Long but short 🛬

Just wanted to share some thoughts, now that I have been abroad for almost two months. Time-wise, it is a paradoxical feeling—that already I am two months in, but then there are days that feel super long.

What you probably think of when you think of Switzerland. It is true!

What have you been up to?

Probably the most commonly asked question, particularly among other exchange students.

What have I been up to? Well, in brief, since arriving:

• participated in a French intensive course offered to exchange/non-Swiss French students by EPFL
• attempted to meet other exchange students during our welcome week
• been going to a local English-speaking church
• started school (oh wow!)
• been on some day trips around Switzerland, and some hiking
• still in school (oh wow?)
• went to our church’s university/young adults small group retreat (Now I have been to the same number of CCF retreats as retreats in Switzerland 😂)
• continuing to attempt to meet people

I have also been doing some a lot of:

• visiting the grocery store(s)
• walking, in general
• thinking, contemplating, reflecting
• calling back home

I have been doing more of:

• reading
• writing
• praying for others
• sleeping (pretty sure I am sleeping more than I did in Waterloo) 😎

Compared to some of the other exchange students I know, I have not been “travelling around” as much as others. I do hope to do some of that, but I feel like being here for a year gives me a bit more leeway to not be as pressured to do everything-and-all-right-here-right-now. Also, booking in advance for flights and trains to non-Switzerland locations is helpful so you have better prices and more time availabilities 😅

Fairytale-like shot of Gruyères, a town in Switzerland where Gruyère cheese is from.

How have you been doing?

A close second to the first question, typically asked by people back home.

How have I been doing? This question really varies on the day that you ask it—although I try to write some of my posts in one sitting, sometimes they get broken up into chunks, and so what I wrote last week for example might be different from what I would write today.

In general though, things have been getting better since my last post from one week into the exchange. Although there are still times where I feel homesick, lonely, or sad, they do not take up the bulk of the time. I have been able to meet some more people both at school and at church, and have become much more comfortable with the environment and day-to-day life.

School has also been going on for four weeks now, so that is something that I also have to deal with. Although the labs so far for some of the courses are very sparse in their instructions and can be very confusing, moreso than Waterloo, I have yet to spend the incredulous hours here that I did in Waterloo, which I am thankful for (and I hope it stays that way 😆)

Reading my past post, I wrote about how shocked I was about my 16 CHF sandwich, but now, I have grown accustomed to what kind of prices are out there. Anything under 10 CHF is a steal for sure, and 10-15 CHF is also within a nice range. 15-20 CHF is pretty typical, and then if you plan to go out to eat at a restaurant or something you can expect at least 25-30 CHF, or more, depending on what you eat.

Canadian Thanksgiving was on Monday October 10th this year. It is not a thing here, so had to make our own pumpkin pie! (This was technically a squash pie, but tasted quite similar.)

What have you been learning?

This ties into the question above, but one thing I have been learning is the slow nature of sanctification and by extension, life. Before coming, I was expecting a lot of immediate change, immediate shifts to my growth and just what I would be doing. In actuality, it has been slower—I am reading more than I used to, I am reflecting more, but nothing drastic. Also in the day-to-day, when encountering challenges or struggles, it can feel like a long time. But we need to be patient in God’s timing and plan.

Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. (Psalm 37:5)

Another learning that is ongoing is in what it means to draw near to God, both in up and down times. Cognitively, we can understand and know what is true, but what about tangibly? Perhaps this is a sign that I should be reading Knowing God by J.I. Packer, haha! This was the only non-Bible book I brought to Switzerland to read. This also reminds me when I was reading Pursuing God last term, that Tozer wrote from what sounded like something experiential and tangible. I don’t know if we are venturing into some mysticism territory, but just something to ponder. What does it mean to taste and see that the Lord is good?

Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! (Psalm 34:8)

I think I am also learning more about things outside of school, and considerations of what could come after graduating. What might it be like to live in another country? What is the role of the local church and how can I be connected there (i.e. what do you do when CCF is over for you)? What does it look like to be dependent on God in a completely new environment? How do you meet new people? How do you establish a rhythm for day-to-day life? How do you maintain and continue to grow in your spiritual disciplines?

Another learning is on cultivating gratitude, one of the takeaways I had from our retreat. Since the focus of the retreat we had was on the seven deadly sins/capital vices, we also talked about ways that we could fight against them. One of the recurring habits to do so was in cultivating gratitude. What might that look like practically? Perhaps just writing it down, once or twice a day, or sharing with a friend each day.

In the morning on the EPFL campus.

What are you looking forward to?

There is still a lot to look forward to. I don’t think there is anything specific, but in general just hoping to be content in the ways that God might work. That might mean exploring a new country or town, talking more to people at church, or even an emotionally difficult day.

I am also looking forward to finishing some of these courses this term 😆

Concluding thoughts

As mentioned, since much is still unknown, to be open and willing to trust God would be something to keep learning and doing. To enjoy each and every day, thankful that God has given another day of breath in my lungs to wake up and so an opportunity to live for Him, in Switzerland!

Sunset with Lake Geneva (Lac Léman) in the background, lucky shot from the train. The mountains in the background should be from the French side of the lake.

See you around