Grüezi!
Welcome to Wander We Go. I’m Alex.
I write about life in Zürich, travels throughout Europe, and musings on both.
Welcome to Wander We Go. I’m Alex.
I write about life in Zürich, travels throughout Europe, and musings on both.
I was recently debating with a conservative Trump supporter about the current state of the country. The conversation itself was mostly cordial, if not a wild ride, but near the end - I was mocked for bringing up empathy. Told I should leave empathy out of it. Empathy. The ability to understand and share the feelings of another. Empathy. Something that helps us connect and reminds us to be kind and respectful. Empathy. Something that allows us to say “I haven’t had that experience, but I’m listening to yours,” that can open our eyes to the privileges afforded to us that might not be afforded to others. Empathy. Something that helps us understand the beliefs and the perspectives of others, or challenges us to reframe our own perspective. Empathy is so important. And this rejection of empathy - well, it just hit me straight in the heart.
Putting together this list, I realized that this crop of eleven books could be grouped around a few different, but complementary, themes. Each, in a way, reflected the times we are all going through. It’s interesting what I gravitated toward, but each book really helped me in a particular way. Maybe one will help you, too.
A seriously gorgeous hike that makes you feel like you are in the heart of Switzerland. The namesake three lakes (Seeaplsee, Fählensee, and Sämtisersee) are all beautiful in their own right, but this trail has so much on offer: a heart-pumping climb for a bird-eyes view of Seealpsee, the most charming herdsmans village of Megaslip tucked high and deep in the mountains, and sweeping views of Santis and the sharp, distinctive ridges of the Apstein - just to name a few of the highlights.
Running, at its essence, is simply the physical motion of putting one foot in front of the other. That’s all it is. Nothing more, nothing less. No matter your reason, find something that resonates with you, and let it carry you forward, one step at a time.
I’ll be the first to admit: reading Station Eleven, a novel about a flu pandemic - during a pandemic - is perhaps a questionable choice. But upon finishing it, I can’t help but also think - maybe this is exactly the right time to read this book. Yes, the context of this book is a pandemic that wipes out 99% of humanity. But the purpose of the book isn’t the story of the collapse of civilization - but instead, a story about people and their resilience. It’s a book of warm imagery and nostalgia and the dark grace of survival in a fallen world.
One afternoon after Biennale, we were walking back to our apartment from Arsenal just as the sun was setting. The whole sky turned pink, then a fiery orange, outlining the gondoliers heading back to the grand canal and the distinctive domes and towers of the Venetian skyline. There is really no other city like this.
It was a huge year of growth and learning, with a whole lot of fun and adventure along the way. Some of these experiences involve discovering beautiful places Switzerland has to offer, but most, in fact, are about the different ways we began to really find our own place here.
