Adventures with Amanda ola, my name is Amanda Yancey! I recently graduated from Portland State University with my BS in Psychology; my main interest is in Neuroscience. I don't know what the heck I am going to do with my degree, but I'm sure I'll figure it out eventually. Takin

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.