During November, Zurich is almost permanently shrouded in a fog layer. When we open the curtains in the morning, it looks like a white wall on the outside. Sometimes the fog stays all day. On other days, the dark silhouettes of buildings and trees become more visible as the sun rises.

The Swiss warned us about the fog from the beginning. The fog layer has a depressing impact because it is dark, and you feel trapped. On weekends, many people visit their homes in the mountains to enjoy the sunlight and temporarily escape the fog.

My Eglisau message

The autumn colours in Switzerland are exceptional this year. I was excited about a sunny day because I wanted to take pictures in the village of Eglisau with its beautiful vineyards along the Rhein River. My disappointment was huge when the whole town was shrouded in fog. I decided to stay in the hope that the haze would clear.

After a while, I realized how beautiful and mysterious everything appears in the fog and that I must appreciate things just the way they are and stop clinging to my picture. I get this message regularly but still struggle with it sometimes.

A worldwide layer of fog

Travelling to new places and cultures is one of the things Charl and I enjoy doing together. We were very excited about the opportunity to live in Switzerland for a few years because of the possibility of exploring Europe without long flights and a Schengen visa application. However, Covid has fallen around us all like a thick layer of fog.

The country’s borders were closed for a long time and reopened only recently. The Covid situation forced us to discover Switzerland. We visited many beautiful places and had experiences we would have missed if Europe had been open. Worldwide, the restrictions forced people to look with new eyes at the beauty of their own country and environment. In the process, many people discovered gems that they had previously overlooked.

In the fog, I saw my own family more clearly

Christmas time is synonymous with family time. Christmas markets and celebrations provide great excitement. Last year there was only one big silence. Due to all the strict rules, we spent the Christmas holidays inside our apartment. We ordered creative projects online and kept ourselves busy. All three of us later admitted that it was a precious and peaceful time and that we enjoyed each other’s company.

From the beginning, we planned to visit South Africa and my sons Switzerland once a year. After their first visit in December 2019, we could not see each other again. It was an exceptionally dense fog to me. The distance and situation encouraged us to connect more often and engage deeper. I consequently got to know my sons differently. I write more about this in my letter with the title words have become my lifeline.

The fog teaches me to enjoy the now.

The fog has become a metaphor for me and reminds me to enjoy the present situation. I must stop clinging so tightly to my picture of “perfect” that I overlook the beauty around me.

In the fog, our usual familiar environment appears mysterious. The fog dims the background and makes the most critical items stand out. It helps us focus on the elements that are indeed visible. The fog layer is not permanent. It will clear up, and the sun will shine again.

Regards

Emsia