Nothing too exciting has been happening... hence my lack of updating this blog. I continue to enjoy my time here and am learning a lot, either for the people here or from just spending a lot more time understanding current events and reading a lot more. I am also slowly learning a bit of German, although my reading of it is much better than my actual speaking skills. I have a hard time understanding what people say unless they talk very slow and simplistically.
Hm, so what has been happening. Well this week is halloween, which our little village actually celebrates (very uncommon in europe but i am thrilled about it). I am putting together a little halloween party for the kids and a couple of their friends before they go trick or treating on Wednesday. I am working on my costume today, nothing elaborate... just a jellyfish. I was going to do porcupine until I got some funky purple tights and wanted to incorporate them somehow. I talked Stephanie into going into Bern with me Wednesday night after the kids are done with their thing, so I think that will be a lot of fun...weehee.
I spent last Saturday in Bern, finding some more interesting stuff like a soap store with bar shampoo and I found some nutritional yeast. Yesterday I spent the day in Zurich, the largest city in Switzerland. It is an hour by train from Bern so not too far. It was very enjoyable. It is much more international so there was a lot of English conversations around me, and everyone at the stores speak english. There was even a whole english bookstore. There is a nice river running through the center of the old city, and in general the city was very clean. Quite cute.
In one week and one day my mother will arrive and we will soon embark on a journey to Italy. Yippiee. I think November will go by quite quickly. My mom will be here most of it, there is Thanksgiving, and MY birthday. For my birthday me and the neighbor man are having a joint party (his birthday is the 24th mine the 29th) and on my birthday I will go out with stephanie, and then the weekend after visit Alec (friend from college) in Germany.
Time to enjoy an empty house (the family went on a picnic)... one of my many pleasures. Loud music and free roaming in the kitchen :-)
Sonntag, 28. Oktober 2007
Samstag, 13. Oktober 2007
travels
The mountains were BeaUtiFul!!... The first night there I got there late but met some really nice backpakers and heard about their amazing travles. Some had been going for 7 months already and planned to go at least 3 more months before returning home. That would be exhausting... but amazing. The next day the skies were quite grey but I hiked for 5 hours in the morning and then returned the the really welcoming hostel to relax away the afternoon. At night stephanie arrived with 2 guys she met on the train ride there and we all played cards with antoher girl I had met that is an intern from michigan in geneva. The next day was clear blue skies and me and stephanie climbed to 2698 m... as high as we could get without more gear for ice/snow. It was quite amazing and exhausting. I will definatly be returning to get to the top of Slithorn (the mountain we were climbing) in the spring when the weather i nice.
Then- London. Quite the opposite of the mountains. Day one was travling from 9:15 am, until about 9:30 pm. The flight was only 1.5 hours about, but it flew out of germany, and then once in london you have a 1.5 hour bus ride to the city and a 45 min ride to where you want in the city and then we took the wrong bus so a 45 min walk to the hostel. All in all long day.
Other days... We got front row seats to see Wicked (a musical about the wicked witch from the west before being evil). We went to the National Gallery and saw Van Gogh's Sunflowers Monet's The Water-Lily Pond Renoir's The Umbrellas and Da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks along with many other very awesome paintings...
The National Portrait Gallery, The London Museum (which had basically the history of london which as interesting) The Britih Museum which had the Rosetta stone, lots of the Parthenon and just a ton of cool stuff... one of the most amazing museums in the world.
We took a walking tour of the Roman ruins in London which was very interesting and saw a lot of things we wouldn't have seen just wakling around. We saw London bridge, tower bridge, the tower of london, the london eye, Westminster abbey (we even went to a church service there), Buckingham palace, the House of Parliment, Abbey Road, that 9 3/4 harry potter train stop, The british library, Stonehenge (magical) and lots of little markets that were a ton of fun.
I also went to a night club that was just.... incredibly posh and not my thing.
Overall a very good trip, saw a lot of cool stuff, but glad to get out of london. It is grey and busy and all the people look clean and pressed, where are the scruffy people? Hiding in london apparently. or maybe they just can't afford to live there (veryyy expensive city, even compared to switzerland i think)
Returning to work and switzerland has been nice and relaxing. Nothing too exciting happening here at the moment. Getting excited for Italy in November, or more so just seeing my mom :-). Also planning a halloween party for some kids in the village YAY. I think I will be a porcupine.
Then- London. Quite the opposite of the mountains. Day one was travling from 9:15 am, until about 9:30 pm. The flight was only 1.5 hours about, but it flew out of germany, and then once in london you have a 1.5 hour bus ride to the city and a 45 min ride to where you want in the city and then we took the wrong bus so a 45 min walk to the hostel. All in all long day.
Other days... We got front row seats to see Wicked (a musical about the wicked witch from the west before being evil). We went to the National Gallery and saw Van Gogh's Sunflowers Monet's The Water-Lily Pond Renoir's The Umbrellas and Da Vinci's Virgin of the Rocks along with many other very awesome paintings...
The National Portrait Gallery, The London Museum (which had basically the history of london which as interesting) The Britih Museum which had the Rosetta stone, lots of the Parthenon and just a ton of cool stuff... one of the most amazing museums in the world.
We took a walking tour of the Roman ruins in London which was very interesting and saw a lot of things we wouldn't have seen just wakling around. We saw London bridge, tower bridge, the tower of london, the london eye, Westminster abbey (we even went to a church service there), Buckingham palace, the House of Parliment, Abbey Road, that 9 3/4 harry potter train stop, The british library, Stonehenge (magical) and lots of little markets that were a ton of fun.
I also went to a night club that was just.... incredibly posh and not my thing.
Overall a very good trip, saw a lot of cool stuff, but glad to get out of london. It is grey and busy and all the people look clean and pressed, where are the scruffy people? Hiding in london apparently. or maybe they just can't afford to live there (veryyy expensive city, even compared to switzerland i think)
Returning to work and switzerland has been nice and relaxing. Nothing too exciting happening here at the moment. Getting excited for Italy in November, or more so just seeing my mom :-). Also planning a halloween party for some kids in the village YAY. I think I will be a porcupine.
Mittwoch, 26. September 2007
a perfect world
Totally and completely psyched. Thats right. I'm just grand and dandy. I could dance like a child and laugh until i threw up... well maybe not.
But- I got paid a bonus of 40 Sfr. I got paid my whole month today. If all goes well tomorrow night I shall be in the mountains until sunday. Then I get to play in an empty house (hopefully) for a day or two and then off to Germany to fly to LONDON BABY.
I bought a good yoga book finally... deciding that dishing out the money would reward me in the long run, and started practicing. It makes me sad that things that look easy, that I swear I could do, I just can't, but I am still enjoying doing what I can and stumbling and stretching and flopping through what I can't.
MMM I love adventures, love love love.
And I hate planning them.
Funny thing I read:
A perfect world is where
the french are the chefs
the italians are the lovers
the british are the police
the germans are the mechanics
and the swiss run the trains
an imperfect world is where
the british are the chefs
the swiss are the lovers
the germas are the police
the french are the mechanics
and the italians run the trains
But- I got paid a bonus of 40 Sfr. I got paid my whole month today. If all goes well tomorrow night I shall be in the mountains until sunday. Then I get to play in an empty house (hopefully) for a day or two and then off to Germany to fly to LONDON BABY.
I bought a good yoga book finally... deciding that dishing out the money would reward me in the long run, and started practicing. It makes me sad that things that look easy, that I swear I could do, I just can't, but I am still enjoying doing what I can and stumbling and stretching and flopping through what I can't.
MMM I love adventures, love love love.
And I hate planning them.
Funny thing I read:
A perfect world is where
the french are the chefs
the italians are the lovers
the british are the police
the germans are the mechanics
and the swiss run the trains
an imperfect world is where
the british are the chefs
the swiss are the lovers
the germas are the police
the french are the mechanics
and the italians run the trains
Sonntag, 23. September 2007
2 months
I shall keep track of my time here. I feel it is necessary. There is so much to see and do and only a year, well now 10 months approximatly. I would like to go to amsterdam for christmas. I hear they decorate it very nice and it is very cute, but it is also very expensive and they have a huge new years event so it is hard to get someplace to sleep. We shall see.
I haven't done anything very exciting since my last blog, pretty normal days. Hating planning London but actually getting excited for it now. We have a hostel booked... only 90 SFr for the 6 nights... and there are some fun free things to do in london, a couple free clubs to get into, some free walks, and lots of free museums. I am also excited to see stonehenge.
I may go to a hostel in the mountains for two nights this week also. Thursday and Friday night, it is only 23 SFr a night, and has amazing hiking trails and an open kitchen so you don't need to go out to eat all the time. Supposidly a lot of americans go to this hostel because Rick Starks or something, some tourist writter, included a chapter about grimmelwald (the city) in one of his books... so maybe I shall meet some english speakers and have a good time for a couple of nights.
Tomorrow me and the kids shall go to the zoo. I'm not a huge fan of the zoo, but it is free and in bern and I enjoy going out and doing things with the kids rather than staying in the house all day so woopy.
It is strange how quickly ones mood can change, and how little it takes to make it happen. Yesterday I was somewhat blue, bored, and lonely. Today I am craving adventure and psyched about my trips that are less than a week away. I shall spend too much money I am sure, but oh well, how often do you get to be in europe, minus all the people that live here and are rich enough to come here all the time I suppose.
I also talked to a friend that was in sweeden for a year, then up and moved to argentina and uses poker as his source of income. Sweet, so anything really is possible.
I haven't done anything very exciting since my last blog, pretty normal days. Hating planning London but actually getting excited for it now. We have a hostel booked... only 90 SFr for the 6 nights... and there are some fun free things to do in london, a couple free clubs to get into, some free walks, and lots of free museums. I am also excited to see stonehenge.
I may go to a hostel in the mountains for two nights this week also. Thursday and Friday night, it is only 23 SFr a night, and has amazing hiking trails and an open kitchen so you don't need to go out to eat all the time. Supposidly a lot of americans go to this hostel because Rick Starks or something, some tourist writter, included a chapter about grimmelwald (the city) in one of his books... so maybe I shall meet some english speakers and have a good time for a couple of nights.
Tomorrow me and the kids shall go to the zoo. I'm not a huge fan of the zoo, but it is free and in bern and I enjoy going out and doing things with the kids rather than staying in the house all day so woopy.
It is strange how quickly ones mood can change, and how little it takes to make it happen. Yesterday I was somewhat blue, bored, and lonely. Today I am craving adventure and psyched about my trips that are less than a week away. I shall spend too much money I am sure, but oh well, how often do you get to be in europe, minus all the people that live here and are rich enough to come here all the time I suppose.
I also talked to a friend that was in sweeden for a year, then up and moved to argentina and uses poker as his source of income. Sweet, so anything really is possible.
Samstag, 15. September 2007
ich hiesse justine. und du?
On Thursday last week I attended my sheep gathering/market. It was nice to see all the sheep, and goats, and chickens and rabbits... but sad to see them all caged up and somewhat sad looking. It was quite tempting to buy one, all cute and cuddly, but I would have no where to put it. There were also all of these stands selling things, quite a large event for how out in the country it was (about 45 minute by bike then 30 minutes on bus). Most of the stuff for sale was life filler, but there were some nice things with sheep wool and some tastey gingerbread (not like gingerbread cookies, much different, but good). They had a stand with a lady spinning wool to yarn, and apparently they have a whole farm where they raise sheep and make yarn.... someplace I am hoping to get to check out at some point while i am here...
Then Friday pretty standard... worked, but at night watched a movie with some people and then had a long conversation with the neighbor man about my lack of geographical education. Apparently in Europe most of the children are taught where almost all the countries of the world are located and facts about them, and perhaps i just missed that class, but I don't think most americans know that much... I'm just confused as to how we go to school more in a day, yet can only speak english (the majority) and seem to know less worldly information (unless thats just me). We also discussed fixing a broken vase with some screws and nails (they were sitting next to each other on his table) and how I could probably make millions by creating this piece of art, but then we decided we were both too lazy to invest the time.
Saturday I biked to bern, train to thun. Thun is a city located on lake thun, a large and BEAUTIFUL lake in switzerland. It is surrounded by mountains, and the water is teal from the glacial water running into it and filling it. Thun was also very cute, lots of houses stacked close together with beautiful gardens. I had to spend 2 hours walking around to find some fruit, so I saw a decent amount of the town. I then got on a large boat that took people from town to town along the lake, and after an hour and a half I arrived at Merligen, my chosen destination. This town wasn't anything exciting, maybe 10 or so houses, but it is where my hike began. From there I followed the yellow wanderweg (hiking) signs to Interlaken, total a 4 hour hike. I was sweaty, tired, and hungry. I hopped on a train and headed to Bern and then to Mittelhausern, leaving my bike in Bern for I was too lazy/tired.
Sunday- Went with the family to the Historical Museum in Bern. Not a huge museum person myself but it was nice and I learned a little about Einstein (he lived in Bern after Munich for a while before the US) the history of Bern and some other stuff.... and then biked home... but apparently the 3 CHF helmet I had purchased at the flea market wasn't worth much, for it fell 4 feet and cracked in two.
I started my german class this week. A very nice teacher and the other people in the class are very nice, although most are a bit older (than me at least). I think it will be nice to learn some german, although I'm not sure if I will learn enough to really be able to have a good conversation with people before I leave.
This weekend shall be a bit more bland I feel, although the neighbor lady is having a birthday party tonight with a band... and susanne's mother is coming today until friday.... something I am not looking forward to. Apparently she is a very religious person and tries to figure out everything you believe and if you don't agree, then convert you. I also don't like the idea of not having an empty house at all this week, but oh well.
Then Friday pretty standard... worked, but at night watched a movie with some people and then had a long conversation with the neighbor man about my lack of geographical education. Apparently in Europe most of the children are taught where almost all the countries of the world are located and facts about them, and perhaps i just missed that class, but I don't think most americans know that much... I'm just confused as to how we go to school more in a day, yet can only speak english (the majority) and seem to know less worldly information (unless thats just me). We also discussed fixing a broken vase with some screws and nails (they were sitting next to each other on his table) and how I could probably make millions by creating this piece of art, but then we decided we were both too lazy to invest the time.
Saturday I biked to bern, train to thun. Thun is a city located on lake thun, a large and BEAUTIFUL lake in switzerland. It is surrounded by mountains, and the water is teal from the glacial water running into it and filling it. Thun was also very cute, lots of houses stacked close together with beautiful gardens. I had to spend 2 hours walking around to find some fruit, so I saw a decent amount of the town. I then got on a large boat that took people from town to town along the lake, and after an hour and a half I arrived at Merligen, my chosen destination. This town wasn't anything exciting, maybe 10 or so houses, but it is where my hike began. From there I followed the yellow wanderweg (hiking) signs to Interlaken, total a 4 hour hike. I was sweaty, tired, and hungry. I hopped on a train and headed to Bern and then to Mittelhausern, leaving my bike in Bern for I was too lazy/tired.
Sunday- Went with the family to the Historical Museum in Bern. Not a huge museum person myself but it was nice and I learned a little about Einstein (he lived in Bern after Munich for a while before the US) the history of Bern and some other stuff.... and then biked home... but apparently the 3 CHF helmet I had purchased at the flea market wasn't worth much, for it fell 4 feet and cracked in two.
I started my german class this week. A very nice teacher and the other people in the class are very nice, although most are a bit older (than me at least). I think it will be nice to learn some german, although I'm not sure if I will learn enough to really be able to have a good conversation with people before I leave.
This weekend shall be a bit more bland I feel, although the neighbor lady is having a birthday party tonight with a band... and susanne's mother is coming today until friday.... something I am not looking forward to. Apparently she is a very religious person and tries to figure out everything you believe and if you don't agree, then convert you. I also don't like the idea of not having an empty house at all this week, but oh well.
Mittwoch, 5. September 2007
The Hill
I can see the top. It doesn't look far, yet I can't bike up anymore. I must walk my bicycle while trying to catch my breath. I lied, NOW I can see the top. It is like a magical never ending hill. Finally after 20 minutes of up, I am as far as the road can take me. I lay my bike into the tall grass and begin to trudge through it. Slowly I can feel the water seep through my moccasins and moisten my pants. Only 10 more meters of tall grass, then short mowed lawn, all up. So close to the top of this mini mountain. Nothing near the size of a mountain, but in comparison to the 'hills' in wisconsin it may be called a mountain for all i'm concerned. What a cold morning. Usually when the sun is shining I am comfortable, but my wet legs and the sudden appearance of wind doesn't help. Most of Switzerland is windless, the hills are good for something. Finally the top. It was worth it. The Alps align one side of the horizon, the Junta mountains align another, with beautiful hills and country sides and villages scattered between. Beautiful. Sit in the wet grass, you only live once and who knows when I will get such a clear day to view the Alps next. Observe. The wind chills me through as the water soaks through my layers to my sensitive skin. Time to leave. Drag myself through the short grass, and then the long grass. My moccasins drip with water when I lift my feet. Finally arrive to my bicycle. Mount, and fly. Not a single peddle is needed, I can fly home, free as an american in switzerland.
Last weekend Rita and Fred visited (my mothers cousins). It was quite enjoyable, we went on a long walk and a wonderful fondue dinner. On Sunday they drove to Murten with me, a small town between the french and german parts of switzerland. It is a very beautiful town, with a lot of history. There are walls surrounding the old town with a large clock tower enterance. The walls were built in 1213 or something crazy long ago. There is so much history in europe it is wonderful :-)
Last weekend Rita and Fred visited (my mothers cousins). It was quite enjoyable, we went on a long walk and a wonderful fondue dinner. On Sunday they drove to Murten with me, a small town between the french and german parts of switzerland. It is a very beautiful town, with a lot of history. There are walls surrounding the old town with a large clock tower enterance. The walls were built in 1213 or something crazy long ago. There is so much history in europe it is wonderful :-)
Dienstag, 28. August 2007
The good the bad and the ugly
The only reason for the heading is that apparently in about 10 minutes I am going to be called by Mr. Marc Reise to watch a scene of this movie with him and the kids... These are the things they do. Watch like 10 minutes of a movie with the kids... very strange, but interesting.
Life continues to be magnifico... Saturday was my first bool ... (i really need to learn how to actually spell that) tournament. They have them twice a year, one in the early summer that starts at about 6 at night and goes until 3 or 4 in the morning (glad that wasn't the one I attended) and this one called the 'chicken leg tournament' that started at 11 and went until 7:30... (including a lunch and dinner break). The winning prize for the top team of the 24 teams is a trophy that is a block of wood with engraved names of previous winners and standing atop is a large replica of a chicken leg. For dinner they also grill a bunch of chicken legs.. yum (blah!). It was wonderful, the experiance in general that is. Everyone is so kind, there are lots of father child and a few mother child teams. I love the idea of communities getting together often and doing things like this so you actually know your neighbors. I suppose it only works in smaller communities though, like this one... but very enjoyable. (we ranked 10th, me and big Bruno)
The nice days are equally split with rainy days, but at least there are still nice warm beautiful days to go out and see the sights. I have so much I am currently looking forward to. Next Thursday there is a sheep gathering of all the sheep in the alps ( i would assume just the ones around here) in a local village where they are divided back up by their rightful owners and taken home.... hopefully it is all I imagine it to be and I will attend. My second cousins ( i believe that is their title) are visiting this weekend which shall be quite pleasant to have company. And eventually I have 2- 3 day weekends in a row, which I'm not quite sure what I will do but hopefully I will do something other than a normal weekend.
Life continues to be magnifico... Saturday was my first bool ... (i really need to learn how to actually spell that) tournament. They have them twice a year, one in the early summer that starts at about 6 at night and goes until 3 or 4 in the morning (glad that wasn't the one I attended) and this one called the 'chicken leg tournament' that started at 11 and went until 7:30... (including a lunch and dinner break). The winning prize for the top team of the 24 teams is a trophy that is a block of wood with engraved names of previous winners and standing atop is a large replica of a chicken leg. For dinner they also grill a bunch of chicken legs.. yum (blah!). It was wonderful, the experiance in general that is. Everyone is so kind, there are lots of father child and a few mother child teams. I love the idea of communities getting together often and doing things like this so you actually know your neighbors. I suppose it only works in smaller communities though, like this one... but very enjoyable. (we ranked 10th, me and big Bruno)
The nice days are equally split with rainy days, but at least there are still nice warm beautiful days to go out and see the sights. I have so much I am currently looking forward to. Next Thursday there is a sheep gathering of all the sheep in the alps ( i would assume just the ones around here) in a local village where they are divided back up by their rightful owners and taken home.... hopefully it is all I imagine it to be and I will attend. My second cousins ( i believe that is their title) are visiting this weekend which shall be quite pleasant to have company. And eventually I have 2- 3 day weekends in a row, which I'm not quite sure what I will do but hopefully I will do something other than a normal weekend.
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