simply homemaker

I graduated from the semester!

We celebrated together in the St. Gallen Stadthaus last night. Swiss traditional dinner was served. I made a video for the event and it was shown to everyone, including faculty and guests. I also was blessed to win the Best Student Award, which I’m so grateful for!

Overall, it’s been a wonderful experience, and the Lord was so present in guiding and protecting me through it.

Now, I am on the train to Lausanne, on my way to L’abri! Wow – I can’t believe that it’s finally happening.

Switzerland is a winter wonderland right now, and it’s been surreal to take the train across the country to go to fellowship. I’ve been taking millions of pictures from my seat, and currently am listening to some Christmas music on while writing this blog.

On Wednesday, I hosted 24 people for Friendsgiving. Every single year since I’ve graduated college, this is something I’ve chosen to invest my time in. It’s never failed me. Every time I get to bring people together at a long table, memories are made and friendships blossom.

Was it stressful to do this the night before we all graduated? Yes. Will I do it again? Absolutely.

This week, my friends and I also went to the Christmas market in Zurich together, and it was a ton of fun.

So many things were my last.

The highlight has been seeing St. Gallen in the snow.

And in the midst of all these activities, I’ve been packing to go home as well! My suitcase is full of national specialties and gifts from the 5 countries I went to this fall.

The adventure has been phenomenal, and it’s been worth it in more ways than one.

See below a post I shared on LinkedIn last night:

“It was an honor tonight to receive the Best ISP Student Award and my International Study Programme completion certificate from the University of St.Gallen.

Sometimes saying yes in life feels really scary. When I said yes to Switzerland eleven months before I actually got on my flight, it felt scary. When I said yes to learning German, it felt scary. When I said yes to throwing a Friendsgiving party for 23 people including their guests the day before graduation, it felt scary.

Yet what I get in return is usually a lot more than what I give. I graduated tonight with great friends that will last hopefully a lifetime, opportunities to visit my family in Czech Slovakia and a childhood friend in Germany, gaining a wonderful church home in my little city of St. Gallen, and classes that were so much different from everything I’ve had! 3 months flew by, and on the last week of us being here, snow fell in St. Gallen, marking the perfect magical ending.

I’m excited to begin the last leg of my little adventure: a 6-week trip home to Vietnam to connect with my roots and be with my family.

Life changes when we say yes to the right kind of things, even when it’s scary!”

I’m simply grateful.

Thank you, ISP, for the experience of a lifetime.

On to the next trip I’m gifting myself: a couple quiet days in the snowy mountains of Lausanne.

I’ll catch you on the flight home to Vietnam, Lord willing?

Love,

Tram