A place to breathe….

It will be 3 weeks this Saturday since I make the big move to Geneva, Switzerland. I don’t even know how to describe the feeling of being here.

Of course I was very excited when I first knew I’m moving here for a few months, i think the term excited is an understatement. But then there were so many preparations in the office to make sure my interim will be able to take over when I leave. Almost two months were spent training the new staff, making process flow manual for them, learning the new work assigned to me, still working, cleaning up the old work left by my colleague… just so many things to finish before take off, even most of my weekends are spent in the office which i really regret. i was so excited day dreaming of how it will be like in the foreign land. Though I’ve travelled so many times but I only stayed for weeks and I always stayed in a hotel and I know this time it will be different, very different.

There are so many first things in this trip:
1. 1st Longhaul trip - imagine 16 hours of travelling but i never slept during the trip. I watched 3 movies, i had 4 meals and watched several tv shows while sobbing in between. I already missed Manila.  As I was reading the letter of archie I can’t help but cry all the time (i read it more than ten times along the trip), I know it’s the start of being apart for a very long time and I’m not used to that.
2. 1st time in Europe - i never thought i will live to see europe not even in my wildest dream! But here i am, i am really here!
3. 1st four seasons - exciting yet scared, don’t know yet how could it can be here. Right now winter just ended and summer is coming in. I liked the transition weather, it’s like having an AC turned on wherever you go.
4. 1st time to live alone - i stayed in the hotel for 1 1/2 week. it was great, nice place, very near my work, very easy transportation from the hotel and nice filipinos working there.  

But now I’m living in my own flat. The office rented a fully furnished unit for me. It’s so nice, it’s my dream kitchen, dream bathroom… Really a nice place to live and very safe. When you go down you will have access to everything: grocery, laundry shop, dvd rental, shopping area, restaurants, pubs…just everything. and one block away from me is the famous lake of geneva with it’s wonderful fountain. I’m also near the flower clock which simbolizes the city’s world class achievements in the clock industry.

5. 1st time to feel so alone - almost all of my life i’ve been surrounded with people that genuinely cares for me: my family, relatives, my friends and by archie… it’s been a long time since i feel alone and the feeling just usually last a few minutes or an hour if only feel like being senti. But now for the first two weeks of my stay here i always cry at night or just wherever… I miss home, i miss everything back home… i miss the convenience that our country brings…. 

I know there will be more first time for me here and I’m willing to welcome them.

Will tell you more of the places I’ve been, my new work here and my new apartment…

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