The Silver Lining

Yesterday my mom and I got up fairly early to make our way to the airport. We bid farewell to Joan--who was a hospitable and knowledgeable host--and got to the airport by 8AM. I said goodbye to my mom and walked over to my terminal (which took me forever) then there was a loooooong line to check in and stood in it dutifully. An hour and a half later--a.k.a. 15 minutes before my flight was scheduled to depart--I asked a SwissAir worker if this flight would still be taking off on time since there were still many people behind me. Apparently, people on the 10 o'clock flight (mine) were supposed to go in the other line ... the one marked "Business Class," which apparently I should have known. So at this point I'm in a frenzy, thoroughly worried that I'm going to miss my flight. I whiz through security and over to my gate to find a chaotic mass of people. I have no idea if I'm in the right place so I keep asking if this is the 10 o'clock flight to Zurich. Finally, one attendant responds without looking, "Yes, ma'am. We'll begin boarding shortly. Just wait over there." So at this point while I'm thoroughly relieved that I haven't missed my flight, the Midwesterner in me--of course--feels incredibly guilty for pestering these workers when they're so busy! We finally made it onto the plane 15 minutes later.

... then proceeded to sit there for another hour. By the time we took off at 11:25 it was clear that I would be cutting it very close for my connection. And when we landed I was informed that I had been rebooked: moved from the 12:35pm flight to the 5:30pm flight. I now had 5 entire hours in Zurich and the airport is not far from the center of the city ... this situation was looking brighter! After calling Aviad (using a phonecard provided by SwissAir, thanks!) to let him know I'd be getting into Rome later than expected, I got on a train heading into the city. This is why I'm traveling: not just to see the sights but also to take advantage of opportunities that provide me with new, interesting, and unexpected experiences. I had never thought to visit Zurich but I was presented with a chance and even though I didn't have very much time and I was still frazzled that my original plans hadn't worked out ... I was going to take this chance to live.

And, boy, did I make the right choice! Zurich was smack-dab in the middle of celebrating its Spring Festival, which is basically the event of the year. People flocked from all over the country--the world, even (I heard a great deal of English)--and there's music playing and food being sold off the streets. I personally indulged in fresh roasted nuts and cider donuts! The weather was beautiful and I had a wonderful view of the Swiss Alps. I decided to head back to the train station before the Children's Parade began but I saw them getting ready and lining up in their cute little traditional Swiss costumes. The festival was absolutely overwhelming; the joy of the people was contagious. Though I was only in the city for a little over two hours I really want to go back to Switzerland and do it right. I want to fully experience the Spring Festival. The city is just so cool ... they pour sand into a pit and hold volleyball tournaments inside the train station! This was a memorable experience and a further incentive for me to start learning German.

It was late by the time I got into Rome but Aviad gave me great directions from the airport then came to meet me at the train station! He and his housemates have been very nice and welcoming and I had a full and exhausting first day that included, among other things: the Colosseum, the Roman Forum & Palatino, Capitol Hill (and the Vittorio Emmanuel monument), a brief glimpse at the Trevi Fountain and Pantheon (I hope to go back and really experience them again some other day) and gelato (duh)! Aviad didn't have class today so he walked around with me a bit in the afternoon! I love sharing new experiences with someone else because it's just somehow not as fulfilling when you say "Look how amazing that is!" and there isn't anyone there to hear you.