A Week in the Brand New Fam

I have to sadly and embarrassingly admit that I have not yet seen my town of Freienwil, other than the two minute sprint to the bus stop (I haven’t been on time enough to walk to it this week).  Every single day has been rainy, windy, or completely dark by the time I get home.  Nevertheless I am feeling very well adjusted in my new place and, as always, am loving life. 

Polysport Tournament

On Thursday I participated in by far the best school activity I have yet to experience here.  It was called the Polysport Tournament.  A team of nine people in my class was formed to play in a variety of sport matches against our rival school (Baden) and other Kanton schools in the area.  Basketball, volleyball, ping pong, ball hockey, and soccer were our five disciplines.  Each sport was played for fifteen minutes before changing to the next.  We played for almost four hours, and it was the most entertaining and fabulous afternoon.  The best thing about it was that I was able to get a taste of what I miss most about school back home; school spirit.  We wore our jerseys proudly, and cheered our school name for all to hear. 

My Kanti Wettinge Girlies!

It was competitive in a sense, but more so just a great opportunity to contribute our talents and laugh hysterically at our mistakes.  I took the ball quite a few times from some very frustrated boys in ball hockey, and I got a goal in soccer.  I made a few good plays in volleyball, and a few that made the whole court suppress laughter.  I managed to serve and hit my own teammate in the head, and forget where the line was and serve from in the middle of the court.  In basketball I really didn’t accomplish much, other than making the other team really angry with all of my improper plays.  In ping pong, I did what I thought would best benefit my team and played bench warmer/water girl.  

Meli, Rapha, Stephie, Liri, Steph
Sevi, Miri, Ishbel, Juri

At the end of the day, we were all tired, happy, and proud of our team.  We came in 6^th out of ten teams, but we could have come in last and it wouldn’t have mattered.  Our participation gift from the coordinators was possibly the funniest part of the day (for me anyways).  In Canada you’d get tee-shirts, or a trophy, or a banner, or ribbons, or something of the sort.  Here, in the land of carbs, we received a massive loaf of bread shaped as a man.  We named him Bobby, and then proceeded to devour the entire thing.  Oh how I love Swiss customs. 

Bobby (Approx. 2ft Tall)

A Scholar Student

My school career last week started taking a few new turns.  The most important one being the fact that I passed my first test! The Swiss school marks are on a point scale from 1-6, with a 4 being a pass.  I, happened to pass my first test (in Math) with flying colours at a solid 4.0.  The whole class clapped and I did a little happy dance I the middle of the classroom.  It’s a mark I would have cried about in Canada and I couldn’t be happier with it here.  In my advanced math class (not where I wrote the test) things are also changing.  It was suddenly and out of the blue decided that our lessons will now be in English.  Therefore, I no longer have the “I don’t understand” excuse and have to do some homework.  Yes Barbara, I am actually doing homework (I don’t think I opened a book in my while I lived with her).  I have also written my first in-class essay in German class.  The teacher explained it was a little advanced and I didn’t’ have to do it, but I wanted to try anyways. I have no idea how it turned out, or if any of it could be understood, but it was a pretty cool feeling to look down after two hours and see two full pages of German in my handwriting.  When I think back to not even being able to write I simple e-mail I see how far I’ve come.  We’ll see about my mark later this week!

Just to prove i'm not lying...

Hardly Home

As much as I love my new house, I must say that in the past few days I haven’t been there much.  On Friday night I had a girl’s night with the girls in my class.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get there until almost twelve after two hours of a particularly difficult soccer practice.  They played games which included a lot of fast talking and I was totally lost.  Later we watched some movies, ate too much chocolate, and laughed a lot.  Despite my exhaustion I had a really great time, as I always do with my friends here.  We woke up to this sunrise too- how much better could it get?

On Saturday I was at a birthday party for a boy in my class which was also great- it’s so nice to be included.  I have been so busy with the people from my class; I haven’t spent any time with my exchange student friends.  Speaking very little English now, I have found that I am really starting to understand Swiss German at last.  Not always, but a whole lot more than before.  It the best thing when I feel like I’m in the conversation instead of just sitting beside it and wondering what in the world is going on!

Early Sunday morning I went to my Host-Grandmother’s with Ina to make the traditional Christmas chocolates she has been making for over 40 years now.  Ina and I were so covered in chocolate it looked like we were wearing brown gloves.  As messy as the process was, we ended up with amazing-looking results.  If you see these mouth-watering beautifully handmade chocolates below and wonder about a recipe- I’ll let you in on the secret- Swiss chocolate.  Kilos of it.  Plus butter, and sugar of course.  You can only eat a few- but it’s like heaven when you do!

Sunday night Brigitte and I went a few towns away to see Willi play in a Gospel concert.  The church
was packed with over three hundred people and the energy was upbeat and joyful.  The singers bounced around the whole time they sang and always seemed to have smiles on their faces.  Every day its beginning to feel a little more like Christmas!

My Drumming Dad!

Ina and I getting our daily advent gifts!

Adjusting

My Addiction

As one would expect, there are many changes that occur with living with a new family.  My habits have changed a lot since I’ve lived in Switzerland, and I can see them changing again in a new family.  In Canada I drank a liter of milk a day with dinner alone, and here I am addicted to only green teas.  With Barbara’s family I was always the last one up on the weekend, even if I got up before nine.  Yesterday breakfast was at noon.  I was pretty much accustomed to not eating meat during meals, and yesterday I tried something very different at breakfast.  Horse sandwich meat.  I was pretty scared at first to try it, but I decided to go ahead anyways.  To make me feel a little more comfortable, my host dad made neh-ing sounds every time I brought the meat close to my mouth…not helpful!  It turned out to be really delicious; I just try not to think about it too much while I’m eating. At night I still bring my cell phone to the bathroom for a light because I’m not used to the hallways in the dark, and I still don’t always remember which bus I need to take. When asked directions to my house all I can say is “look for the cows” but I’ll get there.  Before moving I was nervous to adjust to all these new things; these little things that make you really feel like you’re at home, and make you totally comfortable.  Now, however, I realize it’s fun!  I am enjoying readjusting and trying something totally new all over again.  If we don’t change, we don’t grow.  If we don’t grow, we aren’t truly living.  Well, I can tell you one thing for sure- I am living the life. 

Much love and season’s greeting to all- thank you for reading!

Stephie xo