Wow. So I’ve now been back in Perth for two weeks (one with crippling jet lag). The last three weeks (sans blog posts…) has absolutely flown by. I’m playing catch up and starting the ball rolling with a reflection on November, three weeks of it in Geneva and the last week of it in Perth. Here’s what I was grateful for:
1. The opportunity to live in Geneva.
This city has quickly claimed a place in my heart as one of my favourite cities in the world. All the pieces of Geneva (the French language, the lake, the rivers, the parks, the internationalism, the walkable size, the quaintness of the Old Town, the wine, the work at the WHO which just kept getting more interesting…) added up to create a place that felt like home to me and I hope to one day have the opportunity to live there on a more permanent basis.
[In other news I’m planning on writing a visitor’s guide for Geneva (and other cities I have visited) soon following lots of questions from friends and family about where to go/what to see in the world.]
2. The opportunity to see travel some of Switzerland whilst based in Geneva, in particular a wonderful day-trip to Lausanne, Montreux and Chardonne.
3. The close proximity of everything in Europe… which facilitated a quick weekend away to the UK (with beautiful weather!) to visit family and adopted family. Also grateful for said family and adopted family.
4. SNOW in Geneva for the last two days before I left for Australia. I love properly defined seasons – something that just doesn’t really happen in Perth (except for summer, of course).
Photo by my lovely friend Steph
6. New friends made whilst in Geneva and who shared the intern experience… and some delicious cuisine including hot chocolate and Ethiopian.
7. Old friends, including my uni pals who visited me in Geneva and this wonderful bunch of loved ones who surprised me at the airport when I returned home:
8. Longer days. As much as I LOVED the snow and the transition into winter in Geneva, I also love the long days of summer, which is precisely what I’ve returned to in Perth.
9. Love. At the beginning of the month (while I was away) my cousin and his lovely wife celebrated their first wedding anniversary. On the last day of November, I attended the gorgeous wedding of my friends Dylan and Ella at Ella’s parents’ farm in South-West Australia. Their vows made me tear up. Love is so beautiful.
10. Completing the most interesting, fulfilling and rewarding internship of my working life.
What were you grateful for in November?
Yours Fairly,
Ashlee
