Oh boy. This is going to be quite a long blog, I assure you. I haven't written in a couple of weeks, and they were perhaps two of the most important weeks since I've been here. I'll be as brief as possible, but there's just a lot to tell...
Okay. So I spent all of last week in Zermatt. Zermatt is the city that sits at the base of the Matterhorn, and has view of the mountain seen on most Swiss postcards. It was absolutely incredible. I left on Saturday afternoon and took the train for a little over 3 hours. It was a great trip, because we passed through lots of little villages, and there were plenty of green rolling hills to be seen. I also stopped in Bern to switch trains and caught a little glimpse of downtown, which is rather cute. So I am very much looking forward to a day trip there one weekend or something. After 3 train rides, I was greeted in Zermatt by the family, who had already been there for a week while I was finishing my French class. We walked to the apartment where we were staying (as there are no cars allowed in the city, and we were only a couple of minutes away), and got all settled in. We stayed in a great location, because it was right downtown and not far from the trails and lifts. That evening, we went to the Migros (a Swiss grocery store), where I sampled some cheese, and used one of the 3 German phrases that I know to tell the man thank you (or rather, "danke"...). We were in German territory, so I figured it would be a good time to test it out. I think I'll stick to French though...
The next day morning (Sunday), we took the train up to the Gornegrat, which is one of the higher peaks that offers a stunning view of the Matterhorn. It was a beautiful train ride, so I was taking pictures and videos pretty much the entire time! We got to the top, and I could not put the camera away, because there were so many gorgeous views. It was a perfectly cloudless day. We hiked down a little ways, and had a picnic by one of the lakes. Again, I took tons of pictures of the Matterhorn's reflection in the water. Stunning! We took the train back down the hill, and headed to the apartment for a wonderful little sieste. The boys napped (as did I for a while), and then I headed out to do a little exploring. I walked around downtown and wandered through all of the little shops. It was very cute, and rather Swiss.
Monday was another gorgeous and cloudless day, and we went on another little downhill hike. We took the gondola up the mountain, and walked back down. It was more of a woodsy hike, with some views of the mountains through the trees. We stopped at this cute little park on the mountain where the boys played. I cannot believe how many parks there are here in Switzerland! It's wonderful! We got back down, and I saw this little wool shop in town. While the boys were napping, I wandered my way back to it and got lots of pretty yarn. I am excited to make lots and lots of hats while I am here, and I've got quite a stash of yarn to get me started!
The next day (Tuesday) was my 18th Birthday! I thought it would be really tough without family and friends to celebrate with, but it turned out to be a fantastic birthday. Of course, it was sad to be away from everyone, but I had a great time nonetheless. We took the train up to another cute playground up on the mountain. Once again, there were beautiful views of the mountain, and plenty of trees and wild flowers to be found. We came back down and had a wonderful lunch, good rest, a quick chat with my parents and headed out to another playground. We met up with some friends of Cedric and Marie's who also have 2 little boys. There was some serious energy at that park! But it was a rather scenic area and a nice warm evening. My birthday dinner was absolutely spectacular! We ate at an Italian restaurant downtown that was cozy and very cute. I had the most delicious pizza that was cooked in the fire. It had cheese, tomatoes, more cheese, arugula, prosciutto, and oh yeah... more cheese. You could say it was a little bit better than Dominoes or Pizza Hut... After we ate, Cedric and Marie brought out several gifts for me and made me guess what was in them. I am a horrible guesser, and even worse at it in French. It took me quite a long time, but after several hints, I was able to decipher what they were. When I finally finished that, I turned around to see a scrumptious cake coming towards us, and the family started singing Happy Birthday to me in French. It was wonderful! The cake was chocolate with ice cream inside, and a marshmellow layer on the outside. Fantastic! I went home to open up the gifts and cards from my parents. I got a little teary, but held it together pretty well....
So the next day brought a hike UP the hill. It was certainly more physically demanding than the other days, since I had to push a stroller some of the way, but it was a much needed workout. We made our way up a trail through a little Alpine village and to a lake. It was pretty hot and muggy for a ways, so I was sweating like crazy the entire time. But it was a good hike, and we had a picnic once we were done. While we were on vacation, I spent a little bit of time alone with the boys so they could adjust to staying with me, since I started taking care of them on my own this week. It was a little tough for them at first, but it was a good adjustment period. Thursday was another gorgeous hike. We hiked through the forest, and it reminded me a lot of hiking back home. It was really green and woodsy. But of course, I would be caught off guard every time we rounded a corner to see the gorgeous Matterhorn through the trees.
Friday mid-day, we headed back home. The family had driven up to Zermatt (although they had to park in another little village because there are no cars allowed in the city of Zermatt...), so I rode back with them. It was a beautiful car ride, and we rode on this rather bizarre train thing that carried cars through a tunnel as a kind of shortcut. It was wacky, but another unique experience! It felt nice to come back to Neuchatel, even though Zermatt was unbelievabley gorgeous. I settled back into my room and got plenty of reset over the weekend.
Church on Sunday was fabulous! For the first time, I think I actually understood a good bit of the message, and we sang several songs that I recognized that had been translated into French. It is becoming increasingly easier to understand French, although it is still very difficult for me to speak it. But I start new French classes next week, so hopefully things will get better from there... I have also been watching the Olympics here, and the coverage is in French, so that's good practice and lots of fun.
So this week was my first week of work. I stuck with Marie all day Monday to figure out the boys' routine, and had them all to myself all day Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. Simeon cried a bit everyday when Marie left, but other than that, the boys were wonderful! We went to the park, the children's library, and walked around a lot downtown and by the lake. So far, so good!
On Tuesday night, I went to a small group for English speakers that I found through a lady at my church. It was absolutely wonderful! And I somehow got myself into a choir group in the church that will do a couple of performances in May. I'm not sure how I let that happen... But I'm sure it will be fun and another good way to meet people.
Well, a great and eventful past couple of weeks! I am settling in more and more as time goes on, and hoping the French will start coming a little more easily...
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Friday, August 1, 2008
HOT and Relaxing Week
Well, it was an extremely hot week here in Neuchatel. I welcomed the heat for the first couple days, but it just kept getter hotter and hotter as the week went on! So, I am sunburned and a bit drained. But it was still a really great week. It was my last week of French class, so I had plenty of homework and studying to keep me busy.
Monday was one of the most relaxing days I have ever had in my life! After class, I wandered down to the lake and spent several hours sitting in the sun, reading, listening to podcasts, and listening to music. I had nothing at all to do, so it was good time to just sit. I spent hours down by the water. After that, I made my way to the grocery store to do some shopping. I picked up lots and lots of good bread, pasta, and fruit to get me through the week (since I was at the house alone for 6 days). I also purchased quite an assortment of delicious Swiss chocolates! In the evening, I met up with one of my friends for some ice cream and a walk around downtown. So, it ended up being a fabulous day.
Tuesday was another restful day. After an extremely difficult morning of French class, I came home and napped for another 5 hours. It was great, but I needed to get outside, so I went to get some coffee with some friends and walked around downtown again.
After spending all of Tuesday indoors, I got my fair share of sunshine on Wednesday. We took our final French test from 8-9, and I spent the rest of the day at the wonderful pool here. It rained a bit in the morning, but it cleared up quickly and ended up being really really hot. The pool is incredible! There are slides and diving boards, and you can swim in either the lake or one of several pools. I made it off one of the smaller diving boards, but there is one that is 10 meters above the pool! Perhaps I will master it by the end of the summer.... doubt it though. So, a day full of sunshine left me bright red, but it was well worth it.
Thursday was another HOT day, but a good one nonetheless. We had a final French class in the morning, and then a potluck dinner and closing ceremony/talent show at night. After class, I went to the store to gather my materials to make an apple crisp. It was no easy task. I didn't know where to find anything, and didn't know exactly whether I was getting he right stuff. But it all turned out just fine. I came home and cut up apples like mad, and then made the crumble to go on the top. Since I have no measuring devices here, there was a lot of guessing involved in the cooking. And of course, the oven temperature is different, so I ended up just estimating a temperature and hoped all would work out! Well, it turned out just fine. It wasn't a real complicated dessert, but I thought it tasted pretty good! The talent show was an absolute blast. I somehow got myself involved in a skit that our class did. I was a bit nervous, but it was tons of fun. We did a quick and witty version of Cinderella, with only 6 of us sitting behind a big sheet and popping our heads up when it was our line. It was so hilarious! I was one of the evil stepsisters, along with this guy from Germany who wore make-up and a wig. We were cracking up behind the curtain almost the entire time. It was lots and lots of fun! And the potluck afterwards was a great opportunity for me to do lots of talking in French. So it turned out to be a wonderful evening. Unfortunately, I had to bid farewell to everyone from my class. It was sad, but I am hoping to stay in touch with friends that I made... maybe I'll even go catch up with my friend from Greece later on this year!
So, today is Friday, the 1st of August. It is the Swiss National Holiday, and one of the most celebrated holidays over here. I was supposed to go to a celebratory breakfast, but I woke up this morning to the most intense rain, thunder and lightening that I have ever seen/heard! I couldn't even make my way down to the bus stop because there was too much water everywhere. So, I ended up spending the morning just packing and cleaning. I took a little walk around downtown when the weather cleared up this afternoon, but all of the shops are closed, so there wasn't much to do. I spend the afternoon relaxing, and the fireworks down by the lake should be getting started soon, so I will go watch those.
Well, I take off tomorrow to meet up with the family in the Zermatt (where the Matterhorn is). I am looking forward to that very much! I have heard it is an absolutely beautiful area. So, I won't be posting an update until at least next weekend, but I am sure there will be lots to tell!
Monday was one of the most relaxing days I have ever had in my life! After class, I wandered down to the lake and spent several hours sitting in the sun, reading, listening to podcasts, and listening to music. I had nothing at all to do, so it was good time to just sit. I spent hours down by the water. After that, I made my way to the grocery store to do some shopping. I picked up lots and lots of good bread, pasta, and fruit to get me through the week (since I was at the house alone for 6 days). I also purchased quite an assortment of delicious Swiss chocolates! In the evening, I met up with one of my friends for some ice cream and a walk around downtown. So, it ended up being a fabulous day.
Tuesday was another restful day. After an extremely difficult morning of French class, I came home and napped for another 5 hours. It was great, but I needed to get outside, so I went to get some coffee with some friends and walked around downtown again.
After spending all of Tuesday indoors, I got my fair share of sunshine on Wednesday. We took our final French test from 8-9, and I spent the rest of the day at the wonderful pool here. It rained a bit in the morning, but it cleared up quickly and ended up being really really hot. The pool is incredible! There are slides and diving boards, and you can swim in either the lake or one of several pools. I made it off one of the smaller diving boards, but there is one that is 10 meters above the pool! Perhaps I will master it by the end of the summer.... doubt it though. So, a day full of sunshine left me bright red, but it was well worth it.
Thursday was another HOT day, but a good one nonetheless. We had a final French class in the morning, and then a potluck dinner and closing ceremony/talent show at night. After class, I went to the store to gather my materials to make an apple crisp. It was no easy task. I didn't know where to find anything, and didn't know exactly whether I was getting he right stuff. But it all turned out just fine. I came home and cut up apples like mad, and then made the crumble to go on the top. Since I have no measuring devices here, there was a lot of guessing involved in the cooking. And of course, the oven temperature is different, so I ended up just estimating a temperature and hoped all would work out! Well, it turned out just fine. It wasn't a real complicated dessert, but I thought it tasted pretty good! The talent show was an absolute blast. I somehow got myself involved in a skit that our class did. I was a bit nervous, but it was tons of fun. We did a quick and witty version of Cinderella, with only 6 of us sitting behind a big sheet and popping our heads up when it was our line. It was so hilarious! I was one of the evil stepsisters, along with this guy from Germany who wore make-up and a wig. We were cracking up behind the curtain almost the entire time. It was lots and lots of fun! And the potluck afterwards was a great opportunity for me to do lots of talking in French. So it turned out to be a wonderful evening. Unfortunately, I had to bid farewell to everyone from my class. It was sad, but I am hoping to stay in touch with friends that I made... maybe I'll even go catch up with my friend from Greece later on this year!
So, today is Friday, the 1st of August. It is the Swiss National Holiday, and one of the most celebrated holidays over here. I was supposed to go to a celebratory breakfast, but I woke up this morning to the most intense rain, thunder and lightening that I have ever seen/heard! I couldn't even make my way down to the bus stop because there was too much water everywhere. So, I ended up spending the morning just packing and cleaning. I took a little walk around downtown when the weather cleared up this afternoon, but all of the shops are closed, so there wasn't much to do. I spend the afternoon relaxing, and the fireworks down by the lake should be getting started soon, so I will go watch those.
Well, I take off tomorrow to meet up with the family in the Zermatt (where the Matterhorn is). I am looking forward to that very much! I have heard it is an absolutely beautiful area. So, I won't be posting an update until at least next weekend, but I am sure there will be lots to tell!
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