Hello World! My Train Ride Across Belgium, Germany and Switzerland
<p>Asmy Uber ride pulled up in front of the hotel I was staying in Brussels, Belgium to take me to the train station, my heart jumped up in my throat. I was so frightened by the prospect of taking a train ride from Belgium, across Germany to Switzerland by myself, but also excited to be able to see <em>La Swisse</em>. After all, my native hometown where I was born in south Burundi, East Africa was nicknamed la <em>Swisse</em> because of its landscape similarities to Switzerland. It is a high rough plateau on the side of a group of mountains.</p>
<p>However, Switzerland’s landscapes attract tourists, while my hometown doesn’t. The main reason is that economic development between these two ‘<em>Swisses’ </em>couldn’t be any different. For one, Switzerland is very developed, and my hometown and country aren’t. Anyway, I was both anxious and excited to finally go to Switzerland and see those geographical similarities I had heard so many times when I was growing up.</p>
<p>My Uber driver asked me:</p>
<p>« Où-est- ce que vous allez? » — «Where are you going? »</p>
<p>I said: “I’m going to Switzerland!”</p>
<p>He said: “Switzerland? By train? That’s going to be a long ride.”</p>
<p>I said: “I know! Eight hours if all goes according to schedule.”</p>
<p>As I was saying that, I felt fear rushing, followed by excitement. This was going to be some adventure! I had never taken a train, except Amtrak going for short distances in the US. But a train across Europe? I had only seen them in movies!</p>
<p><a href="https://medium.com/fourth-wave/hello-world-my-train-ride-across-europe-acf2a6f757c5"><strong>Website</strong></a></p>