This week, I saw my first snowfall in Switzerland. I didn’t expect to be so excited to see snow, especially after my traumatizing experience traveling to and from D.C. However, the joy of seeing snow comes right back when you’re surrounded by so many people who have never seen it before. In particular, the Australian students look at the snow with childlike wonder. The excitement truly rubs off on you.
Here’s a quick scene of my first snowfall in Lausanne. The flakes here look more defined than the ones back home.
The snow also means that I was able to go skiing for the first time ever, much to the surprise of my friends and ski instructor. They expected that I would have gone skiing at least once before because I live in Massachusetts. Of course, it’s not that simple, and the appeal definitely varies from family to family based on several different factors.
I layered sweatpants with worker’s pants from a local thrift store. Just a day in the life of the thrifty skier.
Here in Switzerland, though, I feel like I would be remiss if I did not ski. I’m only an hour away from the Swiss Alps, after all! Fortunately for me, UNIL offers group trips to Les Diablerets, which include private ski lessons, lodging in the UNIL chalet, and dinner and breakfast.
I know. I know…even more mountain views. It’s hard not to look at the mountains or think about the mountains or talk about the mountains when you live less than an hour away from the Alps.
Skiing is weird. You tire every muscle in your body to go uphill and slide back down as you witness extremes in weather from the tip of a mountain. Somehow, it’s still so much fun.
My orientation is coming up this week, so stay tuned for even more of the city, but from the cool perspectives of local students sharing their wisdom.
urtravelogues.com 