The Swiss Chalet

As the Swiss Air flight takes off from JFK airport and into the misty clouds, Nina closes her eyes and takes a deep breath. “I can’t believe I am doing a solo Switzerland trip”, she thinks shaking her head. For this 23-year-old city girl who had been surrounded by people, noises, and things all her life, this trip to the heavenly country was going to be nothing short of life-changing.

But little did she know this, for her ever-chattering mind was busy complaining about her mother. “There goes all my savings from the first year of work. Mom should just write my bucket list herself. She anyway decides what I should and shouldn’t do with my life. Wasteful, lazy, ungrateful, immature — the only words I have heard from her. Has she ever been proud of her daughter?”

Nina did not realize that by now she was muttering her thoughts loudly. Her co-passenger, probably a makeup influencer on social media, threw her an annoyed look and went back to editing her video.

Nina’s mother, Mrs. Sneha Sharma, was a self-made CEO of her jewelry brand and the epitome of success. She had hustled and worked very hard to make her small business into an internationally acclaimed one. Celebrities raved about her intricate pieces on social media. She was also an adventurous soul, unlike Nina, and had done a lot of solo trips.

When she was Nina’s age, she had been on a month-long solo trip to Switzerland that had been ‘life-changing’.

“It’s a country that opens your eyes to what matters, Nina”, she always said to Nina, almost convincing her. “I have the happiest memories from that trip, made pen pals and life-long friends. We tried so many mountain excursions, hikes, and adventures in Switzerland. The exposure has made me who I am now. I remember sitting on the lush green pastures one morning with a view of the mighty Jungfrau, and I realized that I was a nobody in this vast beautiful world. If I ever wanted to be someone, I had to work very very hard for it. I remember that feeling to date whenever I feel like slacking. You should take such trips to be…better, I guess”

And so Nina is headed to this so-called wonderful country all alone to be ‘better’ for her mom. Nature and adventure were so not her type and if it was up to her, she would have spent all of her saved-up money buying clothes and shoes. But she is doing this trip grumpily just so that her mom would be proud of her daughter for once.

Since Nina became a teenager and started to become as independent and strong as her mother, she had a restrained relationship with her. Most of their dinners would be spent arguing about how Nina should take up one more project in her college or target the next promotion at her work. Her mom always said that she could see herself in Nina and hence expected too much from her. A typical scene from last night flashed in front of Nina’s eyes, making her sad.

“You can do a lot more in life than what you are doing right now, Nina. That’s why I constantly push you.”

“Mom, can you just let me be and encourage me like a normal mom?”

Nina could see hurt in her mother’s eyes. Maybe she was too harsh with her mother. But she felt like she had no control, for her mind always reacted instantly. She would speak something insulting to her mother before she could stop herself.

“Everyone needs this break from me”, she sighed, feeling so bad about herself that she wanted to build a cocoon around her and hide inside it forever. “How do I change myself?!” Before she could get an answer to that rhetorical question, she dozed off, mentally tired of belittling herself.

After 8 hours of smoky eyes makeup tutorial staring at her from her neighbor’s laptop, she landed in the Swiss city of Zurich. Her next and final destination was the town of Grindelwald, right in the middle of the Swiss Alps.

How she reached the airport railway station and boarded a train, she doesn’t have a lot of memory. For the witch named Jetlag had caught her in her claws by now. She only remembered exhaustion and compulsive sleep.

Nina woke up the next morning feeling well-rested and nervous because she was planning to visit Mount First, a peak in the Swiss Alps popular for adventure activities. Her strategy on the trip was to target all the places her mother had raved about because this trip might be the best chance to reconnect with her mother.

As she got out of her room and saw the postcard-perfect town of Grindelwald, she was mind-blown. The snow-capped mountains and the green tapestry of meadows instantly made her mind stop talking for once. She just stopped and gazed around at the beauty of nature. Every step she took toward the Grindelwald First gondola station revealed a new picturesque vista. She realized that she was smiling widely and had forgotten her small world with small problems.

She texted her mother, “Mom I reached Grindelwald. The nature here isn’t something to see, it’s an immersive experience!! Any recs?”

Her mom replied, “Try the trottibike at Grindelwald First! We were on those almost every day that I was there. I don’t know if you might be able to finish it though, seeing as to how you have never even been to a gym in your life. Just stop midway and ask for help if you need it.”

Wow, Nina thought angrily, can I ever have a normal conversation with my mom without constantly feeling judged?! She has the power to make me feel frustrated even in the most serene places in the world.

Exasperated and muttering again, Nina boarded the gondola that was going to take her up at 7000′ height. As the gondola went up, the scenery around her gradually changed from lush green vistas to snow and waterfalls. The adventurous energy of this place was palpable and nobody seemed to be untouched by it. Thrill lovers screamed as they zoomed through the air in hang gliders and zip liners. The sky was filled with paragliders floating like birds. I hope the trottibike thing isn’t as tough as these activities, Nina thought, slightly trembling.

She stopped at the gondola station of Bort which was the starting point for the trottibike. She still had no idea what her mother was signing her up for. It sounded like a bike with a twist. Meh, I can even bike in New York. What could be so special about a bike in the Alps that even my hard-to-please mom could be impressed?!

When she reached the trottibike station, she saw that it was a combination of a bicycle and a skateboard with a footboard to stand on instead of pedals. “Hmm interesting”, Nina thought. Armed with a blue trottibike, a blue helmet, and hasty instructions — follow the yellow markings, she was left to figure out how to come down from a 7000 feet mountain back to the Grindelwald village! That is how we come into life, right? — with a body to maneuver and nary an instruction.

Nina balanced herself on the footboard, wide enough for only one foot. And as she released the brakes, the trottibike zoomed forward without warning. The narrow pathway with yellow markings descended with a sharp incline, sloping steeply downward. “Woah woah”, she screamed as she pressed both the brakes firmly. The heavy bike made a screeching sound and lurched forward on the front wheel. Nina was scared and her heart was beating wildly. An Asian couple taking pictures of the scenery looked with concern. She could muster up a slight smile and a nod.

She reminded herself to take deep breaths and try again. Let me keep the brakes pressed this time as I mount the bike. She was able to control the speed a bit as she tried a couple of times; but as soon as she saw a steep part coming up, she quickly got off the bike in fear and almost fell twice. She dragged the bike and started walking, but it was difficult on the ankles to walk downhill on such hilly roads. Especially when she never exercised for fitness.

In no time, Nina was drenched in sweat and fear. She slumped down on the side of the small path to catch her breath and collect her scattered emotions. She was in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by nothing but lush meadows and a few small houses. A couple of cows were quarreling with their horns. Huh, maybe they are a mother-and-daughter pair. Her ‘Classic Judge’ of a mind started talking to her again, “Maybe Mom was right. I am good for nothing. How will I ever make it out of here?” Tiny tears dripped from her eyes.

……

“Hesch du Hilf nötig liebe?”

Nina got startled and spun around to see a woman in her mid-forties. She had a kind face and a neat look. “I am sorry…I speak English.”

“Do you need help dear?”, the woman smiled, looking at the surrendered bike. “I live in the house over there and saw you struggling with your trottibike… and maybe your mind.”

Nina was speechless. How could this lady perceive these details so correctly from afar? “I … I don’t know how to ride this thing and I…”, Nina broke down sobbing as if this motherly woman came to open her floodgates.

“Hey hey, it’s okay. Do you want to stop by my home? I can get you some Kafi and we can talk, yeah?”

“Yes please, that will be nice”, said Nina, wiping her tears. She didn’t understand how but she was feeling this lady’s peaceful and compassionate aura. It instantly made her feel better. Nina and the woman walked over to her serene Swiss chalet just across the bike path. Nina stopped for a moment, taking in the beauty of the warm wooden house that stood gracefully amidst the lush green meadows with the backdrop of snowy mountains. Colorful flower boxes adorned her balconies — the sign of an inviting Swiss home!

“By the way, my name is Anna”, said the lady. “This place has been my home for about 25 years now”.

“My name is Nina. I am from New York and I am on a solo travel to this beautiful country. Your home is just so charming, Anna.”

“Very nice to meet you, Nina. Welcome to my humble abode.”

She sat on the porch chair while Anna brought cups of steaming coffee and fresh cheese with crackers. Mmm, that looked delicious.

“So, how did you end up defeated on the side of the road?”

Nina described how she was struggling with the trottibike and reluctantly shared about her relationship with her mother because that was the reason for her emotions being all over the place. “Anna, I feel like I am never enough for her and… hence for the world”, she complained crying. She felt as if she knew this woman for ages.

“Hmm, I get that. Your mom could be handling things better, but let‘s take a pause and look around you. You were able to travel to Switzerland so young in your life! Have you tried to come out of the obsessive prison of yourself and be grateful?”

As if on cue, Nina looked around taking in the scenery in as much detail as her mind could take while staying in the present. It was a stunning scene.

“Now about how your mother makes you feel, my question to you Nina is — how do YOU feel about yourself? Are you maybe seeking validation from your mom all the time and hence creating this image in your mind about yourself?” Anna was gentle but firm, qualities of someone who speaks little but of so much value that it changes your perception of life.

Nina started speaking defensively as she always did in every conversation, but she stopped mid-sentence and thought. Maybe Anna is right. Why do I depend on my mother to tell me how I am from the inside? She nodded, pondering over the life lesson she just got from a stranger.

Anna continued, “Nina, you know my daughter is so much like you. She is off to London for her studies. I am an empty nester and miss her company so very much. Would you like to stay here in this Chalet for a few days and experience the local way of living in Grindelwald?”

“Yes yes!”, Nina heard herself speaking as if her inner voice knew how eye-opening of an experience she was going to have. She had never done things impromptu in her life and living with a stranger seemed wacky but…just right.

And then began her 5 amazing days of living among nature and with an inspiration of a woman. Nina would begin her day bright and early and meditate with Anna, something she always wanted to do but never had the time or the priority. Meditation seemed to slow down her thoughts and bring them into her control.

Hearing the cowbells’ melodies was no less than a meditation as well. She had never seen cows as happy as they were here, grazing all day long on mountain pastures.

“Nina I suggest that you talk to your mom openly about your feelings. I am sure she has your best intention at heart. Communication can solve all misunderstandings.” Anna explained while she showed Nina how Gruyère cheese was made and aged.

“You are right, I need to focus on my breath while I talk to her and control my reactions”, said Nina, popping a piece of Gruyère in her mouth and doing a ‘cheese dance’.

“Anna, I wish I could fill my bag with cheeses and creamy coconut joghurt …mmmm yummy!”

Both ladies packed lunches every day and went on long hikes, which were challenging for Nina but truly rewarding. They provided a direct connection with nature and she saw it for the first time as a friend, a tranquil friend giving back tons if treated right. The Alpine wildflowers, fuzzy Edelweiss, and tulips looked capable of redefining the color palette with colors like ‘Swiss Violet’ and ‘Swiss Red’. The lush green meadows with tiny Chalets sprinkled on top was a view she wanted to pack and take back with her.

Whenever Nina felt like giving up on something she was doing, she stared at the impressive peaks of Jungfrau, Monch, and Eiger dominating the sky. She was constantly amazed by nature’s power, realizing that she was a speck of humbleness on this vast planet. By the end of each day, she was physically exhausted but so fresh and happy mentally. Her mind voice had slowed down too. Maybe the poor thing needed a change too, Nina thought.

The last evening, Anna took Nina out on a nice cheese and chocolate fondue dinner.

“You know Anna, maybe my mother is right about some of the things. The endlessly giving nature here has taught me how ungrateful I have been about what life has given me. New York has made me so I suppose. I also am lazy, not taking care of myself — mentally and physically. When I meditated with you every day, I realized how much my poor mind needed this. When I hiked and moved my body, I just felt a gush of self-confidence that needs nobody’s validation. I am going to go back home and work hard. On myself and my relationships. Especially one with my mother.” Nina was surprised to find tears in her eyes when she finished.

They hugged tight the next morning and Nina took leave on the trottibike, the same one that had led her to Anna’s chalet. This time, she felt a lot more confident on the bike and was able to encourage herself with a “You can do it” voice.

As she sat on her flight back to NYC, she wrote a letter to Anna:

“When I gave up my trottibike ride that day, who knew I was going to meet you! Anna, you are my inspiration, my mentor, my fairy godmother. I am leaving Switzerland rejuvenated, grateful, and with vigor to work hard. Thank you for everything.”

…….

Another letter with a Swiss stamp arrived for Nina’s mom, Mrs. Sneha, that night. She read it with a knowing smile:

“Dear Sneha,

Your daughter is as sweet as you are, my pen pal! It was a pleasure spending time with her. I have kept my identity a secret as you asked me to. But go easy on her, please. Let her make mistakes and find her own way. She looks up to you.

Come visit Grindelwald soon, our trottibikes await us 🙂

Anna”