As you can probably imagine, studying abroad can be exhausting. Navigating the balance between finding moments to rest while also avoiding the feeling that you are “wasting time” while in Europe can be tricky – this was something that I often worried about before going abroad.
However, one of the lessons I’ve learned through weekly travel is that rest does not necessarily have to look like sleeping all weekend. Don’t get me wrong – there is little I love more than sleeping in. Luckily, most of my classes start at 10:45 a.m., allowing me to catch up on a lot of lost sleep during the week. This way, I’m still able to utilize my weekends for travel.
Despite my initial anxiety about being well-rested, I will have traveled 15 out of the 16 weekends I’ve been abroad this semester, which makes me feel grateful for the opportunities I’ve had and proud that I’ve taken advantage of them. I decided to take a break during week nine ahead of a long stretch of travel, and one week “off” appears to be the standard for Miami University Dolibois European Center students.
I don’t regret staying in Luxembourg for one weekend, as it allowed me to explore the nearby city while getting to sleep in my own bed at the end of the day. However, I have felt equally rested by planning trips that allow me to slow down and take in a new country's surroundings.
Interlaken, Switzerland was an ideal setting for this. After a brisk five-hour car ride through the eastern part of France, my friends and I were greeted by towering evergreen trees and bright, white snowcap peaks as we entered Interlaken.
Well, sort of.
Instead of stretching our wallets to stay in the city center, we opted for a mountainside Airbnb in Eggiwil, a small town about 45 minutes outside Interlaken. Even though we had to drive into the city each morning, the beauty surrounding where we stayed was more than worth the commute.
Our Airbnb was a guesthouse that belonged to a family dairy farm in the mountains of Switzerland. Staying here allowed me to meet the owners and tour their farm – which included plenty of cows to pet.
Each morning, the clouds kissed the peaks of the emerald rolling hills that stretched out for miles, and each night the stars shone brighter than I’d ever seen. I was staying on top of the world, and as I looked out at the mountains where my stressors could no longer reach me, they felt a lot smaller.
Staying up in those mountains was very different from anywhere else I have traveled, in addition to the landscape of my home in the United States. However, this did not intimidate me. Switzerland brought some culture shock in the best way possible.
It’s stunning to see how that corner of the world lived, as locals took their time to enjoy being nestled in a valley of the Alps; there was no sense of urgency to get from one place to the next, just appreciation of the surrounding landscape.
For the weekend, I was able to partake in that culture and slow down. My weekend consisted of kayaking on Lake Brienz and learning how to cook cheese fondue. The cooking class was a bonus to cure my constant craving for cheese, but kayaking has been one of my favorite experiences while abroad.
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I have never seen a body of water so clear and turquoise, and its pristine condition demonstrates how well nature can be preserved when it is valued and prioritized by the community. The hike we took to a nearby waterfall reflected the same pristineness.
Switzerland’s value for its environment is another cultural aspect I love about the country. Noting this difference allowed me to reflect on my time abroad – both in how Europe differs from the United States and how this extensive travel shapes me as a person.
It’s easy to lose sight of the privilege of studying abroad and seeing the world at such a young age, which is why reflective trips like Switzerland are incredibly important. Slowing down in a new place is not only rejuvenating but allows for a different perspective and appreciation of the world that goes beyond traditional tourist attractions.
Despite the time and money it takes to get from one place to another, the experience is worth it. There will always be the chance to get an extra hour of sleep or to work an extra shift, but I cannot say the same about exploring Europe. I don’t know if or when I’ll be able to see Switzerland again, but I do know that I am a better person than I was before traveling there, and will further appreciate my time abroad because of it.
Raquel is a junior political science and journalism student. She has written and now edits for The Student since her first year in the Campus & Community section and especially enjoys political reporting. This semester, she will be writing several columns about her time in Luxembourg.
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