Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Halbzeit...halftime....halfway.

Last friday officially marked my half way point in Switzerland. 161 days here, 161 days to go. 23 weeks both ways. I can't believe how fast the time has gone! I feel like just last week I was sitting on the train for the first time coming home with my host family! Its now been over 5 months and its hard to explain how wierd that feels. I now truly feel like I have a new family, friends, and a home here. In one way I am so excited to have made it this far, and crazy happy to think I will soon see my friends and family back home who ofcourse I miss insanly. But on the other hand I cant really imagine going back. Here is home now. Its normal, and I know as soon as I get home I would want to be right back here. Anyway havcing it be half way makes me think about all the incredible things I have already gotten to do this year. This is truely a once in a life time experience!! The idea that just last week I took a quick trip sight seeing to Luzern after school with my host aunt or go to Germany for the day and doing it all only speaking german, is something that I never would have imagined I could do last year. From a vacation in spain, sledding in the swiss alps, taking and passing classes completely in german, its crazy to think about all that Ive already accomplished, as well as how much more I want to do, and see before I head home.

Anyway it worked out quite nicely as to celebrate my half way point I went skiing for the first time ever with a girl in my class who has a house in the mountains. I must say for anyone who wants to learn to ski, you truly cant find a better place to do it then the swiss alps! Blue skys, "neble meer" (dont know how to say that in english), hot chocolate, perfect slopes, and beautiful views in every dirrection! Its quite perfect! =) It was just me and Flavia (friend from my class) for the whole weekend, and as she is swiss and learned to ski at age 2, and was skiing down the black marked slopes at age 4, she was my teacher. Saturday we headed out at 9, and skied until about 2 before heading into the town in the valley. Saturday night we spent watching movies, eating brownies, ice cream, etc. and just laughing a lot. Sunday we spent the whole day skiing, before heading back at about 430 to pack up, clean the house, and head home with the 7pm train. We were home by 930, and I was exhausted! By the end of the weekend, while it wasnt the most graceful or fastest skiing, I could succesfully make it down the ski runs without falling by myself. (without her as a guide of where to turn etc.). And as it was my first time anywhere near alpine skis and ski resorts I was pretty proud, although today every musle in my body hurts =) Below are many pictures from the amazing adventure. It was such a great weekend, and it was cool getting to spend so much time just hanging out.

Lunch spot
Very little snow!
Our house!

   

Achtung Treppe!

Of all the ways to end myself in an Ambulance on the way to the Emergancy room in Switzerland, I do it by falling *up* the stairs. Now before you start laughing, I would like to point out that many of you have probably done this yourself once or twice! Simply step wrong, or over think it, and whooops. Anyway, heres what happend.

Two weeks ago I went out with a girl from my class, and one of her friends. We headed to Basel, and after picking up some food, headed to see Burlesque (With Cher and Christina Aguilera) in German. I was so excited when I found I could actually understand most of the storyline! Granted not every word or sentence, but I knew in general what was happening! It ended up being a great film, and as we walked back to the trainstation at about 23:00 all was good. We were less then 10 minutes from the Trainstation when we were walking up some stairs on the side of the street. I guess I simply stepped wrong or something and fell face first onto the concrete steps. I had my hands in my pockets so nothing to really stop the fall. I thought at first it was just a nasty fall that would give me a bad head ache for a few days, but then my friend said "Oh blood". When I looked down at my hand it was already completely covered red. We eneded up walking to the closest pub, and there got a bag of ice, and found a women who literally took control. I was so lucky in that i never really had to think.  I overheard what they were saying but I wasnt really thinking strait so when I heard taxi I asummed we'd be getting one to go to the Hospital in. As I was sitting on a bench waiting for the "Taxi" to come, my friend called my host dad. I then all of a sudden heard sirens, and freaked out when I realized they had called the Ambulance. I was so embarrassed! I mean I could walk fine, and was still talking normally! In the end I spent 2 1/2 hours in the Emergancy room, got four stitches, xrays, etc. I was surprised to find that the ER system is very similar to that in America, and was lucky in that many of the people I worked with spoke english...(I can understand german fine, but medical terms, allergies, etc. is a completely differnt thing). By sunday morning I had a beautiful black eye that lasted well until wednesday when itcheanged to green followed by a bright yellow, and bruses that coveded my legs (in the perfect spacing of stairs).

In the end I was amazed at how quickly people, who are almost compelte strangers to you,  step up in the time of a crisis. The girls I was with  waited for me in the ER until 2 in the morning, and even checked on me over the course of the weekend. Sunday was spent washing the blood out of all my clothes, and contacting both my parents and AFS as to let them know what happend, and ofcourse calming down parents (both host and biological). While it was a great night of firsts, many of them I find were not that fun. Even without the pain even just walking, the uncomfortableness of the overly swollen eye, and the difficulty showering (as the stitches can not get wet), just answering the 5000 questions that alway follow once people see your face is enough to keep me always holding onto the hand rail now whenever I'm on stairs. Its definetly not fun. I finally got the stitches out yesterday afternoon, and now just have a inch or so long line on my cheek, but according to the doctor it should heal nicely. So other then a slight scar and crazy memories form a night out in Basel, I now get to always hear, "Achtung, Treppe!!" every time I walk near some stairs, in english,  "Watch out! Stairs!".