that I have to keep the same mentality when I finish my trip and settle down.
During my stay I met up with friends, ventured out into the mountains, even went down the river on floaties, zipped over to france for the day to hike and climb. I felt my website was worthwile when I got feedback from the people around me, I realised that I'd had the courage to break away from the mainstream and to follow a dream, and that people respected me for that. I realised that most of the best and
most supportive friends I have made are from when I was living in this city.
And I had the same feeling as when I left here for the first time - am I doing the right thing, have I done the right thing?
But in the end, I realise that every choice teaches you something. That if a dream crosses your mind, you must chase after it, no matter how remote it may seem. At times I am gripped by a sudden fear for the future - money, stability, job... What am I doing pushing this all aside, and do I have enough means to continue, will I have the strength to build up a 'normal' life after I've finished?
The hardest thing in this equation will be that I'll be living so far away from most of the friends I have made. It is my friends, from Geneva and my travels (all of you reading this) who have supported me through this trip, through my time in Geneva, and through my life.
Keep an eye on this entry for new photos, and I look forward to receiving your messages!!!
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Armando
non-member comment
Saludos!!
Hola cathy!!! Todo bien jeje. Muy contento y con muchas energias como siempre!! Saludos a toda la gente bonita que visita este site. Cathy animo!!!! Aprovecha cada segundo en este mundo.