My heart is born to travel.

I actually didn’t know there was a basement, at first. Yann took me downstairs to a huge and dimly lit laundry room and where the family hung their clothes to dry. It was very strange for me, since in Spain and in Asia, we hang most of our laundry to dry in the sun outside. Being in this laundry room made me realize how dirty my clothes were -- I only had three sets of clothes and I hadn’t washed them in a week! Unfortunately, my awkwardness got the better of me, and I decided against asking to use his washing machine. I would go on wearing these old clothes. When we walked out of the laundry room, Yann led me to another door and told me to close my eyes.

When I opened my eyes again I saw a church. The house was actually connected to the church where Yann and his wife had been preaching. He told me he moved here twenty years ago and the church gave him this house so he and his family could have a place to live. He told me that, because his son has grown up and moved away, he has a spare room to offer to guests. He has hosted guests like me from around the world in that room. In fact, he has made a point of only hosting guests from countries he didn’t know too much about.

I was deeply touched by his story and I think he was an amazing man.

That night, Yann prepared dinner and we had a great chat about his previous guests, and the volunteer work he had done in Madagascar. He learned while he was there how delicious the food was and he had a special batch of chilis he had brought back. I had some of the chilis and I loved it. Then we went to his home office and planned my trip for the next day. Yann said the best way to travel in small towns in Switzerland is actually by hitchhiking. He then wrote Montreux on a piece of cardboard and insisted I take it with me. Though I decided against hitchhiking because I’m a bit timid, I was grateful for his help.

I got up around 8am, and Yann had already sent me a text message that he had prepared breakfast for me downstairs. I went down and saw yogurt and toast laid on the table. And he had also prepared a sandwich and some dried mango for me to take with me on today’s trip. I was amazed by his hospitality. I was in one of the most expensive countries in the world, but I hardly paid a cent because of this man’s generosity. Though he gave away so much for free, I could tell he lived a richer life because of it.

Stay tuned...there’s much more to come!

In the next episode I’ll be sharing more of my solo adventures on the Swiss train journey!

****本系列会将中英的版本分开录制，想要进行更深入的英语听力学习或训练，可以听伴随在中文版本的下一集。

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