The Zurich Awakening

The cool, crisp air was what greeted me while deplaning at the spacious, modern and bright Frankfurt Airport. It was summer in Europe in June of 2013. My siblings patiently waiting at the arrival lobby were glad to finally see me. It took almost 16 hours with a few hours stop-over at the colorful, mosaic-adorned Abu Dhabi Airport.

It was an international experience in multifaceted aspects. It was like changing channels of an international cable television. The people: a mix of South Asians, Filipinos, Arabs, Chinese and other East Asians, Africans and Europeans. The languages: except for Filipinas chatting in Abu Dhabi, conversations that could be overheard were a Babel of foreign tongues. The weather: dry and humid at the Arabic departure area and then contrasting mist, cool summer winds in Europe.

The clime was perfect for a tropical local and I enjoyed our car cruise on the motorway from Germany to Zurich in Switzerland. Towns and cities were clean, unpolluted and the greenery aplenty. Vineyards, apple plantations, cherry trees and flora formed a magnificent picturesque view. Forests were quite enchanting. Traveling on slopes revealed a panoramic countryside of land utilized for vegetables and fruit-bearing trees. Barns and the famous Swiss cows were a sight to behold. Seeing them up close and from afar was surreal. I noticed that the slope of Bicol’s Mount Isarog has foliage with almost the same shades and textures of vegetation in the Swiss countryside. 

The stop-over for early dinner was a quaint, airy restaurant. To me the food was new, foreign though delectable. I then learned the common practice for diners to buss their used plates, cutlery and glasses to an open area. People clean up after themselves.

A few German phrases seemed to make locals feel comfortable with travelers while being more than happy to continue conversations in English. For my part, smiling and being courteous made a light but meaningful connection. I thus found the locals very welcoming.

The motorway was in superb condition. It was a Sunday so trucks and buses were not allowed on the road. Car enthusiasts will have a field day as they may see a car parade of the sporty kind. The taxis are mostly of Mercedes Benz. It is also common to be right behind a vehicle pulling a boat on a carrier. It definitely was a feast for the eyes.

Zurich is breathtaking. The fusion of the ancient and the modern is seamless and postcard ready. It offers various angles of an urban landscape that captivate historical and architectural inclinations of globetrotters. Some architectural features of old buildings and houses are similar to the ones that are spread out in Naga. Art pieces like paintings and statues are numerous. Signs are in the Latin alphabet but with subtle variations. A street performer with masterful football tricks was a surprising entertaining show.

The river in Zurich is riveting. The riverbed is visible as the water is clear and transparent. Swans can be seen diving for food. Urbanites take their lunch breaks along the riverbanks. People enjoy a diving and swimming complex near the flowing body of water. All this ignited my imagination, with hopes and dreams that one day the Bicol river will be in such a seemingly pristine condition. 

Starbucks can be uber expensive but converting francs to pesos should be avoided to prevent a buyer’s remorse. When in supermarkets one is advised not to touch items displayed in rows of shelves. Fruits and seafood can be costly as Switzerland is a landlocked country. This made me appreciate the naturally sweet, tropical fruits particularly mangoes and melons in our very own pearl of the Pacific. 

A Christian foreigner might be amazed that mostly Filipinos occupy the pews on a Sunday. They actively participate in choirs and assist at Mass as lectors and commentators. Zurich parishioners are impeccably dressed and well-mannered with a ready smile on their faces. At the Mass we attended, the presiding priest was probably from Africa on an overseas mission. What a mix of cultures!

I observed that people in this part of Europe do a lot of walking and biking. Bike lanes are everywhere in this canton so a pedestrian has to keep at the right side of the pavement. Here, commuting is also so reliable that use of public transport can be a touristic adventure. If the clock and information screen states that the tram will arrive in ten minutes it will do just that.

Souvenir shops are easy to find and offer a multitude of colorful crafts and travel tokens. The ultimate souvenir of course is the popular Swiss wrist watches ranging from the affordable to the luxury brands. 

Typical sunset at Zurich in the summer is about 9:00 in the evening so if you’re from Naga where sundown is usually at 6:30 you might feel a bit disoriented but strangely excited at the same time. You get that happy, awake feeling that after a long day of meandering a quiet time for meditation can inspire you to dream not only for yourself but for the entire Filipino nation.

It was supposed to be a mere leisurely vacation but it became a pivotal life altering experience. A crying Filipina overseas contract worker about whom I wrote in a previous article, “A Prayer in Europe,” was the spark that ignited enlightenment in my mind. What I saw in Switzerland I wanted to replicate in my homeland. The transition from a developing nation to a first world country: only the highest ideals.

This European journey highlighted the Philippines in a whole new perspective. Seeing my country from the outside looking in: like a fish bowl for lack of a better analogy. Simply put, I saw how the Philippines has strikingly enormous potential. Our beautiful nation is overflowing with rich natural resources, much of which is still untapped. Filipinos, able-bodied and mentally strong human resources, are in demand in Australia, Canada, and New Zealand, just to name a few. This inspired in me the hope for Filipinos working for the Philippines, of Filipinos going back home not only after retirement but living and enjoying our God-given paradise in the soonest possible time. Let's get our act together now!