A Special Journey

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A Special Journey

Last year, while curling my mom's hair, we sat down to watch the film "Tell Them We Are Rising: The Story of Black Colleges and Universities." I knew my mom had attended Southern University, a historically black college in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. But as she reminisced, she shared memories of a transformative summer in Switzerland after her freshman year. I paused with the curling iron in hand, unable to believe it: How could my mom, a young black girl growing up in a racially segregated town in Southwestern Louisiana, have spent a summer in Europe in the 1960s?

A Life-Changing Summer

My mom shared, "We traveled all over Switzerland for two months, and that trip changed my life." She participated in a program called The Experiment in International Living, and with the help of an enthusiastic professor, along with donations from her school newspaper and car washes she organized with her student friends, she saved up $1,500 to go. And so, at just 19, she set off for Switzerland.

The Decision to Return

She had never been back since that first time. So, in that moment, I looked at her and promised that we would return together. We would follow in her footsteps, revisiting the places that had left an imprint on her memories over the years.

A Journey into the Past

Nearly seven years after that conversation, we made our dream a reality. In September 2025, we spent a week with two Swiss Travel Passes, allowing us to travel by train (as well as bus and boat) from Geneva to Zurich. We planned to visit towns my mom had known like St. Gallen, Lucerne, and Zurich, as well as places she had always dreamed of like Geneva and Interlaken.

Special Moments

I didn’t want to recreate my mom's previous trip exactly; instead, I aimed to pay homage to the significant places while also uncovering forgotten memories. Particularly after my father had passed away, his memory made this journey even more precious. I felt a deep need to capture my mom's stories while I still could.

Arriving in Geneva: First Memories

We landed in Geneva on a bright afternoon. My first impression was of Lake Geneva sparkling with little boats and ducks gliding by. As the taxi drove us, my mom recounted the special journey we were on together. Our driver, Alberto, who grew up near Lugano, shared fascinating stories with us.

Memories of Lost Love

Before leaving for Switzerland that fateful summer, my mom had planned to marry her then-boyfriend. They hoped to get engaged in September when she returned from her trip. She remembered one evening walking by Lake Lugano, admiring the Alps, and feeling the stark contrast between her current life and her hometown.

Embracing a New Lifestyle

During our time in Geneva, a place my mom had never visited before, I felt the thrill of stepping back into life. We engaged in activities like touring the United Nations headquarters, chatting with strangers over dinner at Les Armures restaurant, and exploring the charming cobblestone streets.

Memories from That Summer

My mom reminisced about the photos from that summer, which she had preserved in an album. These pictures were windows into her transformed life: her host family, the bus ride through Basel, murals in St. Gallen, and moments when she and her fellow students tossed their luggage out the train windows at each stop. The journal from that summer had been lost in a fire, making this album her only remaining legacy.

Exploring Switzerland: Reviving Memories

On our way to Interlaken, the scenery shifted from bustling streets to lush green hills. My mom spotted flowers and shimmering lakes like a child, filled with excitement. Upon reaching Zurich, we enjoyed chocolate at the Lindt Home of Chocolate and sipped coffee from the hotel balcony.

The Value of Freedom and Exploration

Watching my mom in those moments, filled with joy and a hint of nostalgia, I understood the immense responsibility she carried. I would have never become a travel enthusiast without her. She took me on my first flight when I was just three months old, and she never stopped exploring. I felt grateful for the life she had created for me.

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