The need of touching base

After having taken the decision of leaving my company after 21 years, I obviously asked myself: "What's next?". With no new job in sight and with the knowledge of an empowered non compete clause, I thought it was time to take a break.

We don't get many chances of taking a break, usually going from one job or assignment to the other straight away. But the prospect of being able to take one really excited me. Being Swiss and hence not doing things without purpose, I decided that it would be a good moment to go back to my roots and find out how much I had evolved (or not), since I left Switzerland 16 years ago.

At the same I got an invaluable chance to spend some quality time with my 76 year old dad, who I usually see once or twice a year, to show my home country to my Mexican husband, who had visited before but never really seen much of it and last but not least take a vacation.

Back to my roots

When I left my hometown Samedan in 1989 it was with a mix of relief and anxiety. Moving from a town of 4'000 to a city of 70'000 seemed like a big step into the unknown. Now that I have lived in cities like Mexico City, Paris and Tokyo, some of over 30 Million people, it feels like a baby step.

I came back just to see and feel if it was different than I remembered. Of course things have changed, new buildings were built, new shops opened while others closed, but essentially it's still the small alpine town that I remember from my childhood. As I do in any city I discover - I walked around, along the paths I took as a child. Down to my kindergarden and primary school, visiting my grandparents house and along all the trails and ways that were so familiar when I lived here. All is still here, the same and yet different and that's exactly how I felt as well - the same and yet different. I still recognized the smells, the colors, the light, the kindness of people greeting on the street, the chill of the wind blowing around the corners of the houses or the incredible views the valley offers on a sunny day. Then again many things are different. I can't just walk straight down the fields to my school as new building have been built, my grandparents' house has been sold and holds now a antiquity business and I recognize some of my former school colleagues that I don't know anymore as I've been away for too long.

After all I feel like a visitor and I don't think that I could permanently live here anymore, but it was good to be back for a longer moment and touch base again. Here it was where it all started and I understand how it became part of me and defines who I am today. I'm grateful as the base is reset and recharged, ready for a next adventure somewhere else.

Me and my dad

I have always been told that I much resemble my dad and I'm happy about that as he has always been my role model throughout my life. Equipped with a strong character and will, he decided to become independent quite early in his life in a business he had neither a lot of experience in nor the necessary education for, only the conviction of a business opportunity that was up to grab. A lot of effort went in, but he made it to become one of the most respected (if not feared) citizen of the valley and to a considerable wealth.

Now he is retired and really enjoying life, as he deserves it. At the same time I can't avoid to notice that he is not as sharp anymore, sometimes struggling with the easiest problems and often cranky. It reminds me that any quality - acquired or given - does not last forever and we have to use is when it is available. I am also more than ever convinced that there is no risk too high to take, as long as you think that you're up to it and finally that there are always people around you to help and support. What you got to do is to have a dream, believe in it and put in as much energy as you got to achieve it.

The Swiss I am

Wherever I go, when I say that I'm Swiss I always get a very positive reaction and people tend to see Switzerland as a piece of heaven. Over the years I started to realize how lucky I was to have my roots in such a respected, well known country as it gave me attributes I didn't have to prove, such as reliability, impartiality, financial acumen and cultural openness.

When I left Switzerland and during my first visits back I had more the impression of a rather boring country, lacking excitement and hunger for newness, where everything is forbidden that isn't specifically allowed.

During the past months, when I traveled through various cities and regions of my country, I took the occasion to once again reconnect to my homeland, reinforce my pride and accept the differences or oddness of it. Switzerland is a truly beautiful country and I took hundreds of pictures to show around the world of how many amazing places there are in this country. It may sound trivial, but to be able to resource in such an environment, is probably one of the most important competitive advantages of Swiss citizens. I walked in the mountains under a perfect blue sky, sat at Geneva Lake with an endless view over the wine yards or just strolled through the shopping streets and arches of our capital. There are so many things to do and see and I still haven't (re)seen it all.

I still like to refer to myself as being a world citizen, because I had the opportunity to grab so many interesting things from other cultures to complete my being Swiss. But I'm kind of honored and proud of being Swiss and will certainly wear the flag on my heart more proudly than before.

Off to new adventures

After this moment of grounding I am ready to take on the next adventures where ever they may be.

I am because of what I'm made of, my country, my parents and family.

I've become because of all the countries I visited, all the cultures I experienced and all the people I've met.

I will be because I know that I can rely on a solid base of experience and a large network that spins all over the world.

Let's do this!