Take your time.

After living in Switzerland for three months, I have learned the art of patience. The Swiss choose to take their time in every aspect of life. They seem to have the mindset that if you are going to do something, you might as well do it thoroughly. It almost killed me when I first arrived. I am so used to the fast paced American lifestyle that demands for instant results. It is habit for me to road rage through traffic, race through my meal, and run to catch the bill. The first experience I had with this patient lifestyle was in a restaurant. Although the meal was delicious, I had waited about 30 minutes to get it, then realized after an hour of sitting there that you had to ask for the check. But looking back now, I can see that this process of enjoying the meal thoroughly and having time to talk with friends is a reflection of the slow paced lifestyle in Switzerland. The importance of living for every second of the day and not thinking about what we have to do next is something that I have come to appreciate about the Swiss culture. Living here has taught me to enjoy the here and now and appreciate the time that I spend with friends.