Dear citizens,
This past week was a relatively normal week for me up until Thursday. I started out my morning by missing my bus and being late for school. I got to there ten minutes after it had started and opened the door to my classroom, expecting everyone to be quietly seated while the teacher was giving the lesson. Instead, I walked in on utter chaos. Some people were running around carrying balled up, wet paper towels, while other people were shifting the tables around to form a defensive barrier. One girl was armed with a can of Axe while another was arranging all of the chairs around the door. I stood in this chaos for a couple seconds, utterly confused. Then my friend ran up to me and handed me some wet paper towels.
"Hurry, we need help getting prepared." she said
"What are we getting prepared for?" I asked
"Santa's coming." she said mysteriously
This of course left me more confused than before, but nonetheless I set about helping as much as I could. Soon, everything was ready and we all sat down behind our table barriers and anxiously waited. Then, all of a sudden I heard it, the sound of Call Me Maybe drifting up the hall outside our door. The sound of it struck fear into our hearts as it came closer and closer. All of a sudden the door burst open and Santa came in, followed by two clowns and two Schmützli (people in black, hooded robes). Despite this fearsome sight we valiantly stood our ground and started lobbing wet missiles at our terrifying foe. We were doing well until one of the clowns pulled out a bag of flour and rushed at us while flinging the nasty stuff everywhere. I am ashamed to say that for a couple moments we broke rank and all retreated to the far corner of the room.
However, we were saved when one brave soul rushed forward and grabbed two sufficiently sopping paper towels and managed to drive the clown back. But before we could force them into full retreat, they captured one of our soldiers and even as he fought and kicked, dragged him out of the room with them. While some people organized a rescue mission, the rest of us regrouped and started looking after the wounded and setting to rights our ruined camp. Many days later, or only a couple of minutes, a person staggered through the door. I hardly recognized him as the same soldier who had been dragged at of the room. His hair was unkempt and his shirt was ragged and dirty. We weren't even sure at first if he was one of ours or if he was an enemy, until he held up his hand in a gesture of peace and showed that he had no weapons. Some how this brave soldier had managed to escape and elude the enemy until he made it down the hallway and to the safety of the classroom. It was a hard fight and we had many casualties but at least we rest safe knowing that we beat Santa and that he won't be back until next year.
Your staunch warrior,
Grace
Monday, December 10, 2012
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Four Months Already!?!
Hey everyone,
As Christmas quickly approaches I find myself alternating between excitment that I am in a new host family and having a hard time with the fact that it has already been four months since I arrived in Switzerland, on a warm August day. I look back on that day and my trepidation that I still had a whole year to wait before I could see my family again. Now, I just wish I could go back and have another four months more to stay here.
Shortly before I left my first host family, I was reminscing with my host family about how I spent that first day trying to not be overwhelmed by the german that I heard all around me. Now that I have a better grasp of the language I even sometimes willingly join into conversations instead of just responding when someone asks me a question. I remember the first time I heard a conversation in Swiss German and actually understood what was being said. I didn't know until later that it hadn't been High German. When my friend told me, I was absolutly incredulous! The pride I felt when I was finally able to tell the difference between swiss german and high german was such that I just had to tell my host family and most of my friends. I don't think thyt they were as excited as me though.
I can't believe all of the things that I have done in just four months of time. My first month was realtively mellow since I had my german course almost everyday, but even then I still went to Basel and spent many a happy day in Luzern with my classmates getting to know the most beautiful city in Switzerland (many other people will disagree with me about that). September was a lot more busy because that was also when I started school. We had the Wanderwoche, I had the school party, I went to Basel, lost my wallet, and learned the value of my GA which allows me to travel on any public transportation free (a wonderful gift from rotary Switzerland. I also purchased a phone with a plan, much to my excitement and later to my great frustration.
I have to say the highlight of October was when I went to Austria with my second host family. It was a week of amazing activities, lots of laughter, and great company. I went to a movie theater for the first time since I started my exchange and enjoyed seeing Madagascar 3 with my host brother and a couple of cousins, might I add that it was in german. I also got to go and see an official olympic ski jump. I played tennis for the first time and even though I wasn't very good at it, still enjoyed myself immensly. My host dad helped me improve my ping-pong skills in preperation for a tournament that some younger cousins had arranged as evening entertainment. While he was disappointed that I decided not to compete, I am sure he was very proud when me host brother won (especially since the prize was a huge chocolate bar that no one person could eat).
I ended up getting a lot of lessons that week. I also learned how to play Dog, which is a game that is very similar to the game Sorry that I used to play back at home. Ône day we took a bahn, which is basically a train or a gondola, up a mountain and then the whole family, all thirty or so of us, had lunch at a resturant. The next day we went to a Seilpark, which is like an obstacle course in the trees. That was an absolute blast, as was the rodelbahn that we visited the next day. The rodelbahn was so cool because it is like this rollercoaster down the side mountain and everyone gets their own cart with a lever that controls how fast you go. My first time I was a little nervous and even had someone offer to accompany, so they attached her cart to the back of mine. I had so much fun that I went twice more. I met so many wonderful people that week and was really sad when I had to say good-bye.
November was a little bit of a whirlwind for me. I went to so many places and did so many things. I finally visited Bern and saw some bears that actually live in the middle of the city in a small sanctuary. I discovered that Bern is actually bear in German, which did a little to explain why they had random ones living there. I also went to a Herbstmesse, which is like a big fair, that was going on in Basel. One Sunday Rotary arranged a country fair where representatives from every country were supposed to showcase their respective countries to the new outbounds and convince them that the each country was the best. I became slightly notorious that weekend because while every country had their own plaque, Alaska, with one representative had both a table and a plaque just for us. I got so many questions after that as to whether or not Alaska was its own country, both joking and not. One of the best parts of November was when rotary arranged the Matterhorn weekend. It was two days and ninety-nine exchange students. Needless to say, it was slightly crazy. We ended up all having a blast even though the weekend was slightly tinged with sadness because it was the last time we would see all of the oldies again because they are leaving at the beginning of January.
Friday night my first family made me a going-away dinner and then gave me a going-away present. I was touched by the thoughtfulness of both gestures and I was very sad to have to go. I love my current host family but I love that host family too. I comforted myself with the knowledge that it wouldn't be the last time that I see them. They were a wonderful family to have when I needed help intigrating into the culture and are some of the nicest people I have ever met.Yesterday was an incredibly busy day for me though. I woke up at 6:20 in the morning because I had to be in Zurich by 9:00 for my german course and Zurich is about two hours by train from where I live. After the lesson was over I came directly home to finish up the packing and cleaning that I had left to do in my room. After about an hour or so of the two families talking my host parents finally had to leave. For me there was a tense moment right after the door closed where I experienced intense panic and then my host mom offered to show me around and my host borther helped make Zopf bread. Just like that I knew that I would do just fine in this host family. I am so thankful for that one week in October because it has made the transition between families so smooth and even though I was a little nervous, I know how much worse it could be. They even took me later to see a parade that is tradition here in Switzerland and I saw St. Nicholas. When I went to bed last night I was exhausted but also extremely content. These are going to be a great four months.
Your Swiss Miss,
Grace
As Christmas quickly approaches I find myself alternating between excitment that I am in a new host family and having a hard time with the fact that it has already been four months since I arrived in Switzerland, on a warm August day. I look back on that day and my trepidation that I still had a whole year to wait before I could see my family again. Now, I just wish I could go back and have another four months more to stay here.
Shortly before I left my first host family, I was reminscing with my host family about how I spent that first day trying to not be overwhelmed by the german that I heard all around me. Now that I have a better grasp of the language I even sometimes willingly join into conversations instead of just responding when someone asks me a question. I remember the first time I heard a conversation in Swiss German and actually understood what was being said. I didn't know until later that it hadn't been High German. When my friend told me, I was absolutly incredulous! The pride I felt when I was finally able to tell the difference between swiss german and high german was such that I just had to tell my host family and most of my friends. I don't think thyt they were as excited as me though.
I can't believe all of the things that I have done in just four months of time. My first month was realtively mellow since I had my german course almost everyday, but even then I still went to Basel and spent many a happy day in Luzern with my classmates getting to know the most beautiful city in Switzerland (many other people will disagree with me about that). September was a lot more busy because that was also when I started school. We had the Wanderwoche, I had the school party, I went to Basel, lost my wallet, and learned the value of my GA which allows me to travel on any public transportation free (a wonderful gift from rotary Switzerland. I also purchased a phone with a plan, much to my excitement and later to my great frustration.
I have to say the highlight of October was when I went to Austria with my second host family. It was a week of amazing activities, lots of laughter, and great company. I went to a movie theater for the first time since I started my exchange and enjoyed seeing Madagascar 3 with my host brother and a couple of cousins, might I add that it was in german. I also got to go and see an official olympic ski jump. I played tennis for the first time and even though I wasn't very good at it, still enjoyed myself immensly. My host dad helped me improve my ping-pong skills in preperation for a tournament that some younger cousins had arranged as evening entertainment. While he was disappointed that I decided not to compete, I am sure he was very proud when me host brother won (especially since the prize was a huge chocolate bar that no one person could eat).
I ended up getting a lot of lessons that week. I also learned how to play Dog, which is a game that is very similar to the game Sorry that I used to play back at home. Ône day we took a bahn, which is basically a train or a gondola, up a mountain and then the whole family, all thirty or so of us, had lunch at a resturant. The next day we went to a Seilpark, which is like an obstacle course in the trees. That was an absolute blast, as was the rodelbahn that we visited the next day. The rodelbahn was so cool because it is like this rollercoaster down the side mountain and everyone gets their own cart with a lever that controls how fast you go. My first time I was a little nervous and even had someone offer to accompany, so they attached her cart to the back of mine. I had so much fun that I went twice more. I met so many wonderful people that week and was really sad when I had to say good-bye.
November was a little bit of a whirlwind for me. I went to so many places and did so many things. I finally visited Bern and saw some bears that actually live in the middle of the city in a small sanctuary. I discovered that Bern is actually bear in German, which did a little to explain why they had random ones living there. I also went to a Herbstmesse, which is like a big fair, that was going on in Basel. One Sunday Rotary arranged a country fair where representatives from every country were supposed to showcase their respective countries to the new outbounds and convince them that the each country was the best. I became slightly notorious that weekend because while every country had their own plaque, Alaska, with one representative had both a table and a plaque just for us. I got so many questions after that as to whether or not Alaska was its own country, both joking and not. One of the best parts of November was when rotary arranged the Matterhorn weekend. It was two days and ninety-nine exchange students. Needless to say, it was slightly crazy. We ended up all having a blast even though the weekend was slightly tinged with sadness because it was the last time we would see all of the oldies again because they are leaving at the beginning of January.
Friday night my first family made me a going-away dinner and then gave me a going-away present. I was touched by the thoughtfulness of both gestures and I was very sad to have to go. I love my current host family but I love that host family too. I comforted myself with the knowledge that it wouldn't be the last time that I see them. They were a wonderful family to have when I needed help intigrating into the culture and are some of the nicest people I have ever met.Yesterday was an incredibly busy day for me though. I woke up at 6:20 in the morning because I had to be in Zurich by 9:00 for my german course and Zurich is about two hours by train from where I live. After the lesson was over I came directly home to finish up the packing and cleaning that I had left to do in my room. After about an hour or so of the two families talking my host parents finally had to leave. For me there was a tense moment right after the door closed where I experienced intense panic and then my host mom offered to show me around and my host borther helped make Zopf bread. Just like that I knew that I would do just fine in this host family. I am so thankful for that one week in October because it has made the transition between families so smooth and even though I was a little nervous, I know how much worse it could be. They even took me later to see a parade that is tradition here in Switzerland and I saw St. Nicholas. When I went to bed last night I was exhausted but also extremely content. These are going to be a great four months.
Your Swiss Miss,
Grace
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