A Week in Bern That Turned Into Something More

“The first week of March took me to Switzerland for a PO training in Bern. I had the chance to finally meet the colleagues I will be working with throughout the year and to get familiar with the new OPS system we will all be using. I arrived with a clear intention to absorb as much knowledge as possible. What I didn’t expect was how much more I would bring back with me.

Of course, I learned about OPS. But the most important lessons had very little to do with systems or procedures. Instead, they came from something much simpler. I learned how little it actually takes for people to show solidarity, openness, and humor toward one another. Somewhere between the training sessions, evening conversations, and long walks through the city, we created a small community of our own. Everyone contributed something. Everyone mattered. We looked out for each other, laughed together, and spent our free time exploring Bern. For a while we forgot about where we came from, what roles we hold, or what titles we carry. All of that slowly faded into the background. In the end, those things are just labels we attach to one another, and they rarely explain who we truly are. Without really planning it, we lowered our walls. In the evenings we sat by the fire sharing stories. During the day we wandered through a beautiful park above the city, watching Bern stretch out below us while simply enjoying each other’s company. We supported one another, encouraged one another, and realized something important. None of us are alone in this experience. We learned that it is okay to ask for help when something is not clear. And when mistakes happen, because they always do, we simply say “No pasa nada!!” (thanks Nico) and keep moving forward.