How Can a Foreign Country Alter the direction of Your life?

Prompt response to DEP week 33 of 52: Share a precious memory

The year was 1978. A trip to Switzerland altered my life in a profound manner. I was 38 years old. It was my first trip overseas. I was chaperoning senior Girl Scouts from the Midwest. It was a council sponsored trip. Twenty-two of us were selected from personal interviews. Both my daughter and I got to go. We spent two years earning funds for this outing. This gave us an opportunity to become acquainted.

An Italian travel agency booked two buses. They transported us around Germany, Austria and Switzerland. I was in the first group to attend the Girl Guide Chalet in Adelboden, Switzerland. The other group followed a prearranged itinerary to German and Austrian sights. We exchanged places at the end of the week.

Our mornings started with a flag raising ceremony. Followed by Scout songs familiar to all. Then we broke into groups to take part in selected outings for the day.

Our troop had assigned lodging in the Squirrel House. We slept on mattresses on the floor. We had to prepare our own meals. I trekked down the mountainside every day to buy supplies in the valley.

Every evening a different troop performed skits and songs. There was harmonious singing before we retired for the night. The scouts came from Denmark, England, South Africa, Norway and America. (We would have bonded with the others better if we stayed in the Chalet itself.)

This is the way we should be living on this earth. United in peace and purpose with one mind despite our differences.

The surrounding snow-covered alps called to me. Rivulets ran down the mountainsides. Gorges lured us to explore their depths that led to tumbling waterfalls. Wildflowers covered every hillside in a riot of color. Tinkling cow bells resounded throughout the hills. High mountain trails had signs. Indicated distances to towns were in hours and minutes.

I fell in love with Switzerland. The country resonated with my spirit.

The most eventful day was a climb to the top of Elsighorn Alp. It was cold, cloudy and overcast. At our first rest stop, rain changed to snow. The terrain became steeper. A beautiful alpine lake was our lunch stop. While we ate under the cover of huge pines, some of our party chose to skinny dip. The snow fell heavier. The Scandinavians left the water in a hurry. We Americans thought they were crazy.

Those of us from the Squirrel House were in the lead as the route steepened. Rocks painted in red and white stripes marked the way. We reached the summit enveloped in clouds before anyone else. The hazy view showed peaks stretching to infinity. My body seemed ideally suited to climbing high. I had never felt such exhilaration.

This is my idea of heaven. I can’t believe how effortless the climb went.

Our entire group reunited in Bern, Switzerland on Chris’ birthday. I presented her with a delicious strawberry kuchen. We devoured it on the banks of the Rhine. We shared stories of our different experiences. Her group traveled to the Chalet next. They were fortunate to stay in the Chalet itself.

I celebrated my 40th birthday taking a Basic Mountaineering course in Colorado. Even though I was the oldest participant, they put me in the fast group. Needless to say, I was hooked. I loved everything about climbing in the mountains. I spent 25 years climbing all over Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Canada. I also summited many of the highest peaks in America.

That trip to Switzerland altered the course of my life forever. I have been truly blessed. Oh, and the memories live in my head forever.

This post was written in response to the prompt “share a precious memory” put forth by Dr. Preeti Singh.

A special thanks to the editors of Dancing Elephants Press: Dr. Gabriella Korosi, Vidya Sury, Collecting Smiles, Dr. Preeti Singh, and Annelise Lords for sponsoring this publication.

Terry Day has written a heartfelt article on the many things he is grateful for in his life. It is an inspiring read.