switzerland

So, I'm coming up on two years since that tearful goodbye at the Zurich airport. So much has changed since then, but I still wanted to finish my blog to make sure I had documented all the precious moments and memories from my 2.5 years living in Switzerland.

As most of you know, I decided to move to St. Louis for a "great opportunity" with Deloitte there instead of moving back home. I honestly thought that this might help my transition back to the U.S. and I think it did. It was so great to be home for the couple weeks around Christmas and then to know that I was only a 5 hour drive away from home in St. Louis and could come home any weekend I wanted to. The weekend after moving home and 1 day before going to St. Louis for the first time I actually ran into what is now the love of my life at a bar that I was at celebrating my friend Tracey's 30th birthday. I didn't know it then, but that fateful meeting has changed my life so much. I moved to St. Louis and threw myself into work, per usual for me. When I was home for my 30th birthday in April, I ran into John again, at the same bar and that was it. After 7 months of long distance and becoming overly frustrated with the amount of work expected of me (literally every waking hour), it was time for me to start pursuing other opportunities back in Cincinnati. I did my research and found a great opportunity at GE. It was the only place I interviewed and I felt like it would be a great fit, so I accepted my offer in early October with the agreement that I couldn't start until December so that I could finish out busy season on my 9/30 year-end St. Louis client.

While I enjoyed my time in St. Louis and met a few really great friends there, my favorite memories are the weekends where J was visiting and we would explore the city together...hanging out at Forest Park, trying new restaurants and bars, and walking around SLU campus (where J went). I will not miss the 5+ hour drive along I-70 and neither will J! Illinois has to be the most boring state to drive through and we were doing it almost every other weekend.

I moved home Thanksgiving weekend and started work at GE on December 7, 2015. EXACTLY one year after I had flown home from Switzerland. J surprised me and flew home from Florida on Christmas Day where he was vacationing with his family and proposed. We got married on July 3, 2016 and lived happily ever after :)

Needless to say, the last two years have gone so quickly and yet I'm happy to report that I still keep in touch with many of my friends from Switzerland with whatsapp messages or Skype & FaceTime calls almost weekly. Daniela and Christine were even able to make it to Cincinnati for our wedding in July! Work took me to Europe in August 2015 and again to the UK in May 2016 so I was able to meet up with some of my Swiss friends on those trips.

I don't have any regrets in life. I am so happy with the way everything has turned out and truly believe that everything happens for a reason. To say that I loved my 2.5 years in Switzerland is an understatement. I will cherish that time for the rest of my life. Thank you to my Swiss friends for everything you taught me and for keeping in touch and helping me through the transition home. Thanks for taking me places or traveling with me and making memories that will last a lifetime. Thanks to my American friends and family for keeping in touch while I was over there and helping me through the transition home. Thanks to those that came to visit Switzerland and allowing me the opportunity to show you my home away from home.

Love,
Jenna