I remember when I was in Paris and I paid an extra 20€ to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. It was so hazy that the further I went up, the less I could see. This memory repeated itself today as I went to Oeschinensee lake in the western part of Switzerland.

I left the house slightly past 6 and arrived in Kandersteg around 8. After paying the 5 franc to park all day, I began to walk the trail through the forest and up towards the lake. It was 10am and I was greeted with the most beautiful sight. As with most things in life, I wanted more. I wanted to see the lake from the up most spot, I wanted an adventure. Making my way into a small cafe, I asked a young man how to get to Früdenhut, which from previous research I knew it was a hike to the top. He looked at me and asked where I was from, asked if I was French, gave me directions and said, “it’s about 3 hours from here,” and with a gentle laugh continued, “see you tomorrow.”

The walk was picturesque. The birds were chirping, complete silence from human nature and a distant echo from multiple waterfalls. The course became steep and my footing was granted about two feet as I climbed the switchbacks that headed up the mountain. I paused to look down and my breath was completely taken away. I can’t even describe the panoramic view before my eyes at that moment. The clouds had blocked the mountain tops and therefore I had no idea that I was completely engrossed in the largest alps I have ever seen nor imagined, until that very moment. My eyes beheld images my camera lens wasn’t capable of capturing.

I believed the higher I climbed, the better photo I could take of the lake but as I continued to make my way, guided only by red and white striped markers on rocks, the haze came in and all I could see was white. At that moment my body quickly realized that the shorts and light sweatshirt that covered me were not sufficient. I had worked so hard to reach that spot, my heart rate was incredibly fast between the elevation and my speed, when suddenly my overheated body became extremely cold. Much to be expected yet not prepared for. I was after all in the midst of multiple mountains.

It was at that moment that I quickly recalled Paris and knew going to the top would only take a lot of time and I wouldn’t be able to see what I had worked so hard to achieve. I could hear a waterfall in the near distance so I decided to walk towards it. The scariest wooden bridge stood before me and the waterfall with a 500ft drop down to the lake bedded by rocks. I put one foot forward and the plank wobbled. I had convinced myself that many people do this and I would be safe, so I walked. After crossing the bridge I sat down, had some water and a pear and began my dissent.

Today was magnificent, even with the mystical clouds. Spending 5 hours hiking in God’s beautiful landscapes is the best therapy anyone can have.

Living in a country you love is definitely different than simply visiting. Waking up every morning to the beautiful view of the vineyards in every direction I turn is completely inspiring. Along with learning a new language, I am also forced to learn a new culture. Many of the freedoms we take for granted in the states are something others pay for however, many of the problems we have in the states could easily be solved if we adapted our ways.

Every year growing up my mother would make the New Year’s Resolution to return her shopping cart at the grocery store and every year she would struggle with returning it. Anywhere you go, you always find shopping carts sprawled across a parking lot and the most common excuse I have heard is, “Well, someone else is getting paid to bring them all in together.” Along with that comment however is the dissatisfaction when ones car becomes scratched by a lose cart.  In Switzerland, you must pay 2 CHF for a shopping cart. Once the cart is returned, you receive your 2- back.

Another difference, we tend to wish more people recycled in the states but here in Switzerland, if you don’t recycle, you pay a hefty price. Special trash bags are sold and cost about 6- per bag. The trash bags are small, something we would refer to as a small kitchen bag. You must dispose of trash in that bag, compost in a compost bag, paper in another bag and glass in another. If you so choose not to use the designated bags, you are charged 250- per hour that it takes a garbage employee to go through your trash, to locate something that identifies you (mail, etc).

Grocery store employees receive minimum wage, minimum wage is 25-

Cheese is often eaten after a meal.

There is no such thing as poor people in Switzerland, everyone has money.

Life has been great here- I cannot complain and here are a few photos that capture the previous week including Swiss Day on August 1, the donkey I meet on my runs, the vineyards, and a falcon.

It is finally starting to hit me, I leave the states and just over 6 hours. I’ve narrowed my life down to two oversized suitcases and still seem like I don’t have enough. Who knew that workout clothes could weigh 14 pounds. I have been filled with a lot of emotions, a lot of packing, a lot of last-minute dinners and friends to visit, and a lot of stress. Last night there were a few breakdown moments in between packing and re packing, trying to narrow down as much as I can and finally just saying, I CAN’T eliminate any more. My brother Chad was throwing out his shoulder stepping on a scale with an 80 pound luggage in his arms trying to get the exact weight down of my luggage. Do you know how much fun it is to unpack all of your vacuumed packed clothes after you’ve already sealed them up? It’s enough to make a liberal go republican.

On and off for the past 32 years I have called California my home, today I not only leave California but the great United States as well. My flight departs at 4:25pm out of LAX and heads direct to Moscow (I just couldn’t get enough of Russia the last time I was there-kidding) I am there for 3 hours and then on to Geneva where I arrive at 8:50pm-11:50am if you’re in California.

I have set up a website just for this venture of my life as I am not sure how often I will send an email but I will try!

http://www.nicolepriest.com

Not quite sure when I will be back to visit but you all will know when that happens. I’m recently registered for the original marathon in Marathon, Greece on November 9-look up the story on the original marathon, it’s fun and always been a dream of mine. If my visa falls through for any reason I will have to leave Switzerland and camp out in Greece until the marathon and then make my way home for a little visit. Worst case scenario I will have to leave Switzerland for 90 days and then I can return.

For my future pen pals here is my address and landline:

Chemin du désalay 8
1172 bougy Villars
Vaud
Suisse
Phone: +41 78 8039516

Currently I will still have my cell phone until further notice. You can download viber for free texting and calls. My Skype name is: prtypriest

Au Revoir

Moving couldn’t come at a more perfect time, living with my brother has been very difficult and for the most part I have never felt welcomed. I suppose in a sense that is what God, or if you don’t believe in that stuff, what the universe does in order to make hard changes easy. There’s no doubt I am supposed to be moving to Switzerland, everything up until this last month was orchestrated perfectly. Some may think this last month of trials and challenges are a red flag to reconsider however, I simply look at it like the blessings on the other side are so great I must work slightly harder to obtain them.

Countless people have asked if I am happy/excited to move and how I feel. That simple question has been difficult to answer because as excited as I am to leave, I’m overwhelmed with the drama and lack of time to pack that I haven’t had time to process that I am not just going on a trip, like the numerous times before in my life, I am moving. MOVING. When I left Los Angeles at the end of June, I said that I was temporarily moving home but as I have come to experience, with a combination of stress, unexpected bills, and heartache (not caused by a man because none of those relationships exist right now and for once I am happy about that) this is not my home. Home is where you feel happy, welcomed, and at peace. I am not sure that I can identify with any particular state or city as my home. I met with a friend and his wife while in Utah and he stated, as he is about to move to London, that his wife is his home and as long as he has her he is happy. I would go to state that the temple is my home and as long as I can see it, I am home.

Tomorrow night is my going away party and I’m excited to bid people farewell. The countdown is on, a week from today I start my journey onto the next event filled chapter.

As I sit in a bare apartment, with my two cats, I am filled with emotions. I have packed, I have cleaned, I have tossed many things that at one point were very important to me, I have narrowed down my life into a few boxes and containers, yet how do I say goodbye to animals I have had for 10 years? The answer is you don’t. You feed yourself an answer that will help you get through this time and tell yourself that you will see them again, that you will pet them again, let them wake you up at 6 am to be fed, or have them clean the remnants of what was once dinner off your plate. I am super grateful for my friend Noah that is moving into my apartment, I know he will take good care of my cats, but he is still not me. He tells me there is a way to set up a camera on their feeder that will allow me to see them and feed them while in Switzerland.

Socks- I will miss your fearless attitude, your ability to eat an entire plate of food, eat all of your mother’s food, and still come to me to eat whatever I am eating. I will miss your snuggles, your constant desire to jump on and play with mom while she is relaxing, and of course, the necessity to lay on my keyboard while I am editing photos.

Mommy- I will miss the way you talk, knead bread on my pillows, let your son eat all of your food without any complaint, your soft fur, and beautiful purr. I will miss making my bed and having a huge lump in the middle because somehow, you have found your way under the covers perfectly. I will miss the way you sit like a panda and clean yourself and how no matter where I am, you want to be, right there under a blanket.

My cats have been with me for 10 years. I watched Socks be born. They have moved from Georgia, to Florida, and to California. They are troopers, they are part human, or at least act that way.

I can’t say I will miss this town but perhaps I can muster up some of my tears as I leave and dedicate them to Los Angeles. Now how in Orange County for 25 days and then off to Switzerland.

On July 25, 2014 I will be starting a new chapter and heading over to Rolle, Switzerland, a beautiful little town about 30 minutes north of Geneva.  I will be living in a house overlooking Lake Geneva, learning French, riding bicycles, and taking pictures.  Many of you follow me or have followed me on trips I have taken throughout the last four years and therefore, rather than bombarding your inbox with daily emails, I thought it would be wise to set up a site where people could come and read about my adventures, take in the beautiful scenery, and come along on this amazing journey I call life.