Now I have a permanent job in Lucerne, Switzerland, where I live in a big beautiful apartment. I enjoy my everyday life there. I work among interesting topics, in a motivated and friendly team. There are mountains literally on my backyard. I know quite a lot of people, although I am still to make some close friends in my new hometown. I am finally where I need to be, yet there have been moments when I look longingly back to my international times. That is when I feel old, having all the "good times" behind me and never coming back. Countless flashbacks of climbing routes, travel buddies and various destinations roll like a film in my mind. Deep down I know they are gone, yet I refuse to completely let go, afraid that nothing as great will replace them.
It is November 2024, and I have once again flown to Bangkok to go on a trip in SE Asia. As work sent me to evaluate a project in Cambodia, I decided to add a month of holidays to the trip and take the train through Vietnam to Hong Kong. Since I now minimize my flight related carbon emissions (post about it), I knew this would be my last inter-continental travels, so to say closing the circle. Doing this trip coincidently 10 years after the start of my international life seemed symbolic, yet I did not expect that closing this circle would mean also some difficulties letting go. Sure I could have spent my holidays with less reflection and more relaxing, but this is what I got. I can summarize the process in three topics, now writing from Hong Kong almost at the end of my trip.
1. Working abroad
Although after working in Albania and Laos I could not wait to return to Switzerland, and I am truly happy with what I have there, I also stayed open for a further international position. (I have to accept that I am rather opportunistic by nature, that I just cannot change.) However, doing an intensive 2-week work assignment in Cambodia, and exposing myself to the expat circles there, did not make me longing to go back to that lifestyle. The advantage of being close to project implementation would not make up to my almost non-existent understanding of the culture and language, as well as lack of public transport, walkability and clean environment. I also realised that without a family of my own I would not want to grow old overseas, as the life of an older single expat seems somehow empty to me. I am extremely pleased for having worked in field positions, though, as otherwise I would have missed out on valuable experiences. (I wrote more about work in this post .) Now I am completely content with working in Switzerland and being in touch with international projects from there on.
2. Long travels
This is my first (and probably last) longer non-climbing solo trip. Frankly said it has been challenging. Traveling for climbing is so simple: You pick an area with good weather and attractive crags, go there and meet like-minded people. You have a meaningful activity to challenge yourself with. You are automaticly surrounded by authentic, beautiful landscapes. Now that I have been just a regular tourist, I have struggled with finding activities and destinations that would give me the same fulfillment as climbing. Sure I enjoy visiting museums and historical sights, eating, going for runs and yoga lessons, and reading books, but not for weeks on end. At times I have felt bored and disoriented. Besides, meeting engaging people of my age has been a matter of luck. And this luck has been the highlight of my trip! After spending several days completely alone (and thus reflecting so much), I have truly valued the insightful conversations and little exploration trips with fellow travelers, no matter how short. Again, I am glad I did my long travels when I was a 30-something climber, fitting into the crew. Of course I will still go on holidays, now looking forward to shorter and differently planned trips, if possible together with people I know.
3. Hong Kong - the unexpected one
10 years ago I stayed in Hong Kong for some months and absolutely fell in love with the city and its energy! It has a lively traditional Chinese side, coupled with well organised westernity. The endless sea of skyscrapers is surrounded by versatile, easy-to-access nature. I liked it so much that I even applied for jobs here, but as I did not get any, continued my travels and ended up in Europe. When I returned, I got sucked into the city once again and spent a few days contemplating about what I had lost by not staying here. Seeing lights on windows high up, I was wondering whether here anyone would be waiting for me to come home, busily rushing through the streets and metro tunnels after a long day at work. Then I realized that for me Hong Kong is great only as a visitor, just leasurily observing all the buzz going around. No matter how dynamic and flashy, working around the clock to just afford a decent apartment would not be for me. Again, I am grateful I came back to see this. (Although I had not even realized what a lasting impact the city had left on me. Therefore I was surprised that this ended up being the final crux of closing the circle.)
During my previous stay in Hong Kong I got a tattoo idea when I saw some cool graphic art at the PMQ centre. I thought about that idea on and off during all the passing years, but never came to realizing it. So it felt right to do it now. With some online research done already in Switzerland, I was lucky to get a slot with such a talented, sought-after tattoo artist just a few minutes walk from the PMQ centre, the original source of the idea. I got my super pretty tattoo yesterday and absolutely love it! Maybe it deserves a post of its own (like my other tattoo has here ). But for now, I quickly say that it symbolizes the courage to trust that life brings along exactly what is meant to be; admitting that some life phases are over in order to create space for new ones. It stays with me as a sign of peacefully closing the circle, probably of what has been the most impactful 10 years of my life.
