Journeys of a Pregnant Virgin

I've just returned from my last walk along the Bahnhofstrasse to Paradeplatz in the hot sunshine and into (air conditioned) Spruengli Cafe where I had my favourite combination of mango sorbet and chocolate ice cream, and a cafe creme, and jotted down some thoughts about my semester in Zurich. Leonard Cohen is crooning "Dance Me to the End of Love" as I write this and I feel liminal. But it's a good feeling. I got up early and scrubbed and polished (I never clean quite this meticulously at home!) and then moved a box of books and a large bag of miscellaneous items into the basement storage room at ISAP - I must be coming back. Now I have room in my two big suitcases for the ten pounds of chocolate I'm importing to Vancouver (I'm not kidding). Not that we can't get basically the same chocolate in Vancouver, but I like the idea of bringing it from Switzerland, serious chocoholic that I am. I always take chocolate on the last afternoon of each Intensive summer course and this year it will be Lindt rather than Ritter Sport.

Now Leonard and his chorus are singing "Hallelujah" and that pretty much expresses how I feel today. I am feeling back to myself for the first time in ten days, and let me tell you, I love having my energy back. It also sums up my time in Zurich quite well. I have lived two years' worth of experiences during these three months, and I feel richer, deeper, humbler, and perhaps a little wiser for it all. This is also the longest period of time I've spent in Europe for twenty years and I've loved that too. It surely helps to speak the language - I felt a bit of a helpless fool in Paris although Yvonne managed for both of us - although at times I was actually the only person in a seminar (including the facilitator) whose first language is English (technically mine is actually German but that was fifty years ago).

I have enjoyed the leisurely afternoon and will round out the day with a final Proprioceptive Writing period tonight. When I arrive in Vancouver my other life will be waiting with all its joys and responsibilities, and I do not expect to be writing here for a while. To all who have accompanied this Pregnant Virgin throughout her Zurich journey, my thanks for your companionship, both known and unknown, and my best wishes for a wonderful summer.

And so - goodbye for now - from Marlene.