About
Bienvenue à Swiss Serendipity
In the wide, wonderful maze of the internet, I’m so glad you found your way to Swiss Serendipity. Swiss Serendipity is devoted to sharing unique experiences in Geneva and French-speaking Switzerland. My goal is not to turn Switzerland into something to check off your list, but rather to help you savor your time here.
My story
To be honest, I didn’t grow up traveling.
Growing up in rural Iowa (USA), vacation meant staying up late with grandma to watch murder mysteries or listen to her read stories about Henry the VIII, or drive nine hours south to Oklahoma to see my father’s side of the family.
I’ve always felt that the best part about growing up in a place lacking mountains and oceans is that it forced one to find beauty in what others may view as mundane. From nothing we are the visionaries with a special superpower which allows us to be amazed at all that the world has to offer.
Paris was the first big city I visited, it was also my first time flying outside of the country.
At 16, my high school Art Club gave us an opportunity of a lifetime to travel to Paris. For one week, we visited the City of Light’s seemingly infinite number of museums: the Louvre, Musee d’Orsay, Pompidou, Rodin Museum… it sparked an obsessive desire to learn French, and to one day move back.
What followed suit was a tidal wave of music by Serge Gainsbourg, Francoise Hardy, France Gall and Jaques Dutronc. I went to bed listening to French radio stations such as FranceInter and FranceCulture. I altogether stopped reading English books, spending my ice cream shop income on $20 editions of French Vogue that took an hour-long drive to reach. On rare occasions, I found myself awkwardly stalking any French speaking person I came across to just hear the language.
France was my first love, well before any boy. And there was no turning back.
After graduating from the University of Iowa with degrees in journalism and French and several worrisome looks from family and friends of where life would lead me, I spent a year teaching English in primary schools in a small village in France’s Vendée region, followed by a Master’s program in Chambery, and a marketing gig in Grenoble.
Three years of odd jobs here and there (including teaching English to the French military), and in desperate need of an income allowing me to pay piling student loan bills, I decided to relocate to the United States, granted that I could find employment doing the one thing I loved: speaking French.
In an interesting turn of events, I ended up working at a French consulate in Boston, a job which a little over a year later would have me back working in Geneva, Switzerland, a city roughly an hour from where I lived before. It felt as if I was picking up from where I left off.
Five years later I found myself married to a tennis enthusiast and sweet-hearted Genevois, spending evenings dancing in our small apartment kitchen and cuddling on the couch with our Ragdoll kitty Baloo.
Get to know me
Morning brew
Black coffee with a dash of cinnamon
FAvorite swiss destination
Montreux always feels magical – especially during the summer Jazz Festival.
on weekends you’ll find me…
At a ballet class or finding treasures at the flea market
On my bucket list
Any long train journey, the Bernina Express closer to home, or if funds were unlimited, the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Plane or train?
A train whenever possible (I tend to romanticize train rides, especially sleeper trains!)
Currently binging
Old episodes of No Reservations hosted by Anthony Bourdain
favorite travel destination
Paris is always a good idea.
Best piece of advice i’ve received
“Go outside.” Simple, really. When I moved two hours away from home to go to university, I was too scared to go outside of my dorm room. If this friend hadn’t encouraged me to go outside, I may never have had the gumption to move abroad.
