Spring semester: work, ice hockey games, work and chai lattes (and work)

After an exciting end of Fall semester and a five-week Christmas break spent between France, London, New Orleans and NYC, I have to admit I felt a bit overwhelmed and wasn't too excited to come back to reality late January. And the weather didn't help, snow storms and very cold temperatures REALLY aren't my thing. But this negativity was completely gone after my first week of teaching...

Even though we're at the same place doing the exact same job, I'm living a completely different experience than in the fall. While we travelled around a lot last semester, exploring what's outside our small town, we now spend more time in Geneva, on campus and do more things here. I enjoy it more, and I try to make the most of every moment and opportunity. I've discovered ice hockey and I absolutely LOVE it (just as much as the players let's be honest...), I've also had the chance to watch my students play basketball and lacrosse (which is a very... interesting sport...). I try to go to new places more and I no longer lock myself in my office to work, I go outside, or to cafés.

I've grown very attached to the peacefulness and the beauty of this place, walking to work in the morning is a blessing with the amazing view I have on the lake all the way to campus. It has become impossible for me not to take a picture every single time I take this walk as the beauty of the sky or the lake is breathtaking.

I loved my job from the beginning but I'm fond of it this semester. Even though I have so much more work and the double amount of students, I feel very involved and I'm completely devoted to my students (who are much less independent than the ones I had last semester...). I also spend time with my former students, it's nice that I got to know them and that we can share something more now that I'm no longer their professor. And I've met new people, people that I wouldn't have met anywhere else and I really enjoy spending time with them. This semester I just enjoy more the small, happy and special moments I get to experience here.

I can't get my head around the fact that we've already done half of the Spring semester. Eight weeks have passed and they were very eventful... Many events on campus, a wonderful weekend in NYC with great people, and my birthday, which was probably one of the best days I spent here...

Today's the first day of Spring break – the last break before the end of this college year. My departure is close, the year has flown. I still have two full months left here but I'm already very nostalgic and sad when I think about having to go. Again, for the fourth time in three years, I have to leave a place that's very special to my heart, to a life I've built here and that I'll never have again. Again, it'll leave me bitter and heartbroken, truly. But I'll cherish all the memories I have here forever.

Out of all the other ones, this experience motivates me and inspires me so much. It made me realise that I have so many possibilities in life, I'm completely free and I should never settle down too much. Being out of my comfort zone constantly is somehow scary sometimes but also very exciting and I just think that it's what life is all about.

But for now I'll just enjoy the sunny days we have ahead...