What used to be mandatory is now nearing extinction: the «Walz». Andrea Vetsch is one of the brave souls daring to venture down this road. At best, it'll take him as far as China.
The blond hair contrasts strongly with the dark hat. His black trousers as well as his strong hands are evidence of hard work. This is mirrored nicely by his pristine white shirt, which appears spotless even after a long detailed inspection. His feet are enveloped by sturdy military boots in need of new soles. This man's been on the road for a while. If he makes it, it'll have been for four years and a day.
My life in a nutshell? On a quest to broaden my horizon. I love discovering and learning new skills and I see a chance to experience something new in everything – be it travelling, reading, cooking, movies or DIY.
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Andrea, in the outfit he'll be wearing for the next four years.
That's how long the «Walz» takes. After all: «The years of travel must last longer than the years of apprenticeship,» Andrea Vetsch explains. And since a carpentry apprenticeship lasts four years, the «Walz» must last at least one day longer. But Andrea is still far away from his goal. He only began his journey barely three months ago. Currently, he's leaving Quarten at Lake Walen on foot, with only a rucksack to his name. After only three kilometres, he's approached and gets his first job offer. «Unfortunately, I had to refuse, as I was still inside the exclusion zone.» As importantly, one rule of the «Walz» says: never get closer to your hometown than 50 kilometres.
Until industrialisation, the «Walz» was a prerequisite for craftsmen to be admitted to the master craftsman examination. These days, every journeyman decides for himself whether he wants to go wandering. There aren't many of them left. Instead, many «Schächte», carpenter's guilds, have now allowed women to join. Nevertheless, more and more carpenters are deciding to travel without a «Schacht» on their back, so-called «Freireisende», or free wanderers. Just like Andrea. Which is why he can establish his own rules for the voyage. «But to a large extent they're in accordance with generally accepted laws.» So he's single, childless and under 30. In addition, he will spend the first year exclusively in German-speaking countries. And after that? «I'd love to work in bamboo scaffolding in China or build log cabins in Canada», the 20-year-old says. I'm sure that my astonishment was clearly written on my face, as Andrea adds: «The Walz isn't limited to Europe, you are completely free to walk wherever you choose.»
It's still mainly a male profession these days, underlined by the lightly dressed ladies on the wall.
Walking is the key word here, as travelling journeymen should move on foot or by hitchhiking. It'll take a while to get to China. «Exceptions allow us to cover such long distances by plane, otherwise it's really difficult», the carpenter explains. Nevertheless, he'd prefer to travel by the Trans-Siberian Railway or a container ship. «But as long as my legs can carry me, I'll do without any means of transportation.» So far, he's only been without work for three days. He got his first commission from Bissig Holzbau in Altdorf. He knocked on their door, asked and was immediately given work. «Due to various holiday absences, the company was quite happy that I came knocking,» Andrea says.
The company is pleased that two extra hands are working.
Now that his three months of work are coming to an end, Andrea has to move on. No traveller should spend more than 12 weeks in the same place. «We're travellers after all.» He already has a new job lined up. It's in Schafisheim in Aargau. «A woman saw me in my garb in Altdorf and asked me to remodel her kitchen.» But Andrea isn't directly headed there. First he wants to have a closer look at Uri and maybe the Valais as well. «I'll get to Schafisheim when I get there.» He doesn't have many other options, as you can't have any mobile phone on your Walz. This would be the last straw for many a member of Generation Y or Z. Andrea on the other hand manages his situation quite well. «I call my family from a landline or write them a card once in a while.» Contact is sparse, especially with friends. But the carpenter remains positive: «At least you know who's really at your side.» When he announced his decision a good six months ago, everyone close to him was supportive. «A lot of people said they could never do it, but they think it's great that I am.» But his mother first had to get used to the idea that her son wouldn't come home for four years. «She's a little sentimental, but that's just how mums are», Andrea says with a smile.
His first stop led Andrea to Altdorf, more specifically Bissig Holzbau.
And the Walz isn't that solitary either. He has contact to his work colleagues and to many people he meets on the street or in pubs. «Through my encounters with strangers, I realised that most people aren't so bad, but want to see you succeed.» One thing he notices in all his conversations is: «Most people speak to me in High German.» This is no coincidence, as most carpenters on the Walz are Germans, even in Switzerland. «As far as I know, I'm only one of three Swiss carpenters who is currently on their travels.» Aside from these quaint conversations, he also receives a beer or a 20 Franc bill from time to time. Due to his garb, most people know what's going on right away. «As long as I make money myself, I never ask people for their charity,» says Andrea.
Bissig pays him as they would a temporary employee. «Without the collective bargaining agreements we have in Switzerland, receiving board and lodging wouldn't be possible.» Additionally, he also gets a small room with no frills. «On the Walz, you suddenly have an incredible amount of time. No cell phone, no TV to distract you from your thoughts.» That made him calmer, grounded him. Andrea now listens to the radio a lot and reads, already a great passion of his. «I really should've taken more books with me. I'm currently reading «Das grosse Zimmermannbuch» («The Great Carpenter's Book») because I have no alternatives,» says the 20-year-old, who's otherwise more interested in history. Despite small distractions, however, being alone is definitely a virtue that one should have internalised as a travelling journeyman. «I've always been able to do well on my own, but I'm still learning from day to day,» says Andrea.
Planning is also part of a carpenter's job.
This also includes not spending the whole weekend with friends, but with washing. «At the moment I only have one garb, but I want to have a second one tailor-made on the way.» He also carries along five underpants, two spare shirts, a sleeping bag, a two-metre sheet, hand tools and toiletries. Still, he knows how to treat himself: «I don't carry my things wrapped in a cloth, as is tradition, but in a backpack.» This makes the many miles a bit easier on the feet. And if the going gets rough, he can always escape into a hotel. «Sleeping in the pouring rain or outdoors at -20 degrees isn't required.» As much as he struggles on his journey, in the end it should still give him pleasure and enrich his professional and above all his life experience.
Nobody knows where the journey will lead. Not even Andrea.
