Les Sirens

The manager at the hotel we are currently staying at, Hotel Marécottes, was sure I needed to see a doctor today at the hospital because of the way that I limped into the dining room this morning. Really, the hurt has gone away and now it is just a little swollen and I can feel the throbbing a little. Hopefully, this means it is healing?

After we had dropped the kids off at the museum, he drove me over to the hospital where I was seen by a doctor. He took an xray of my knee, but ended up telling me that when I get back to the states I should probably have an MRI done. That's like a $5,000 procedure!!! Hopefully, I will just get better with time.

Anyway, after I walked to the museum and we had our picnic lunches and looked briefly at the Marc Chagall exhibit. It was very nice. Then we walked to an old Roman amphitheater. That was real cool, until, as luck would have it, I was stung by a bee on my back. Yes, the bee landed down my shirt and when I went to scratch the itch that I felt, the mofo stung me. It hurt for a while, but surprisingly I had little reaction to it. Hurray! The kids were joking that things come in three's. I wasn't laughing.

We then went to thermal baths where we spent the next four hours just absorbing the warmth of the pools. It was a mixture of mountain water and chlorinated water, so apparently, it didn't hurt your eyes when you opened them underwater. It was a nice way to relax though. It started to rain though, so we moved to the indoor pool and then all ate some icecream afterwards.

I am exhausted though and I'm sure it is from being in the water for so long today. Mermaids must sleep 12 hours every night just to have enough strength to wake up in the mornings....wink.

Everybody Hurts Sometimes

I hurt my knee quite badly. The patella is inflammed (I think) and I had to stay behind today to give it a rest. It's actually very frusterating. I can't do all the things that I want/thought I would be able to do. I originally hurt it the first day on the hike. We went down steep hills, actually the side of a mountain, so it was sore. It gets sore when I run a lot, but I can always just stop running, ice it and it gets better. However, yesterday we were biking so I thought it would be easier on my knees. Only we went up the mountain to go mountain biking and it was really only for expert mountain bikers. We had to cross a waterfall 6 times without a bridge. It was horrible. I was in pain the whole time and couldn't appreciate the scenery and the nice weather. It makes me realize how lucky I am to have two operating legs most of the time.

I've been taking Ibuprofen, icing it when ice is available, putting icy hot on it, and I bought a knee brace today. Thankfully I found a man on a four wheeler to take me down the rest of the mountain. Otherwise, I probably wouldn't have made it. Unfortunately, it wasn't soon enough. When I saw him I mean. So, all the possible damage was probably already done.

But, luckily I am just resting today and hopefully after a few days rest of not being on my feet will be just what I need to get back to the beautiful Alpes!

In other news, the kids have really started bonding which is great! There are no cliques. No romantic flings. Really, the group of kids that I got are great. Most of the time they are respectful of eachother and me. There are a few times when they do things that make me want to scream. But overall, there are more times when I want to smile and congratulate them on how conscious and thoughtful they are.

My Night Out with Coralie!

Coralie and Me




The night of the host family farewell party, I went out with Coralie because after speaking with all of the families and answering ten thousand questions, making sure every thing was cooked and ready for 50 people, I was in need of some good ole fashioned fun. We went to a cocktail bar where Jacquotte, her mom, joined us. It was a lot of fun to be able to see them again. Then Coralie, her friends and I all went out to a night club and danced Danced DANCED. It was fun. By the time we were ready to go home though I was too tired to wait for my train so I slept over at the Dupuis. A bug-free night was just what I needed to refresh myself. In the morning I rode home on the Harley. All in all, it was a great day!

Harley Ride

I was SO excited!!!! I look cute on the back of motorcycle, no?

Yodeling

We did yodel. It was fun. We started the yodeling trandition at the top of the Alpes and would sporadically burst into a guttural vibration every now and then. Oh, Suisse, je t'aime.

The hills are alive with the sound of music in Saas Fee

Yes indeed. We arrived in the mountains yesterday and started off on the right foot. Literally. We went up one of the mountains and hiked our way down. It was so exciting. All the kids were laughing because I had a permanent smile on my face. Not like one of those creepy tranquilatrist smiles though. A nice one.

Then we just ate dinner and learned a little bit about the Swiss flag and how Switzerland represents "quality" and "stability." Beat, our Swiss German leader, told us all we ever would want to know about how great the Swiss are. You can't really blame him though for being patriotic, we all are sometimes. I don't think the kids get the Swiss sense of humor though. Although Beat speaks fluent English the jokes he makes don't always translate and sometimes might be considered offensive...but no complaints yet.

Today we went to the top of one of the many Alpes and hiked our way down and across two other Alpes before stopping for lunch. At first, it was breezy and chilly at the top. But as we hiked down, more vegetation appeared until we were smack in the forest. The wild flowers were beautiful and there were so many small streams that were flowing down the mountain sides. It really is amazing that I am here. I keep thinking to myself that I have to come back here with family or friends and show you guys how beautiful Switzerland really is.

We hiked for about 4 hours total, so my legs are tired, but not yet sore. Tonight we are going to a "mini discoteque." Judging from the people and the feel of Saas Fee it will be nothing like the discoteques in Lausanne. But, never judge until you try, so I will just have to see.

Jura Mts.

Today was another beautiful day en Suisse. SO beautiful, that in fact I got a sun tan. Woohoo. Christine, Marette and I went to the Jura mountains to pick up Christine's two daughters Sabine and Lucie from a week-long camp in the wilderness.

However, on the way we made a few pit stops. For example, we drove up this wind-y, twisty road to a small chalet that served food. There was a terrace that over looked the valley. Of course they had plenty of cows roaming about equipped with the bells and a few donkeys. They served fondue, but it was so hot that we just got Rivella's and sandwichs. Next time, I will get the fondue.

Then we made another pit stop at this music box museum. Sounds lame, but it was actually pretty cool. It was very small, but they had everything from the first music boxes to these huge stage-like vignettes that had puppets. I wasn't able to take pictures and I'm sure it is easier to describe with my hands, so if you are interested just ask me.

Then we went to the camp site which was right in the valley. It was nice. Right next to a cold stream, there was a campfire. And instead of singing 'Merci à la cuisine' they chanted M-E-R-C-I Merci Merci Merci. A different approach.

All in all, it was a hot, long day in the car, but a beautiful last day in my host family. Tomorrow. Saas Fee.

First Harley Ride

That's right. I rode a motorcycle. Not just any motorcyle, but a Harley Davidson. Jacquotte's Harley to be exact. It was so exhilarating(sp?) and now I want to get my license so I too can drive around on a Sat. morning. It was the perfect temperature, not a cloud in the sky, and what better scenery than the rolling pastures of Switzerland? (Dad, you would have loved it, I hope next time we come back we can rent at least a moped) We did go on the highway, which was a little scary, but I managed to remain calm, not make any sudden movements, and keep my center of balance. Don't worry Dad, they lent me jeans, a leather jacket, leather gloves, and a helmet...they don't mess around in Switzerland.

Then afterwards, Marette and I went to à la plage to nager dans le lac Léman. It is normally very cold. I'm not sure if any of you remember my crazy days, but I went for a brisk dip in the beginning of April when the water was about 10 degrees...This time it was cool and refreshing. We brought a picnic lunch and just sat out by the beach and managed to communicate for a few hours. Marette is Swiss German and French is her second language like mine. It was a good afternoon.

Well, until we had to go home on bicycles. Yens is pretty far from the lake, which isn't bad going downhill. BUT, going up hill is a completely different story. It was hard and tiring and I feel like I got my workout for the day in.

On Monday we go to Saas Fee in the Valais in the mountains. I'm looking forward to strapping on some leederhosen and yodelling. Totally kidding. But, I am genuinely looking forward to spending a few days in a place I have never been before.

J'ai cuillit des ceries

I don't know if that is how you conjugate that verb, but it means 'to pick.' Not in the sense 'I pick my nose' more 'to gather.' Nonetheless, yesterday morning I picked cherries with Christine and Marette, the Swiss German student. It was very relaxing. I think that Christine thinks I'm a bit of a priss because she asked about a million times, are you sure you want to? oh thank you so much for picking cherries, etc. But, I picked enough to fill one basket and a half.

It was a nice location to pick cherries too. We could see Lac Léman and a little bit of Lausanne, the Alpes on the other side of the lake....ahhhhh Suisse. It was a very tranquille moment for me.

Running through the Alpes

Ok, well really I didn't run through the Alpes, but I was very close to them. I went running this morning because it is a beautiful day today. Not a cloud in the sky. They say it is supposed to be 30 degrees!!

But, I went running on this winding road through the countryside and it was great. There was only one car that past and the rest of the time it was just the sounds of nature. I could see Geneva in the distance and today I can see Mount Blanc, which is in France, not Switzerland.

A wonderful start to a beautiful Friday the 13th. haha.

Yens

This is where I live. In the SMALL village of Yens. It is quite beautiful on the nice days because with one swoop you can see Lausanne, Geneve, les Alpes, and the beautiful countryside.

More photos

The best Swiss family. The bottles of Champagne that we are holding are empty because we wanted to celebrate that Coralie and Gwen had finished their exams and that I was back in Suisse! See why they are the best?



Just to let everyone know I'm ok, here is a picture of me at Ouchy.



At the Harley Davidson parade in Morges. I don't think this is a Harley though....

Geneve

This is in Gruyère



New stuff at Artamis



The infamous staircase that goes "down"

I don't really like food

Yes, that is an actual quote from one of the students in my group. Ahhhhhh. Teenagers. It's sad, scary and funny to think that I was just like them though. Everyone was young once and a bit crazy.

We went on an excursion to Vevey and Montreux yesterday. So, I can now say that I frequent the Montreux Jazz Festival. Woohoo. It was rainy and cold though, so not too much fun.

In Vevey we went to the Museé des Jeux and the Alimentarium, or Food Museum. Sans blague, when I saw a diagram of what we ate 100 years ago and what we eat today, my diet at my host family was more like the diet 100 years ago. A LOT of bread, not very much meat, a few veggies, and a few fruits. None of this chips, frozen meat, soda, carbonated water stuff.

We eat tons of bread. They just killed one of their chickens tonight so they can have meat for the next few days. They also milked a cow so now we have the real deal fresh milk. (Laurie, you would just love it!!) It's ok, because it just gives me more reason to endulge my chocolate addiction when I go to town and to eat pizza, meat and wine. Have I mentioned that the chocolate here is divine?

Zurich

Well, I was excited. I was going to Zurich all by myself, I don't speak any comprehensible German, and I was going to see where Dada was born. It was rainy and cold, but that didn't matter. First order of business: find Confisserie Sprüngli. After much searching in the rain, I finally found it and when I entered my mouth started watering. (I hope that is an expression in English...) They had all kinds of truffles, cakes, ice creams, pastries. HEAVEN. I decided to be conservative and buy only one small champagne flavored cookie with chocolate in the middle. They have a special name, but I can't think of it right now. It literally melted in my mouth. The woman who helped me was very nice and spoke in English and taught me how to say 'I would like' in German. The tea room upstairs was closed due to renovations unfortunately, so I was^n't able to have a hot chocolate.

But, I went to a small restaurant where I had a quiche with leeks. Very salty. But, good nonetheless. After, the sky was blue for just a few minutes so I snapped a few photos of the river Limmat and of the cathedral/clock towers. I sat underneath the Grossmünster, which is not German for a gross monster, but for 'big church' apparently. It was pretty.

Then I found my way to the Kunsthaus which is a museum and just as I bought my ticket I got a call saying I needed to come back to chat with a student. So, I did just that, but unfortunately I wasn't able to go into the Kunsthaus, only give them my 10 CHF. I will most likely be a frequent visitor of Switzerland so I will go back to Zurich sometime in my life.

Cent dix huit...deux cent dix huit

It was sooooooo good to see the Dupuis last night. I was finally able to meet their daughter, Coralie, and she was great like the rest of them! I unfortunately was not able to ride from Morges to Nyon on the back of a motorcylce because it was raining....but I did get to see Jacquotte's Harley and I took a picture of it because it was so pretty. She told me that since they bought it last January they have no more money to go on vacation. Haha.

They opened two bottles of Champagne, which we finished bien sur because both Coralie and Gwennael had passed their exams. It was a fete all around. I got to see Roger Federer win Wimbeldon for the fifth time. (I know! I actually was able to watch TV!)

We then ate pieces of meat, I know it sounds ridiculous but just keep reading. There were little bits of chicken, beef, cheval, lamb, etc. and we put them on a grill in the middle of the table and grilled them ourselves. Marco made his excellent vinagrette for me and Swiss wine was served. It was great! Everyone was merry. We talked and talked and talked about everything that had happened in the last year.

Coralie knows a little English so she would translate or help me find the correct words in French and I would help her out with grammar. I know, all my English major friends are probably wincing. But it was great. They reminded me of a French commercial for calling collect that had an awful jingle 'cent dix huit, deux cent dix huit' It would get stuck in my head for days at a time.

After we parted, Coralie, Gwen and I went to the Fisherman's Pub where we met up with some of Coralie's friends. It was a great night overall. Except for the part where I got stuck in Morges and thankfully found a taxi to take me home. That was a little scary.

I wish that I lived closer to them so we could see each other more often.

Il y a du SOLEIL!!!!!!!

Yesterday was BEAUTIFUL! Warm, sparse clouds, light breeze. I loved it. I woke up late (I needed sleep) took my time with petit dejeuner. Then Thierry, the son, invited me to the aperatif of his BBQ with his friends from school. It was nice, but a little awkward for me because I didn't know anyone, they were all 23/24, and they hadn't seen each other in a long time so they were talking about memories that I had no connection with. BUt, all in all, it was nice of him to extend the invitation and a good learning experience because they were all speaking very fast and in very poor French, so I learned a lot of slang or argot.

Then I made some pancakes for lunch. It's funny how they don't understand the essence of the pancake in Europe. They treat it like a crepe. I usually eat them with syrup, maybe some nuts, maybe some butter and hardly ever some whip cream. The mom was asking if we put jam on it or chocolate like crepes. It's cute really.

After, I went on a walk to their refuge that's about a 20 min walk from the house. (by myself) It was beautiful to see the Alpes, the Lac Leman, Lausanne and Geneve all in one swooping turn of the head. It was also nice to have some down time because I had been getting up before 7 every day this week to see all the kids individually at their houses. I will post pictures as soon as I can use my computer and wifi.

I then went to Lausanne with a student, Ayana and we walked around Ouchy and just enjoyed being outdoors while it was nice. We walked around the Olympic Park (I saw the monkey statue dad!) And then we ate an excellent pizza. There is a Festival de la Cite going on now so that was fun to hear different kinds of music and see all kinds of people out and about in Lausanne.

I really really like Lausanne because they have exciting things like Festival de la Cite. If I move to Suisse and have money when I move here, I will live in Lausanne. It's a much more 'happening' place than Geneve. In Geneve I feel like more people are there during the daylight hours because of work, but after about 5 it seems to become a ghost town ooOOOoOOOo

41st Montreux Jazz Festival

Yesterday I went to the opening night of the Montreux Jazz Festival. We of course went to the free concerts because often the tickets are 200 CHF which equates to about 140 dollars. But, I had so much fun. There were all different kinds of food stands, little boutiques, all kinds of languages...There were so many different types of people it was interesting to see all of them in one place enjoying the same thing. It gave me hope for peace on a larger scale.

I don't know if many of you have been following the weather en Suisse lately, but it has been VERY cold and rainy everday for the past week. But last night...it was sunny, warm, people were happy. It was nice because we got there and watched the colors on the passing clouds change as the sun set. Montreux is on the side of a mountain so we could see all the beautiful chalets/mansions on the hills as they caught the sunlight before it went down.

We saw a jazz ensemble from Seatlle of all places. I think they must have won a prize in the states and were invited to preform at the festival. That was nice. The girls that I went with, who were Suisse, knew the next band. Their name was Inna Crises (In a crises...cute, no?) That was fun because it is always nice when you know more people and can talk to the band afterwards. The Chemical Brothers were playing just a few doors down, but you had to pay to see them. All in all, it was a great night and I was able to meet a lot of people and perfect my french!

De la creme, du fromage, du lait, du pain....

I will hopefully not gain 10 lbs. while I am here because I feel like all I ever eat here is cream, cheese, milk, and bread. I live with a family that is tellement paysanne. They conserve everything and make sure that every drop of everything they make is eaten before it is thrown away. Today I wanted to eat some Nutella with bread (of course) for breakfast, but the jar was literally scraped clean. Why it was still on the shelf....je ne sais pas du tout.

Yesterday, we went to the museé de l'art brut. There is a word in French That is how everyone described it. I loved it and I think some of the kids did too. It is a museum dedicated to artwork made by patients in mental institutions, psychiatric wards etc. I loved it.

Then we went to a littttttttttle cafe called Le Barbare to drink some hot chocolate. Only it was not normal hot chocolate, but literally hot, melted chocolate with real Chantilly whip cream. AMAZING. So, the kids all loved that. Then we went down to Ouchy which is near the bord du lac and had a little apérotif or Welcome drink with the families that the students are staying with. It was great because all day long it was crappy outside and then for an hour it was beautiful and we talked and drank outside. Everyone's family came, except mine. I was kind of bummed. But, all the other families seem to really enjoy their students which is great and the students seem to really like their host families. No one seemed like there were going to die if they didn't get out.

Then today I had to go around to 4 of the students houses to check up on them, make sure that all was well in their own Swiss world. A bit redundant, but nice to see all the kids again. I ate lunch with one in particular and they were so nice. The son even helped me to get a SIM card so now I have a cell phone. Pretty sweet deal.

Now, after an exhausting day of traveling around the canton de Vaud, je me couche.

Il pleut

It is raining right now and I am alone in this big scary old farm house by myself...I think. The youngest girl might be home, but I have been here for about an hour and she has not said anything if she is....

Yesterday evening I went out to the de la Harpe farm complete with horses, sunflowers, and hay. Then I went on a walk back down the hill by myself, but it was so great! I could see Lausanne on one side and Geneva on the other. All I had to do was turn my head. I was on top of this little hill but it gave me just enough of a view of literally all the French Alps, the Jura, the little valleys. Gorgeous. Then I met two other American girls and we went to Lausanne for la Fete de Lausanne where there was a lot of music and dancing in the streets. I had fun just standing there and occasionally dancing, but the two girls I was with were antsy to find a club and they treated me like their tour guide. Whatever. It was a good night all in all.