Wi di Ziit vergäht!

Even though she's only 125cm, my grandmother still stands tall at age 86!

Nostalgia always hits hard when I come to Switzerland. Right from the moment I step off the plane onto the bubbled black floor of the airport, past visits come bouncing back to mind with all their associated tastes, smells, sights and sounds. Nostalgia also brings along with it, thoughts of my own history, far beyond my own experiences here, to my past ancestry that lived out their lives at the foothills of the Alps.

While Switzerland is not my official place of birth, it is my place of origin, and the home of (nearly) my entire family. Having lived abroad for many years, I was struck by the thought that distance (and youthful mindedness) has kept me from learning first hand accounts about my parents' and grandparents' lives here. I'm not sure that I would have understood or ever been really grateful hearing stories from older generations, but sitting with my grandmother for the first time in 11 years, it hit me hard, how much I have missed out on. I'm blessed to now have the opportunity to spend the Christmas holidays with my Grosi. With presence of mind and genuine interest in hearing all she has to tell, I know I'll be cherishing every precious second!