Does Anything Stay the Same?

To me it seems like yesterday, but about forty years ago (that makes me feel really old), my parents sent me to boarding school in Switzerland.  The school was an all-boys school in a small town on the shore of Lake Geneva called Pully.  The school was named Lycee Jaccard.  For the past couple of days, we have been staying near the school, and visited it on two occasions.  It has been a nice experience, being here again and seeing things that were so important to me at one point in my life.  It has also been wonderful for me to share some of these places with Jan (who I think may be a bit tired of me pointing out things and remembering “the good old days).”
The one thing that has occurred to me are some basic life truths about being young and growing up that I think they are universal:

• The older you are the shorter the distance from one place to the other.  The drive to Geneva used to take forever.  It is actually very close and the drive takes about an hour.
• The younger you are, the bigger things seem.  The school used to seem like a massive, towering, structure – it is in fact quite small.
• Troubles fade over time – it was difficult and troubling being away from home as a child; I remember being homesick and lonely.  As I walked around again, most of what I remembered were the good things, the friends, the fun, the mischief.
• The older you are, the closer yesterday seems.  I was only at the school for a few years, however, at the time it seemed like forever.  I was at the school decades ago; today it seems like a few years.
• Hills grow steeper over time (I don’t actually even remember them being here when I was young – not the alps, but the hilly streets).
• A second language is like a gold bracelet no one can take away (this is what my father told me when I was living here and learning to speak French).  Over time, I thought I lost my French due to lack of practice.  My father will be happy to know, I still have the bracelet – everyone here understands me.
• Some things never change – I remember Switzerland as a stunningly beautiful place with massive mountains, nice people and good wine (at my age back then, any wine was good wine).  Today Switzerland is a stunningly beautiful place with massive mountains, nice people and good wine.

It’s nice to see some things actually do remain the same.

Comments

[Beki]

Love the story and the picture. Miss you guys!!

[conrad rafield]

Jordan, If you happen to read this, please send your information back to me. I am an American who also went to school at LJ 40 plus years ago & would love to ask you a few questions. Email is rafield@bellsouth.net. Thanks, Conrad Rafield

[Mary Hartwell]

Jordan and Conrad, I, too, was with the Jaccards around the times you were there. It was June or July of 1969. My dad was a teacher and usually took a group of his students to Europe which usually involved enrolling them in a week's worth of classes and activities at Lycee Jaccard. I stayed at the school with Mom and Dad for that time. My dad, Howard Mendel, had attended there around 1925. I fell in love with the school and the Jaccards.
Last trip he took (perhaps in the 80's) he returned home with the news that the building was no longer there! Do you know anything about this?
We are Americans and I was about 21 at the time. My e-mail address is m.hartwell@comcast.net. I would be absolutely delighted to hear from you.
Thank you ahead of time for any correspondence you may write. Sincerely, Mary