I remember when I was a teenager and went on an international exchange program in Switzerland for a year. Yes, I’ve always dreamed of living abroad and learning about other cultures, languages, and ways of living. I wanted to see more of the world and challenge my ability to learn and expand. So, at fifteen, I decided it was time to go abroad again – but this time, for a whole year. I’ll tell you about my experience living in Canada for 6 months at thirteen some other day. 😊
My parents had always supported me in any of my dreams, especially when it involved studying. I was a very hard daughter to say no to, as I had always been considered mature and responsible for my age, had excellent grades, was active in sports, didn’t get into trouble of any kind, and checked all the boxes required for being an example to follow. So, they had no other option but to let me go and live my dreams.
And therefore, I did. I embarked on my Swiss journey in August 2004, clueless about how my life would look like in the following twelve months. The only certainty I had was that it would change, and I would change. I just had no idea how much.
The first thing that impacted me when I arrived at the Zurich International Airport was the “noise”. Not that I didn’t like the sound of Swiss German. I didn’t understand any of it. I could barely say “Hallo, wie geht’s?” (Hello, how are you?), and those were German words – not necessarily how the Swiss spoke.
The first weeks went by, and I’d get constant headaches – it was too much new information to process: new language, new home, new family – a host family, new room, new school, new colleagues, new challenges, new life. Where had I put myself into?
Truth be told, I hadn’t planned much before leaving Brazil – in my head, I just had to embrace what came in my direction and do my best. And I’m glad I did it, as the fewer expectations I had, the more I would enjoy.
Now I realize how living a year in Switzerland has taught me more than just a new foreign language. It taught me adaptability, resilience, the ability to make new friends and start a new life. It showed me how it was to live in a house with different rules than the ones I was used to at home – almost none 😊. It taught me that I could count on myself to be my best company. It showed me the beauty of living in different seasons, the power of having good relationships and being open to experiencing life.
Looking back, I remember having a journal to register how my days went, my achievements, my thoughts, my findings, and my gratitude for being there. I still remember the John Mayer Album that I would listen to while sitting on the bus to Lucerne. I remember paying attention to the people around me, the places, the sounds.
Life is good. And I find that out through journaling. Journaling is an excellent tool for connecting with your inner narratives, processing emotions, and re-writing your experiences. That’s exactly what I did in this text. I translated my memories into words and let them bring me the joy of reliving my earlier years.
Do you feel like rewriting your stories and connecting with the power of journaling with my help? Send me a message at contato@astroser.com.br and let me guide you.
Looking forward to hearing from you soon,
Sofia. 😊