Still Learning

Raclette

On Thursday I was first introduced to the very traditional Swiss dish known as Raclette.  It basically consists of a very thick piece of cheese that is melted in a small, square pan.  There is a grill/oven contraption in the middle of the table that the pan is placed on.  When it is all bubbling and delicious, you proceed to pour the cheese over potatoes and sautéed mushrooms.  It can more easily be described as “pure heaven”.  However, after eating approximately half my weight in cheese, soccer practice could 100% be defined as “total hell”.  I do not recommend. 

Baking

As most people who know me are aware, there is a large variety of things that I enjoy to do in my spare time. Baking, is definitely and certainly not one of them.  My last memory of baking, was a tray of muffins that my dad described: “You know when these would be good Steph? Like, when you are on an adventure race, and its three in the morning, and you are SO hungry, you could just eat anything. That is when these would taste good.” However, one of the requirements for the exchange students this weekend (for our first weekend together) was to bring a desert from our homeland.   My mom sent me some great recipes, but as always, I had left things to the very last minute and had to think of something quick.  Something that I couldn’t possibly screw up.  “Rice crispy squares!” I thought, “They really can’t go wrong!”.  I decided to make peanut butter chocolate squares because peanut butter is not eaten here, but my family happens to have some.  I accidently bought corn flakes in my rush at the store (four and a half minutes before closing time), but figured it would be just as good.  My host-mom came home to find me with chocolate all over the counter (and on my face-how did it get there?) and my hands practically glued together.  As always, I had used three times the required utensils and other dishes.  I was melting chocolate on heat 11/12 and trying desperately not to let it burn.  I just could NOT figure out why the stove would keep turning off after a minute of cooking on a low temperature.  I would turn the dial up, and “ding” the stove would turn on again.  I continued this, up to the highest heat, getting more and more frustrated, when Barbara said, “Steph, you do know that this stove maintains its temperature? When it gets warm enough it turns off until more heat is needed?” Oh. The stove does work.  Apparently my mind just isn’t as advanced as Swiss technology.  Anyways, with many further problems, I finished the desert and brought it along this weekend.  Guess what.  People actually enjoyed my baking! New things happen every day huh?

The Hard Days

Although this place is totally amazing and wonderful, that isn’t to say I haven’t had my hard days.  One day I came home from school and completely broke down.  It struck me for the first time that this no longer feels like a vacation and it will be a long time until I see my family and friends again.  I just wanted to curl up in bed and not come out for the whole night, but I saw a little note from my mom on my dresser labelled “What To Do On One of ‘Those’ Days”.  Without another thought, I changed into my running clothes and headed out.  I talked to my host mom which helped too.  I ended up getting a little lost up on top of the hill behind my town, not knowing whether the cows to the left or the corn to the right would lead me home.  I just kept running.  You know when your parents say, “well when I was little, we had to walk to school, uphill.  Both ways.” It took my forever when I was little to realize that this was a joke. However, I now realize that this is not impossible.  I swear, this run was ALL uphill.  My body groaned in protest, but by the time I finally made it back home (guessing which distant town was mine from the top of the hill) I felt one hundred times better.  It was good to know that I am capable of making a better day for myself. 

 The Swiss National Sport

Today, was a big day for Switzerland’s National sport of Schwingen.  I watched it on TV and it was the most hilarious and incredible thing.  If you don’t know what Schwingen is, it can most easily be summed up in these two words: farmer wrestling.  Both men must wear potato sack shorts.  When the match begins, the proceed to grab each other’s butts, by the shorts, and try to pull the other to the ground.  They wrestle in saw dust because the objective is to get both shoulders of your opponent to the ground.  If there is sawdust on both shoulders as evidence, the winner is decided.  There is also an element of trowing a very heavy rock as far as possible.  If you get the chance, check it out online. It’s hilarious!

Tomorrow I start real school!
Enjoy your last day of summer St. T’s Students <3