Swiss, cows, bells and a whole lotta love!
My advert for Swiss Tourism
I'm Back! But I am not sure if I'm happy about it! Usually I look forward to returning to Edinburgh but this time I did not, I could have happily stayed in Switzerland! During the flight home I was feeling ill at ease, only to get to the passport section where I was directed to join a certain queue. Five minutes later I was rudely given a little white form and sent to the very back of the queue. Thanks for the welcome home Scotland! I know it's procedure, so excuse the venom but I'm walking wounded and, at that very moment, it felt like salt.
Anyways, that was about the only negative thing to happen during the whole holiday! Switzerland is a haven, a Garden of Eden! Snow-capped mountains, long hiking trails, waterfalls, opaque blue lakes, friendly people, good food, peace, serenity and I could go on! It is maybe the most beautiful place I have seen. Even being sick for the first week was ok, taking it easy in a place like that was heavenly! But that is not what made it one of the best holidays I have ever had. To to get my point across I'm going have to tell you a long story from my past ....
When I was still living in Zimbabwe I always wanted to leave there and go live in Cape Town. I had never visited the city before but knew it was where I was meant to go. So straight out of school I said that would be my plan. My parents said they weren't paying for it so I should stick around and get a job. That's what I did. Until one horrible day, a year later at a friend's farewell, I had some drunken CIO man hold an A47 at me for a few hours saying that he wanted me to be his wife. Highly unimpressed by his lack of romance, I took all the money I had saved (it converted to £100) and I got on that bus to Cape Town. On arrival a friend and his mates came to pick me up and I took and instant liking to one of the guys named Marc. A week later I moved into a place literally just around the corner from his flat. Three days after that, Marc took me on our first proper date for a walk up Lion's Head. Whilst up there his car was broken into and my money, which we had hidden under the car mat, was stolen. Not knowing what to do, Marc's parents were visiting the city for a few days and he invited me to join them that evening for a fish braii. When saying good-bye his mom and dad, Rolf and Hermine, gave me money to tide me over. I had no choice but to accept.
Due to affirmative action in South Africa I found it very difficult to get a job but I did eventually find one. Waitressing at first, working just for tips, quite often for 17hrs a day, 5days a week. Then tourism. The violence in Zimbabwe was still very bloody and the shock was only just setting in. My family were distraught and so was I. A dark depression took over, so much so that I could barely brush my hair as it was all falling out. Both my mother and I had cancer scares but, thank God, we were ok. Emotional overload! Rolf and Hermine paid for Marc and I to fly to Durban and spend a month with them at their beach apartment. They spoilt me, loved me and cared for me. Early the following year they had us to stay again for a few months whilst we sorted out my UK visa. They then lent me the money I needed to move to get started in Edinburgh. Inbetween now and then they have kept in constant contact via every communication method possible, always treating me as part of the family.
Two years after arriving in Edinburgh Marc and my relationship was not going so well. It wasn't bad but it was not what we both wanted. However we had built up such a strong bond and deep friendship, so we broke up ... He still lives in the bedroom next door to me and we continue to be great friends and flatmates.
This year, again when I needed it most, the Reimann family took me away to Switzerland to relax and unwind. We spent hours, talking, debating, laughing, eating, walking, being silent, sharing and generally being content. These three people have given me so much love and they are unbelievably special to me. I know that I have no way to repay their generosity other than what I described to them as the Pay It Forward concept. And pray that everyone has people like them in their lives. I am so very lucky!
I'm Back! But I am not sure if I'm happy about it! Usually I look forward to returning to Edinburgh but this time I did not, I could have happily stayed in Switzerland! During the flight home I was feeling ill at ease, only to get to the passport section where I was directed to join a certain queue. Five minutes later I was rudely given a little white form and sent to the very back of the queue. Thanks for the welcome home Scotland! I know it's procedure, so excuse the venom but I'm walking wounded and, at that very moment, it felt like salt.
Anyways, that was about the only negative thing to happen during the whole holiday! Switzerland is a haven, a Garden of Eden! Snow-capped mountains, long hiking trails, waterfalls, opaque blue lakes, friendly people, good food, peace, serenity and I could go on! It is maybe the most beautiful place I have seen. Even being sick for the first week was ok, taking it easy in a place like that was heavenly! But that is not what made it one of the best holidays I have ever had. To to get my point across I'm going have to tell you a long story from my past ....
When I was still living in Zimbabwe I always wanted to leave there and go live in Cape Town. I had never visited the city before but knew it was where I was meant to go. So straight out of school I said that would be my plan. My parents said they weren't paying for it so I should stick around and get a job. That's what I did. Until one horrible day, a year later at a friend's farewell, I had some drunken CIO man hold an A47 at me for a few hours saying that he wanted me to be his wife. Highly unimpressed by his lack of romance, I took all the money I had saved (it converted to £100) and I got on that bus to Cape Town. On arrival a friend and his mates came to pick me up and I took and instant liking to one of the guys named Marc. A week later I moved into a place literally just around the corner from his flat. Three days after that, Marc took me on our first proper date for a walk up Lion's Head. Whilst up there his car was broken into and my money, which we had hidden under the car mat, was stolen. Not knowing what to do, Marc's parents were visiting the city for a few days and he invited me to join them that evening for a fish braii. When saying good-bye his mom and dad, Rolf and Hermine, gave me money to tide me over. I had no choice but to accept.
Due to affirmative action in South Africa I found it very difficult to get a job but I did eventually find one. Waitressing at first, working just for tips, quite often for 17hrs a day, 5days a week. Then tourism. The violence in Zimbabwe was still very bloody and the shock was only just setting in. My family were distraught and so was I. A dark depression took over, so much so that I could barely brush my hair as it was all falling out. Both my mother and I had cancer scares but, thank God, we were ok. Emotional overload! Rolf and Hermine paid for Marc and I to fly to Durban and spend a month with them at their beach apartment. They spoilt me, loved me and cared for me. Early the following year they had us to stay again for a few months whilst we sorted out my UK visa. They then lent me the money I needed to move to get started in Edinburgh. Inbetween now and then they have kept in constant contact via every communication method possible, always treating me as part of the family.
Two years after arriving in Edinburgh Marc and my relationship was not going so well. It wasn't bad but it was not what we both wanted. However we had built up such a strong bond and deep friendship, so we broke up ... He still lives in the bedroom next door to me and we continue to be great friends and flatmates.
This year, again when I needed it most, the Reimann family took me away to Switzerland to relax and unwind. We spent hours, talking, debating, laughing, eating, walking, being silent, sharing and generally being content. These three people have given me so much love and they are unbelievably special to me. I know that I have no way to repay their generosity other than what I described to them as the Pay It Forward concept. And pray that everyone has people like them in their lives. I am so very lucky!
posted by Shirlz at 5:40 pm
1 Comments:
Sweety.. the pleasure was all ours! as always! thanks for photo documenting the holiday (shirlz took over 500 photos and makes a perfect companion for capturing all your holiday highlights.. you should invite her to your holiday :)
ShMEiM (aka Marc)
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