One year later. Still here, learnt a lot and much to tell. A lot happend this year. This year was supposed to be my 'gap year'. Many ideas were in my head on how to fill this year with things I've never done. Places I wanted to go to, experiences I wanted to make,...
And that's what I did! Kinda. Today it's exactly one year ago I set foot in IPC. A school that changed my whole life. I got to know a new part of life. My life! My youth. I did things I am still so proud of and I really liked the version of me who I became there. I met people from all over the world. People I never talked to before in my life and those people I'm calling my best friends. Even family. People never meant so much to me before I met them. Almost five months I spent with them. My heart broke in 102 pieces and got spread out over the entire planet. Every one of them took a piece with them and care so much for it, for me! I can still not describe how grateful and happy I am and at the same time so sad and lonely. I was happy, grateful, in love, sad, angry and so so so joyful.
That was the first part of my year. And it still feels like it all happend yesterday.
When the new year started a lot of different things happend. After completing my driving lessons, I found an amazing opportunity in Switzerland. I found the initiative of the European Union called Interreg Volunteering Youth. Through them I got in touch with a Swiss association, who where trying to stimulate and evolve the communication between Germany, France and Switzerland. This transborder initiative gave me a new perspective on my future studies.
All alone I arrived in a new city. Thankfully they spoke German so the language wasn't a problem. I got in touch with some people, where I ended up living with. I had an amazing room in the middle of the city! But when miss Corona decided to interrupt all our lives, my time to come home also came. Without thinking ahead, hoping I would only be home for two weeks I packed some stuff and got on a plane.
Three months later it was mid May and my intershop was about to end and all my stuff was still there. Three trains later I opened the door of my apartment and there I was again. Two weeks left of my time in Switzerland. Even though I had a tough time before I decided to enjoy every minute and make sure to make the best out of it. That's when I started with my 'treasures of today'. It started just for myself. To show myself what a good life I was living and how lucky I was to be out of Belgium during Corona. I went hiking, swimming, to Zürich and spent all my time along the river. I really felt lucky and happy again. I really got to know myself more. I was basically alone, but I was enough for myself. I had a lot of fun, cause I was doing everything I wanted without taking into account what others want.
The year still wasn't over and my next adventure was waiting to get started. Together with a friend, I started working. I got a job in a beach bar where we always go with my family when we go to the beach. Last year I told them I was coming and I could start immediately. We set up our tent and had the time of our life together. My feet where dead after a few days. It was so warm but that didn't stop us. I met so many nice people, who were always looking out for me.
I did everthing! I was bringing food, drinks, taking orders and I spent two days as the bartender. That was really my thing! I freaking loved it.
After all the amazing opportunities I got along the way and after all the special memories I made something bad happend.
I ended up in the hospital because I had terrible headaches. After a lot of investigating they found out it was something in my brain and I had a brain surgery. It was the biggest shock in my life. Although I didn't really realise everything that was happening I had the biggest reality check ever. I could plan everything exactly how I wanted, it could all just fall apart in a second. And it did! I'm not the person to take things slow and listen to my body and that is exactly what I had to do after my surgery. It was though! It is still though!
So this was the short version of how I spent the last year. It was absolutely awesome! In every way! I look back with a happy face wishing it could all start over again, but the next adventure already start. And I can't wait to keep you posted!
love, E