I first came to Switzerland in 2021, without really knowing what I was looking for. I think deep down, I just needed a change. What I found was one of the most beautiful and peaceful places I’ve ever experienced.
After spending so many years between big cities like Guangzhou and chaotic environments, Switzerland felt like a completely different world. Everything here seems to move at a slower pace: life feels quieter, more balanced. Nature is everywhere, and it’s the kind of nature that honestly makes you stop and just appreciate how beautiful this world can be.
One of the first places I visited was Appenzell: a tiny region surrounded by green hills, wooden houses, and endless fields where cows roam freely. It literally felt like stepping into a postcard. I remember hiking through the mountains, breathing in the fresh air, and feeling this rare sense of calm, which something I hadn’t felt in a really long time.
But what I love the most about Switzerland is how every corner of the country has something different to offer.
In summer, you can hike for hours and still never get tired of the landscapes with their turquoise lakes, snowy peaks in the background, and wildflowers everywhere. Places like Zermatt and Lauterbrunnen honestly look like they were taken straight out of a dream. And in winter the country turns into a fairytale, with frozen lakes, snow-covered villages, and little wooden chalets lit up with Christmas lights.
Nature here is so powerful and untouched, and after years of living in busy cities, I’ve learned to truly appreciate the simplicity of being surrounded by mountains and silence.
At the same time, Switzerland is one of the most organized, safe, and stable countries I’ve ever lived in. There’s a sense of structure and reliability here that I’ve really learned to appreciate. Public transportation is a perfect example: you can actually plan your day knowing that the train or bus will most likely be there when you expect it to be.
Coming from southern Italy, this was a big change for me. In places like Calabria, public transportation and infrastructure can be much more limited and less reliable, especially outside the bigger cities. Growing up, relying on public transport to get around wasn’t a reality, so experiencing a system where you can travel almost anywhere without needing a car still feels like a luxury sometimes.
It might sound like a small thing, but that kind of reliability makes everyday life so much easier, and it’s definitely something Switzerland has taught me not to take for granted.
But if there’s one thing I’ve realized in Switzerland, it’s how important it is to enjoy the little things. Switzerland taught me how to slow down.
I’m still exploring, still discovering new places every chance I get. And even though I don’t know what the future holds, for now, Switzerland feels like the perfect place to recharge, reflect, and grow.
Wherever life takes me next, I know I’ll always carry a little piece of the Swiss mountains in my heart.