On my last day in Switzerland, I ate lunch in France?

May 13, 2017, written in regards to the past 2 days

The day before the last I visited Bern, where I saw some brown bears (the city mascot) and sat by a river bank and wrote poetry and watched the water rush by in a way that took the time with it. This morning, time continued to race away. I woke up and packed my bags. I cleared out my closet and strategically smushed my accumulation of items into my one big suitcase, and stuffed a backpack in preparation for my next week travelling through Croatia. What a surreal feeling to be leaving already, so soon. I went on one last outing with my study abroad program this afternoon (May 12) taking a boat across Lac Leman for lunch in France. It drizzled. I headed back and power walked to and through the Migros grocery to gather supplies for “souper,” barely managing to catch the bus home (I was a sight, running through the train station with a box of raw chicken legs under my arm and a purse full of produce. But I made it to the bus so no shame). I walked in the door to my St George home to see my host bro hanging upside down off the couch; he reported the wifi wasnt working, so I guess flopping around was another way to pass the time. What a goof! I spent the next 2 hours in the kitchen, making up my second-ever Persian meal. 2 hours in, the meal was almost done and I let it sit and heat and stew while my host ma took me wine tasting with 3 of my closest friends on the program, and another host ma we hang out with. That was my first time wine tasting too! It wasn’t until we were seated and tasting that I realized the event was really organized for me. Sitting at the end of the table I was looked to to call the shots (white, rosé, or red? How many do we try? Since it was up to me, we dabbled with the whites then went on to alllll of the reds. Feeling bougie, sniffing and swirling and chatting in french, I ended up leaving with 2 bottles and a genuine offer to complete “un stage,” an apprenticeship, at the winery). The goodbye with my friends came fast and sharp. Throats got lumpy but we held back the tears. Swept up in the “wine cave” we were an hour late to pick up my poor host bro from swim practice, but he was super lax about it even though he had to wait outside with his wet hair. We came home and I reheated the dinner I’d prepped and prayed it would compare even just slightly to my real mothers cooking. Host ma cracked open a bottle of our newly purchased Pinot Noir and I served my attempt at a Persian meal. Zereshk polo, slow cooked tumeric and warmly spiced chicken with extreme deviations from the recipe, and salade shirazi sat in the middle of the table. My big host bro took a bite and said, in french, something along the lines of “Wow it’s very good! The chicken is not dry at all!” I took a bite and was so relieved, the chicken melted off the bone. I was so nervous my host fam would go hungry because my cooking was inedible, but the anxiety fluttered away when I tasted that those spices and flavors were right on point! I did burn the rice a smidge but I’ll still toot my own horn over this one. After dinner host ma and I finished the bottle with a little midnight dessert of fresh raspberries and crème du gruyère. A lovely close to a last day. This morning I finished packing my bags and had to say goodbye to my host brothers. Host ma I’d be seeing in a week for an official goodbye, but the boys and I had to bid farewell a little earlier. It was a tough one. Lots of a hugs, a couple of photos, and close to tears, it was difficult to figure out what to say; thank you was the least. Now I sit on the 820 bus to Nyon, the bus I’ve taken almost every day for the past 3.5 months; and look out at the view of the Swiss alps for one of the last time’s (until next). The end came fast, my appreciation for this experience came faster, nostalgia setting in even before I’ve left. All I can say is that I am profoundly thankful.