Thursday, November 13, 2008

Have I lived here all my life?

I'm just back from my flamenco lesson. Yes, you read that right. My flamenco lesson.
I feel like I've lived in Switzerland for years. No, not years--- more like, all my life. (That would mean three whole decades. : ))
From dance lessons once a week, to playing tennis with my co-worker Laura, to never having to wonder "Oh no, what will I do this weekend?"-- these past three months in Switz have been divine. No joke, I feel like I've been here forever, and that I could stay here...... though not forever.

I'm getting used to the cool, crisp, fresh mountain air.... to my walks by the lake on Sundays... to running into people all over town - whether on the bus in the morning, or while doing some shopping at lunchtime, or having a drink after work... it's nice to be able to start recognizing people here and there about town and exchanging a polite "Bonjour. Ca va?" Even the old lady at the boulangerie recognizes me now, and knows that I like the ciabatta with brie and tomatoes.

I feel like I fit in, I have become familiar with the quaint streets of Lausanne, I read my book on the bus, listen to my MP3 player on the way to work (and no, I don't have an iPod) ...
I pick up the phone at work, "Noble, this is Dorothy" and switch rhetoric if necessary, "Non, elle n'est pas disponible, Madame. Si vous voulez, vous pouvez laisser un message."
It's feel like I've been here all my life.

As I'm trying to appreciate each day as it comes, and take life one moment at a time (thanks to recent inspirational words by my mom), I haven't given leaving much thought. People ask me if I'm sad to leave, but... I'm not. Or at least, I haven't thought about how I feel about leaving. Why? Because it's not time for that yet. I still have over two weeks, and I plan to make the most of them. I still have two more flamenco lessons! (I will hopefully have some pics for you next week- FB will update you : )), at least one more tennis session, a dinner of "la chasse", a trip to Lyon, and maybe even a trip to Zermatt! Throw in a "soiree des messages" at the Bleu Lezard, a trip to Geneva to pick up my passport with my brand-spanking new Brazilian tourist visa inside, a night at the theatre, maybe two.... I have a lot to do before November 30th!