Here we are! Our first leg of our UK to Australia trip was always ending when we reached Switzerland.
..Switzerland..
Switzerland, at heart is still my home country even after leaving it over 30 years ago! In those 30 years of my life I figured out that I could live in most places in this world and be happy but still, ‘the man was taken out of Switzerland but Switzerland wasn’t taken out of the man...'
..Homes Abroad..
The years living in Australia as a young family were exciting, career building and rewarding – personally and professionally!
Following Australia, there were a few years in the Middle East. Those years were a bit like being on a rollercoaster; to work in the developing city of Dubai was the pinnacle of professional stimulation!
Watching all those new hotels, resorts & islands being built, where every new hotel wanted to be better than the one built before, was very exciting, interesting and to some extent, surreal!
But also, it was a place where my personality developed; At the time, Dubai was a place where equality wasn’t high up on any policies and a place, where human rights were more talked about than put into practice.
Nevertheless, back then, I’ve felt comfortable living and working there. Having to manage a large, dedicated international team in the kitchen, together with a very active local Chefs Guild plus having a pretty busy social life left no time for any dull moments! But I still, I've learned a few lessons of life and hopefully, it made me a better person!
The buzz of the city life which was only a few streets away from the quietness of vast stretches of desert and rocky mountains was captivating and also, provided places to reflect, enjoy the outdoors and discover a whole new and unknown culture to me!
Living and working on cruise ships, was a total different experience again!
Being on the move day after day, just scratching the surface of all the places we visited, tickled different senses! And whilst cruising the world, I saw many places I thought I could call home one day. Canada, Grenada, Bermudas, Terra de Fuego – just to name a few…
..And then we arrived in Basel..
Riding and enjoying our last few hundred meters along the Rhine River which had become our traveling companion, tour guide and backdrop of many nice pictures over the past few weeks, we crossed into Switzerland in Saint-Louis.
A small sign on the cycle path indicated we are now in country No.5…and touching down on home ground.
After all those years of living abroad, it does still feel somehow like ‘coming home’ to me!
..Why is it still like this, I wonder?..
In the past 30 years, I was never homesick, never wanted to go back to Switzerland and live and work there as it was always good enough for me to just go and visit family & friends and then leave again. And still, it feels like coming home...
It must be the familiarity with the language, the hills, valleys & the closeness to snowcapped mountains, the crystal clear water in the streams, the local fauna & flora, the general cleanliness of public spaces, the little effort it takes to escape busy towns & cities, passing along fields full of cows grazing to the sound of their bells, the anticipation of seeing family & friends and last but not least, all that Swiss food I ache to eat as soon as I cross the border…
Let’s pedal a bit faster Rebecca! I’m sure my mother is already simmering the first Haehni- Wurst (my favourite sausage from the local butcher) for us…
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