For the last two weeks, my girls and I have been taking “Flat Stanley” on adventures in Zurich for our dear friend, Henry, in Georgia. His second-grade class was inspired to use the Flat Stanley books to connect with friends or family that live far away. You send Stanley in the post, and your friends/family send you some photos and mementos from the adventures he had.

This comes at an interesting time for our family, as we’ve been in flux about where we’re going to land after this school year. We’ve moved seven times with our kids, and our eldest has gone to four schools. Needless to say, we all feel like our hearts are a bit scattered across the planet. Sometimes that causes a disconnect between friends and family, so it means a lot when people like Henry, and his supermom, Christine, make the extra effort to reach out, visit, and send small reminders that we have another “home” with people that love us.

I’ve always struggled with the idea of “home”. I’ve moved over twenty times in my life, and I don’t ever remember feeling like a place was my home. I’m very, very rooted in people, the majority of which I’ve met throughout the last few moves, and they’ve become the family that I never realized I needed. This has taught our girls to nurture their friendships, no matter where they are. Call, write, send a message or photo. Charlotte, our middle bean, is obsessed with sending letters. The girls have a keen understanding that it takes effort to have and maintain relationships, and if I have anything positive to take away from their being uprooted so often over the last 8 years, it’s that they have a sense of just how important people are.

That said, let me leave you with some advice. I once had a professor fill a jar with marbles. He asked us if the jar was full. Half the class said, yes. The other half recognized that the jar still had space. He then poured in sand, as a reminder that there is a lot more space in that jar than you think.

My advice is this- make time. Everyone is busy. It’s our current human condition. If you love someone, and you want to maintain a relationship with them, during your busy life, make time. Put a reminder in your phone, or on your calendar if you kick it old school with a day-planner. Because at the end of the day, at the end of your life, the things that matter, are your people- the builders in your life and the builders OF your life.

One of the most memorable experiences you can have while visiting Zurich would have to be attending a chocolate making class at the Lindt Chocolate Factory. They do not host tours, but they do have some pretty amazing workshops. How many times in your life will you be able to say that you’ve learned to decorate and make chocolates in a world famous, premiere chocolate house?

I’ve been to two different courses. One was a praline decorating course. We decorated pralines for Mother’s Day (which felt particularly special, as I was pregnant with our third baby, and was making chocolates with our eldest), and placed them in a heart box that we’d made with chocolate. My daughter was 6 at the time, and she absolutely loved it. I really enjoyed watching her be creative, and Laela really loved her first true introduction to what she affectionately calls Switzerland- “The Land of Chocolate!”.

Upon entering the factory, you are shown where to change into your uniform- a professional chef jacket, apron, and hat. Once you are dressed, you enter the most gorgeous chocolate making classroom. You pick your work station and prepare to learn how to decorate chocolates. After a short demonstration, the chocolatiers walk around and assist you with making a box of chocolates to take home. You also get to taste various varieties of chocolate during the lesson.

My second experience at Lindt was around this time last year. I accompanied many parents from our daughters’ school for a special class in English. We were even filmed by CNN! I made some new friends and laughed so hard my cheeks hurt. It’s one of the most fun events I’ve gone to. It was definitely the most “I Love Lucy” day of my life, and trust me, I’ve had a lot of “Lucy” days!

Things to know when visiting the chocolate factory…

Unless otherwise indicated, all classes are for ages 14 and up.
Book early! Classes fill up quickly- especially for Mother’s Day, Christmas, and Valentine’s Day.
There are NOT tours of the factory. People will tell you there are. There are NOT. The Lindt website clearly states this. Many travel sites state otherwise. They’re very wrong.
Classes are not always offered in English. This is an experience worth doing regardless of language!! There is always someone who speaks English, even if it’s just a bit. Learning to make chocolate really is more of a visual experience, and the people that work there know how to teach- regardless of language ability. Go, have fun, and try something new!!
There is a shoppe by the factory where you can take some fun photos, buy some discounted chocolate, and stock up on some rare chocolate varieties that you can’t get everywhere.
Even if you aren’t really a chocolate person, I would give this class a go. It’s a ton of fun, and it’s truly a once in a lifetime experience!