"Every American who wants to know who he is must make his peace with Europe."
-Crossing to Safety, p254
two weeks. Two weeks left of my internship and three weeks left in Switzerland and I'll be leaving on a jet plane back to America.
This realization has induced a quiet, but steady thump of panic in my heart. Panic because there is still so much I want to do here. Panic because I miss home and wish I was already there. Panic because I'm going to miss here so much. Because I have so much left to learn. Because I can't wait to see or at least be in a more convenient time zone for the people I love lots and lots. Panic because I'll have to go back to eating American chocolate (this, naturally, is the cause of most of my worry). Panic because life is picking up again and I am having to leave this quiet, safe haven Geneva has been for me to face it.
I read the above quote in my book today. The narrator was referring more to coming to understand that you are a product of so much history and art that has happened in Europe, but for me those words are personal. This time has and continues to be such a mix of emotions, such a time of reflection and realization, of newness and adventure. Here in Europe I am making peace with so many things.
I took a walk tonight around my sleepy little neighborhood, thinking about my life and my time here and my peace-making. Because my time is not yet over, I still have more to do and mull over. Thoughts are only half-formed, my peace not complete, but I am and will continue to be, so grateful for my summer in Europe.
1 comment:
I have loved seeing your pictures on instagram. Oh it looks lovely! At some point I would love to hear about your internship. I'm sure you could talk about it for days and I wouldn't get bored.
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