This blog was written a few days ago, and I have been waiting to post it so that I can have pictures to go along. However- the rain is refusing to stop falling AND I am never home with sunlight. So, here is my blog- I hope you enjoy. Pictures will be added next week!
My last week with my first host family was a wonderful one. Apart from being home sick and sleeping through the first half of the week- I really had a great time and wouldn’t have wanted it to be any different!
Exchange Relationships
The relationships made through exchange programs never cease to amaze me. I never realized how much I could truly love a host family, and how hard it is to leave them after four months. I never realized that the bonds made in another country, in another language can in fact be as strong as ones made at home. My exchange sister Julie (from France) who stayed with my family last year is still a very important part of my family and has helped me through the first third of my year. I am currently in the process of planning a border hop to France to see her during my February holidays. I now have connections with people like this all over the world- and I can’t get over just how cool it is. The people you meet through exchange programs are just automatically similar to you in many ways, and it is so easy to connect.
Christmas in the Air
The “air” is in fact not Christmassy at all here- it is rainy, and relatively warm. However, the weather did decide to slush (no, not snow- slush) on me today on my way home from school. It’s getting close to snow! Christmas spirit is definitely still here in Switzerland- though not as wild and over the top as at home. This weekend I made a few Christmas cookies with my family, a few being approximately 6-8 trays full. As always, I ate way too much cookie dough and wasn’t even able to try the final product until the next day. When I got here in my second family, a chocolate advent calendar was on my bed, and my new host sister and I have a little gift every day from stocking labeled up until the 25th. The Christmas lights Barbara and I set up in the dark the other night are twinkling beautifully and I sang some Christmas carols with Andreas before I left. I’m not sure how I feel about spending Christmas in another country. It’s both exciting and difficult, because I am a big, over-the-top, Christmas celebrater, and it is a totally different feeling when you’re not with your family. I am however so excited to see the customs here and have a new Christmas experience with a wonderful host family. I mean really- how many people get to celebrate Christmas in Switzerland then go snowboarding in the Alps the next day? (If we get snow). Overall I’m feeling pretty good about it- just staying positive and loving every minute of one of my favourite times of year. One difference I have learnt about already is “Samichlaus” who comes on the 6th of December. He is somewhat a version of St. Nicholas, dressed as a bishop, but is not Santa Claus. Samichlaus comes and leaves gifts like nuts, mandarin oranges, and chocolate for good children. He tells the children what they are doing well, and what they can improve on. “Weinachtsmann” (Christmas man directly translated) comes on the 24th of December with gifts, and is more similar to Santa Claus. Christmas traditions vary between every family, and I can’t wait to tell you all about mine!
My Last Untersiggenthal Days
My last days in Untersiggenthal were really awesome. The majority of my time was spent with Barbara and Daria, baking, talking, cooking, and enjoying each other’s company. On Saturday night we watched Grease- in German. I don’t know if they liked it very much, but I made up for it if they didn’t. We all definitely enjoyed the music. I was singing to every song and dancing with a passion. It turns out Grease could probably make me happy in any language- it’s just that good. On Sunday morning before moving I had breakfast with Barbara, Daria, Andreas, Wimi, Natalia, Lidya and Luca which was the best possible way to say goodbye. We ate pancakes with maple syrup, laughed, and cried only a little. I played with the kids and laughed so hard I did the famous Stephanie “cackle” which is loud, obnoxious, and a clear sign about how happy I truly am. Andreas made me a CD which I can’t wait to listen to, and Natalia and Wimi gave me a very generous gift certificate to her hair salon. You know what that means- no more angry hair monster living on top of Stephanie’s head! It’s so ridiculous now that it pretty much lives in a ball somewhere just above my forehead and flops around into my face when I need to run to catch the bus. I was considering naming this Hair Monster; however its best I not get too attached and chop it off ASAP. I wrote cards to each of the families which is wayyy harder in German. I am a whiz at thank you card in English- I wrote about 50 after my goodbye party- but these two were so difficult because I can never translate properly exactly what I want to say. I hope I made everything clear though, and didn’t say anything offensive or totally off topic (it’s happened before- often). I packed my millions of heavy suitcases into Willi’s drum-van when they came to pick me up, and said “See you later” (not goodbye) to Untersiggenthal and my beloved first host family. Looking forward to spending vacation with them and a visit here and there!
You know you’re in Freienwil When:
As you all know, I have changed families from Untersiggenthal and now live in Freienwil- population 920.
Here are a few things to help you understand my new hometown. I call this list, “You know you’re in Freienwil when”
1. You can lay in bed and listen to the cows in your front yard mooing
2. Your neighbour has a life sized plastic cow as a lawn decoration
3. You have only one bus every hour, and one bus stop in the whole town
4. It’s raining at school, and as you ride the bus up to your town it changes to snow
5. It smells like cow poop
6. Everyone greets people by name
7. Your kitchen was once a barn
8. You think you hear your bus coming but…nope. That’s just another tractor.
9. The view from your kitchen window looks like a postcard
10. The clouds in the sunset are so colourful, and close that it looks like you can touch them
11. You’ve been there for less than three days and you just know it’s a great place to live
I’ll tell you a little more about my house and family so you can try to get to know my new life a bit better! I have a host mom, Brigitte, host dad, Willi, and a host sister, Ina. Brigitte works as a kindergarten teacher as well as with children with hearing deficits. Willi is a drummer who has a few different bands, teaches lessons at home, and also makes his own drums. Ina is thirteen and has given up her homework and computer room for the next for months to make room for me. The family is extremely nice and have made me feel so comfortable here. Our house is very modern, as it is a recently renovated farmhouse completely renewed and redecorated. Medium toned hardwood floors throughout the house, white walls, black furniture. They have a piano, but I haven’t gotten the courage to play quite yet. We have a black cat named Nero who won’t come in the house if he sees me inside, but I’m sure he’ll get used to a stranger in his house. The kitchen is stunning with all stainless steel appliances, black counters, white cabinets, and enormous windows that frame the rolling hills and farms as far as you can see. The appliances are also all new- which is cool, but sometimes I need to search around to find the source of An angry beeping sound which notifies me that another appliance is mad at me for doing something wrong or “un-eco-friendly. My room has a ton of storage space, which I thought was totally unnecessary until I started to unpack. It is amazing how much stuff I have accumulated! It’s unbelievable really. My host sisters will be receiving many gifts before I return home.
My second time home from school today, something amazing happened- I seemed to have developed a temporary sense of direction. I took a bus to a different town (so I wouldn’t have to wait 35 minutes for my bus) and walked up the last bit of the hill to Freienwil without making ONE false turn! Well, this was after almost getting on the wrong bus at school, then beginning to walk in the wrong direction for a few minutes. Oh yeah…and it’s a completely straight road with signs saying “Freienwil- this way”- but still! I feel like I should be proud and praise myself because it is more than likely this wonderful new-found quality of mine will be short-lived.
I will soon have another blog to come, and lots of pictures to add. Hope you’ve enjoyed!
It's great to read that you feel well in Freienwil!
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