I have now been back from Europe for almost 4 months, which equates to half of the time that I lived there. I haven't had any words, or maybe I've had too many words, to address what living there was like. And mostly what I can say about it now are two things. Moving to Switzerland for the fall, staying at L'Abri was the best thing that could've happened to me. And second that I miss being there, more than I think I can articulate.
My time at L'Abri was spent studying shame, family, forgiveness, cynicism, and forgiveness...yes... forgiveness two times. I read several books, Tired of Trying to Measure Up, Seeing Through Cynicism, Embodying Forgiveness, A Grief Observed, Beyond Identity... This list goes on. Living in Chalet Bellevue, is a hectic and challenging life, and it couldn't be more wonderful. I'm an extrovert through and through, so having two roommates and people around almost all of the time was glorious for me. There are so many things about L'Abri that are difficult. Most of them boil down to the fact that you are digging up all the things inside your soul that feel as though they are better left ignored. But thats kinda the point, you can't ignore whats there when you're around others who are digging, when you don't have as many things, like even the internet, to distract you or keep you busy. There isn't anything, or hardly anything to perpetuate the system that prevents you from seeing yourself. I could talk about it for hours but I find that writing about all of this is actually pretty tough. When I was in Paris on my way out of the country, my hard drive erased itself. I'm slowly working on trying to recover it. Until then, I will post photos here because living in Huemoz was the best.
Below: Gian Sandry and I on 20's night.
Blake Allen and a Swis cow.
Diner Night!
Dinner at the Sandry's. Happiest nights that ever there were.
This is what I saw out my window. Its real.
Vineyards in Ollon
Wine Festival with my sister (of heart), Susanna. My sweet sweet Suz. Endless hours giggling, processing, crying, analyzing, thinking and living. Everything with this girl. love you long time.
My Narnia
Kenzie. Too many things to say about how much I learned from this quiet, and wise leader. I miss her companionship so much. She taught me, so much, the value of being still.
Both of my roommates. Megan, my lovely Canadian, who sits with me in bus stations and rides carousels in Paris when things are hard. She is so wise and full of grace.
Renee, my roommate, and companion. She put up with my rants, my swoony sappy monologues about my boyfriend in Colorado, and most of all listened when I was sobbing my eyes out. Wonderful, doesn't even cover it.
The girls I spent all semester working alongside. Elizabeth, my brave and bold room neighbor. I learned so much simply from watching this girl.
Nothing would be the same, for me, without these people and these mountains. The whole country eroded and then rebuilt me. When I finally get my hard drive back there will be many more photos, these will have to do for now. There are so many people not in this post. So many stories, its because I need the pictures, they help me process, not because they are less important. Promise
