Allow me to describe how this incredible oppertunity has come my way.
I’m a 3rd year Engineering student at the University of Calgary, in Calgary, AB, Canada. At the end of the upcoming winter semester I will officially begin a year-long internship. By the grace of all that is holy, I managed to land an awesome, (english-speaking), job at the University of Zurich, beginning June 1, 2006, lasting until June 1, 2007, god forbid anything should happen to me or my position during that time.
I recieved the job offer only a few days ago, and my mind has been racing ever since, trying to figure out all the logistics. At the tender age of 20, I’ve never lived away from home, since I’m only 8km from School and the rent is free. I’ve never attempted travelling with more than 1 suitcase, let alone a bike or multiple bikes. Thankfully I’ve travelled to Europe, and can speak the barest amount of German, so hopefully I will not be totally overwhelmed.
Also, I know several students currently taking Internships in Switzerland, including the student whom I am replacing come spring-time. And I will be joined by several other students from my University with other jobs in Switzerland, mostly in Baden, which is potentially where I will be actually living.
But there are still lots of things to work out:
I have 2 Bikes. My ~$700 CDN Commuter Specialized Sirrus, and my ~$3000 Cervelo P2-SL. I am definetly taking the Cervelo, but I am undecided whether to take my Commuter over, or to just buy another one once I get to Switzerland, perhaps even a nicer, actual, Road Bike.
Apparently, Air Fare to Zurich is buttloads more than if I fly to a nearby country and take the train the rest of the way. My Girlfriend found on the internet that flying to Milan, then train to Zurich saves almost $700 over a direct flight. But that would be a friggin nightmare with a load of luggage!
I believe that sending the majority my clothes, and whatever else I need for a year of living on my own, and my Bike(s) via air freight to Zurich, and then picking them up once I arrive is obviously the answer here. For the bikes, the way some IM travellers go, getting a local bike shop to pack their bikes, and shipping it to a bike shop at the destination to rebuild the bike and prep it for the race seems like an attractive idea, however I need to find a Bike shop in Zurich that would do this, and can speak English. Would I need to get a hard plastic bike case, or would a cardboard jobby do it? How much are the hard cases? That would probably affect my “bring the commuter” decision.
Once I get to Switzerland, I’ll be wanting to do some sprint/olympic Triathlons this upcoming season, and probably an Iron-Distance in 2007 (IM Swiss, IM Germany, Roth, IM France, who knows!?). http://www.trisuisse.ch/ Appears to be the national governing body, and probably the place to go to for advice there, but if any Swiss twitchers have advice, I’m more than glad to hear it.
I also will want to train of course. I imagine that the university will have a pool, and hopefully a master’s group or tri club. Once again if a swiss twitcher knows for sure I’d love to hear it.
Thats most of what I have been agonizing over so far, of the Tri-related stuff that is. Right now I have my work visa application to keep me busy, and hopefully I can get that out of the way quickly so I can tackle all the other hurdles!
p.s. any way to find out dates for IM races in the semi-distant future, or does only Kona do that?
very true
