Paragliding With Eagles

amanda_yancey — Wed, 27 May 2015 12:38:25 GMT

There's something spiritual about the outdoors--the fresh air, earthly scents, beautiful sights, and serene sounds--it feeds the soul. This is especially true of Interlaken, Switzerland.
In November of 2011 at nineteen-years-old I visited a friend of my mother's, Thomas, who owned the Hotel Bellevue in Interlaken, Switzerland. Shortly after meeting him, Thomas asked me what I'd like to do during my stay, "We have paragliding, skydiving--"
"Oh! Mom told me I can't skydive," I informed him.
He nodded and without hesitating added, "Paragliding is not skydiving. You should do that."
"How's it different?" I asked, skeptical.
"You jump off a mountain instead of out an airplane."
"Oh... ok," I agreed, laughing awkwardly. "Mom didn't say anything about jumping off a mountain."
The following morning I met Thomas' friend Peachy, a bubbly character in his mid forties with messy pepper hair and a five o'clock shadow. I hopped into his pick-up, squeezing beside a woman named Diane. I quickly learned Dianne lived in Seattle, Washington, an interesting coincidence since I resided in Portland, Oregon, only a few hours away. This was her 60th birthday present to herself!
Before going up the mountain we stopped outside of a Hooters to pick up proper hiking boots, a windbreaker, a helmet, and Dianne's guide Richard, hopping into a van this time.
As we drove along the bumpy path up the enormous Swiss mountain, I complimented Dianne on her golden eagle pin, which was securely fastened to her cotton zip-up vest, she told me it was in representation of her husband, since she saw one on the day of his funeral. So, whenever I see an eagle, she explained, it’s him watching over me. I smiled at this, wondering if that were true, if spirits truly watched over us.
By the time we reached the top of the mountain and geared up to go, my heart hammered hard against my ribcage, going BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. Dianne and her instructor took off before me, sailing through the air so easily it excited me even more. With our parachute ready to go, Peachy told me to just run down the slope and so I did. I sprinted down the hill and the wind lifted us into the air and suddenly we were flying. Cool air bit at my cheeks and the tips of my ears. I felt weightless as we sailed above the two lakes, which Interlaken is named after. Peachy pointed at something flying below us and what do you know? It was an eagle.
Now I can't promise eagles, but I can promise an awakening of the soul in Switzerland.

My Scholarship entry - A local encounter that changed my life

amanda_yancey — Fri, 6 Apr 2012 12:22:00 GMT

Have you ever had an experience that literally gave you chills? I certainly have. While living in Italy for three months, my mom suggested that I go to Interlaken, Switzerland for a couple days to visit her friends and so I did and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Hell-bent on making my trip an exciting one, my host family arranged a paragliding session for me. My mom banned skydiving as a form of entertainment while I was overseas, but said nothing about paragliding, which involved jumping off a mountain rather than leaping out of an airplane.
Since I went during November, an idle time of the year, there was only one other person paragliding with me. Her name was Dianne and lived Seattle, Washington, an interesting coincidence since I resided in Salem, Oregon, only a few hours away. This was her 60th birthday present to herself, such a fantastic gift! As we drove up the enormous Swiss mountain, Dianne revealed to me that she had two daughters and that her husband passed away recently. When I complimented her on her golden eagle pin, securely fastened to her cotton zip-up vest, she told me it was in representation of her husband, since she saw one on the day of his funeral. So, whenever I see an eagle, she explained, it’s him watching over me.
By the time we reached the top of the mountain and geared up to go, my heart hammered hard against my ribcage, going BOOM, BOOM, BOOM. Dianne and her instructor took off before me, sailing through the air so easily it made me even more excited. With our parachute ready to go, Peachy, my instructor, told me to just run down the slope and so I did. I sprinted down the hill and the wind lifted us into the air and suddenly we were flying. Cool air bit at my cheeks and the tips of my ears. I felt weightless as we sailed above colossal pine trees and several Swiss villages. Peachy pointed at something flying below us and what do you know? It was an eagle. I realized then that someone is always watching over you.

Adventures with Amanda

Paragliding With Eagles

My Scholarship entry - A local encounter that changed my life