Bluebird's Nest

I’m really happy to have my tweenager here to guest blog about her experiences in Switzerland and what it’s like for her now that she’s back. Over to you JJ!

My guestblogger: the tweenager

1. What do you miss about Switzerland and why?
   I miss my friends and family in Switzerland most because everyone in Switzerland is so nice and I miss them so much.
2. Do you think you will ever go back to live and why?
   I definitely want to go back but I’m not sure about living there because I missed everyone here so much!
3. What was one thing that you were dying to see/have/eat from here that they didn’t have there?
   Flamencuch, a sort of pizza with heavy cream instead of tomato sauce, onions instead of cheese and bacon instead of pepperoni… yumm!
4. What’s are some differences between here and there?
   Everything in town is within walking distance.
   FOOOOOD
   Building style (older, prettier…)
5. What’s the best memory you have from this 5 month trip and why?
   Just being at school every day was so cool for me because of the difference between school systems and peoples personalities.
6. What’s the worst memory you have and why?
   NOTHING WAS BAD WHY WOULD YOU PUT THIS QUESTION?!?!?!
   But if I had to answer I would say being away from everyone here.
7. What do you wish you could have done more of?
   Skiing in the Alps! It’s so pretty and fun and SNOWY!!!!!!
8. Who would you take back with you if you could and why?
   If I could take anyone from Canada to Switzerland I would take Phil, my grandpa because he hasn’t had the chance to see Switzerland yet and I hope that one day he will.
   If I could take anyone from Switzerland to Canada I would take Anita my BFF there because she’s EPIC and I want her to see my country and city <3
9. Where was your most favorite place to visit and why?
   See question 7.
10. Where would you recommend people go and why?
    See question 7… again.
11. How do you think this trip changed you?
    I’m not sure if it was the trip or just me that changed but I guess my self-confidence and the fact that I feel like I know better who I am.
12. Did your friends forget about you while you were gone? Were you a stranger to them when you got back?
    Well I wouldn’t say  a stranger, lets face it, in this age group friendships go in and out and that’s just the way it is, your still trying to find out who your true friends are. Some of my friends weren’t used to me the way I am now for say so it took a while to re-kindle our friendship then there was the friends that just plain didn’t wan to talk to me anymore, the friends who it was like I was never gone and even some people I feel closer to now that I’m back… I guess that everyone reacts a different way to this, I just try and think about what everyone else might be thinking. All I want is that everyone is happy (including myself) even if it means losing some friends along the way because being friends with them doesn’t make me or them happy.
13. What was your favourite meal?
    Fondue or Flamencuch (see question 3.)
14. Favorite restaurant?
    PIZZA TAXI=YUMMY
15. What did you do for your birthday?
    I went to PIZZA TAXI with some friends.
16. How do you feel about being back now that you’ve been back for about 3 months?
    I feel really happy and happy to have lots of friends who stayed with despite all my stories about Switzerland… <3 u guys!

Thanks JJ – I really appreciate you answering my questions today. You’re EPIC!

Reflecting… reflecting on leaving that part of my life behind. Not having a house to come back to, to pick up where I left off when I get back there. It’s really the end of one thing which is sad but also thoughtful.

Leaving

I enjoyed spending the time and watching my wee babe grow and learn everything that she had to learn from 6-12 months. I loved seeing her with her grand parents, aunty, family, friends, etc… She might not remember them soon but they sure will remember her. I’m positive that they will live on in her heart somewhere and there will always be a part of them with her. A familiarity when she sees them next. It was so utterly sad leaving my in-laws house knowing that we were taking her away from them. I couldn’t hold back the tears.

For the tweenager, I always say she had the most beneficial time. Growing her language skills, having to make new friends in a new school system in a foreign language. I’m so proud of her for all that she has done. Thanks to her, we have about 10 songs that are our theme songs for that time in our life so I will always remember that time when I hear them. She has grown up so quickly in the last 6 months and is not the same girl that left on our trip across Canada.

I’m so happy for my hubby to go back home and see his family and friends and show off his new littlest girl. You could see the joy in his face and the skip in his step when he knew he was heading up the mountains to go snowboarding. Who gets to take 6 months off and then head back to a better paying job?

As for me, I loved every minute of it. It was cleansing, rejuvenating, inspiring, fulfilling, motivational and challenging. I would highly recommend anyone to try to live in another country for 4+ months. It’s a lot of work, research and commitment to get there, but it is so absolutely worth it. I miss it dearly and I would be lying if I didn’t say that some days I just want to go back to our little apartment overlooking the lake and the mountains. We have plans though… plans to one day make it back there. Plans to get the wee babe in school over there because there is a lot more $$ in Switzerland for education then there is here. A lot. I keep asking my hubby if we can buy a house over there so we can move back and forth and then it doesn’t seem quite so over when it’s over. We shall see what the future holds for us.

Coming back

I’ll blog about the airplane trip(s) soon so I won’t get into that, but let’s just say it was about the worst experience on a plane that I’ve ever had. I was worried for the wee babe but I think I should have been more worried then I was. It was a terrible horrible no good very bad thing.

My feelings on coming back. It’s so damn easy to slip back into your life after only 6 months. You just unpack boxes, schedule appointments to get your life back into order, reconnect with friends and family, start working again and voila! You’re back at it.

The wee babe has gone through some changes with a new daycare, being sick, a new language, bad cheese (we are still buying expensive (was cheap) Swiss cheese as she really only likes that compared to the orange crap we have here), a new house, new bed, new time change, more rain than she’s ever seen, and she’s handling it all quite well.

The tweenager has fit right back into school, she’s top notch now in French, and has been building her life here. We spent so much time together that I feel ok with her spreading her wings.

The hubby started up his new job in a new building with new co-workers. Even before we got back, his schooling at Royal Roads had started and he was fully into the swing of school life as soon as we got back. I don’t know how he works all day and then studies all night. Must be because he has such a supportive wife He’s dying to go back too but has to finish school first. We have a 5 year plan.

All in all, things have morphed quite smoothly. People ask me if it was hard to transition back. Not really. The hardest thing is when you know the sun is shining over there and it’s raining here. It’s enough to make you wonder why you live here. I’m not sure who coined the phrase “Best place on Earth” but they might have been smoking something funny at the time.

I miss the friends I made, the family that touched our life, an everything that Switzerland is now to my family.

Writing this has given me closure and has been very therapeutic in feeling like that part of my life is complete.

And after 3 months I can safely say – we’re back!

As I mentioned in my last post, holiday baking in Switzerland is far from easy peasy. Evidently, after talking with my father-in-law, he said that I need to buy quite a few of the things that I’m missing from a specialty shop. A specialty shop? These things are found normally in a grocery store back home. Ok, I understand how it works. Not everything is exactly the same as back home.

Everything looks ok, pre-baking

After baking in oven. Cookies on steroides.

So not only am I challenged in the area of lacking key ingredients, but I also botched up my baking as well. The sugar cookies I tried to make decided to double in size for the first batch and gradually decrease in size each time I put more in the oven. Go figure.

The icing we made, well it was glaze (exactly what I WASN’T looking for) so it was runny for decorating with. AND the stupid food colouring here is so diluted that when you try to put in the red to make red, it turns out pink. Then you add more to try and make it more brighter, but before you know it you’ve added the entire little squeezer bottle of it, the icing is still pink, and to boot, it’s now turned into liquid instead of thickish frosting.

That was the sugar cookies.

"Dontcha wish your cookies look just like these?" Trust me, they taste better than they look.

A close up of the green frosting we made. That's right. Green.

Then I tried Gingerbread men from Martha Stewart. Wowsers, without  the true molasses and brown sugar, they didn’t taste half bad, but I got the tweenager and the hubby to try a sample of one, and it didn’t pass the gift giving inspection so there’s not going to be any Gingerbread men in people gifts this year. BUT, good old Martha came through for me and had crafted up this wonderful wreath idea. So I had enough gingerbread peeps to make 2 wreaths. Of course the first one broke immediately (sure, kick me while I’m down) but the second one was an absolute work of art and will become a wonderful gift for one of the hubby’s friend’s or family members this Christmas.

After coming out of the oven. Looks pretty good right?

Annnnnddd... 5 seconds later a gingerbread man mess...

The one gift worthy thing I have to show for hours of baking today.

Tomorrow I tackle Cheese Sticks. God help me. My mother makes these every year, and after checking the ingredients, we have absolutely everything and no substitutions (except for Cheddar Cheese) so I should be all good unless, I absolutely suck at baking. Which is exactly what it’s looking like to me.

Keep in mind, my wonderful idea was to make cute little sugar cookies and cute little gingerbread people with cute little cheese sticks, put them in a cellophane bag, tie them up with a ribbon, put them in fancy Christmas canisters, and give them as gifts – is looking like a thing of the past. My homemade gift giving intentions have come crashing down on me. Time to get real with myself and maybe just buy the cookies from the grocery store, cut, bake, and package.

Stay tuned…

Happy Holidays Everyone!

This year was a big year for us in the Jermann/Howe household! So much to tell – where to start – let’s start with the littlest…

Little Winter had a wonderful carrot and parsley filled year this year, thanks to my dad. Unfortunately, it was her time to go and visit her sister in guinea pig heaven due to a growth on her back. RIP little Winter we miss you dearly.

Our next littlest family member has had an event fill first year! Violette was born on January 4^th. Her adventures began in July. She drove across Canada, crawled around Egypt, explored almost all the corners of Switzerland and saw the Mont Blanc in France. Oh and we mustn’t forget the trip to the wine district of Alzace, France. 3 continents by her first 9 months isn’t too shabby. To say we think she’ll be a world traveler might be an understatement. She also keeps us hopping. She had 8 teeth by her 8^th month, she’s climbing stairs at 10 months and pushing around furniture. She’s a powerhouse! And not surprisingly for all that energy, she sleeps quite well (now). Oh and starred in her first Groupon ad!

Jaedyn turned 12 in November. My tweenager was involved in dance this year and finished off grade 6. One day after finishing school we set off on our cross Canada trip. JJ was initially nervous but after getting into the swing of road life she quickly settled in. After driving clear across the country we flew to Switzerland (from St. John’s) and began yet another chapter. JJ started public school here and fit in straight away. Her French was at the perfect level for school and she quickly began picking up Swiss/Vaudois slang immediately. She misses her friends in Canada but has also made new friends here. She likes it in Switzerland but is also looking forward to going home in the new year.

For me, I’ve been on mat leave all year and LOVING it. I’m so happy to be able to take the opportunity to travel with my family. The cross Canada trip and our trip to Egypt have really been life long dreams that I had. I’m enjoying spending the days watching my wee babe grow up and loving being able to spend so much time with my almost teenager. I’m really looking forward to Christmas here to see what kinds of traditions the Swiss have and to finally see real candles on a Christmas Tree! I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed watching the changing of the seasons. I miss my family and friends back home but you really can’t beat this weather here. Vevey is situated in such an area where it’s sunny more than it’s rainy. We’re loving it!!

Luc took a leave of absence from school for a year and a leave of absence from work for 6 months. He has been enjoying watching his little mini-him grow up and making her laugh and smile. He also has been enjoying his time in Switzerland spending time with his family and friends. He celebrated his 30^th birthday this year with him and 4 other close buddies by throwing themselves a huge dance party (the theme was fluorescent). It was a blast!! Thanks to him, we started out our first month in Switzerland rent-free by doing a house exchange. It was wonderful. Then Luc found us the most incredible apartment in Vevey with stunning views of the lake and mountains from our balcony.

Our trips around Switzerland consisted of visiting Luc’s Grandma in Valbella, his aunt, uncle and cousin in Zurich area, and our Canadian best man in Thun. We also walked to Montreux and took part in Desalpe when my mom came to visit. And just 2 weekends ago we went high into the Swiss mountains to Bretaye with some friends of ours to take in the fresh mountain air in a cozy little chalet. We’re looking forward to visiting Santa at Rochers de Naye this weekend, as well as spending the new year in Valbella with family.

We have had an incredible and fortunate year touched by so many generous friends and family. We wish everyone and their families a peaceful and fulfilling holiday season with love and warmth felt throughout.

Love, Light and Laughter for the New Year
Robin, Luc, Jaedyn and Violette

Click here to view our holiday eCard
Clique ici pour voir la video

Click on the image above to view our holiday eCard

6 weekends. That’s all we have left.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about coming home. I feel like I’ve been gone for so long and it feels weird on all sorts of different levels.

I think about leaving here. I have a life here now. Ok, so maybe I don’t have a lot of friends – to be honest with you, I’ve enjoyed being alone and just spending time with my family. I think I may wish or regret that I didn’t put myself out there a little more than I did but at the same time, I’ve really enjoyed watching my tweenager grow (let’s face it, she’s not going to want to hang around with us for much longer) and spending time with my wee babe in her first year. You know what they say: time flies by in a rush so enjoy every minute of it.

I think about leaving my hubby’s family. I really feel like the relationships that I have with his friends and family has grown as well. Especially his parents. We Skype with them almost every day and it seems like we’re spending every weekend at their house for sleepovers. It makes me think about how we won’t be spending as much time with them in 6 short weeks and how they will only get to see their grandbaby through Skype. This makes me sad.

I think about how it’s hard to have two people come together who are from different countries and raise a family together. I think it’s maybe more difficult for the grandparents as one set of grandparents miss out on the grandchildren more than the other one. In a perfect world we would live 6 months in Canada and 6 months in Switzerland. But the world is not perfect.

That gets me thinking how lucky we are to be able to come here for 5 months and to be able to provide the grandparents here, a strong memory of their grandbaby’s first year. It makes me happy that they got to enjoy that. And hopefully a memory strong enough for the wee babe to remember them when she sees them on Skype from the other side of the world.

And then I think about going home. What is life going to be like when we get home? I go back to my job, the hubby starts a new one, he goes back to school full time, the tweenager is in middle school, the wee babe in daycare… Same old same old? In a way I hope not. And then I ask myself, how do I want life to be like when we come home?

I think about what this adventure means for our family. Are we destined to travel the world with our kids? We sure have shown ourselves that it’s something we can do; we all are adaptable. How has this experience changed us? me? I don’t know if it’s possible now for me to stay in one place for the rest of my life. I want to be able to experience different things, challenge myself, push my comfort zones, give diverse experiences to my children.

I want my life not to be mundane and ordinary.

And then I think about my hubby and I’m happy that I married the man that I married because I think in the same way that I feel, he maybe feels a little like I do. I hope he does at least.

And so we’re coming home. We’re going to be adding on a bathroom when we get home. My hubby’s family will be visiting in the summer which won’t seem like that long away until the wee babe sees her maminou and papinou again in real life. Life will continue to go on, we will celebrate the wee babe’s first birthday when we get home and my 37th in February.

But I refuse for life to be usual and predictable. I choose for life to be full of experiences, adventures, and worthwhile relationships. I choose for it to be stimulating, nurturing, and above all else, I strive for it to be amazing.

Have you ever heard of the expression “until the cows come home”? Well, now I’m familiar with it on a personal level.

Once a year, the cows actually do come home in Switzerland after spending the summer up in the Swiss Alps. All around Switzerland, villages are welcoming back their cows with a big festival. The festival is called “Desalpe“. The cows are dressed up and each family that owns their cows also get dressed up into typical Swiss garb and parade their cows (with their enormous decorated cow bells) through the village streets. Some cows even have head dresses on and from what I understand, these cows are the oldest and wisest of the herd.

We had the privilege again, of being invited by our friends, the Droguets, to see this wonderful event. Additionally, my mom was visiting us in Switzerland so she was also able to attend. Of course, it wouldn’t be very Swiss if there wasn’t wine flowing, grilled sausages, 10 different kinds of cheese, alp horns, flag throwing, fondue, and Swiss music filling the air.

We watched the cows parade through the streets. My friend explained to me after we left that she grew up with this yearly festivity as her family took part in it for may years. She explained to me that this is the day that the cows are really proud. They make the 4+ hours walk down the mountainside with their handlers. When they arrive at the bottom their handlers bathe them, brush them and stroke them. A cow spa if you will. After, they are all primped up with their best bells and flowers, they strut through town holding their head high as this is their day to shine.

We had a wonderful time spending the day in the sun, taking in the atmosphere which we followed up with a wonderful fondue.

Thanks again the Droguets for yet another, rich Swiss experience!

I’m getting excited about Christmas! Not unlike Robin at Farewell Stranger, I’m one of those people who frowns on seeing Christmas post December 1st. I shake my head at the decorations that go up more than a month in advance and the commercialism that surrounds us way before it’s needed.

But something is different this year. Maybe it’s because I’m on maternity leave and I just want to celebrate something. Maybe it’s because it’s my wee babe’s first Christmas. Or maybe it’s because we’ve come all the way to the other side of the world to my hubby’s native land to see just what it’s like over here at Christmas time. Whatever it is, I’m digging it this year.

Last year we didn’t even put up a tree. I think the tweenager was a little disappointed but I was hugely pregnant and I just couldn’t fathom taking down a tree right after giving birth. This year we aren’t going to have a tree either although, I would really like to get a little decorative tree with lights that we could put on a table to admire through the holiday evenings. It has to sit on a table to get far enough away from the destructive reaches of the wee babe.

I am thrilled that we actually have REAL mistletoe hanging in our hallway. I don’t think I’ve ever seen real mistletoe! And my hubby and I take advantage of it whenever we can.

I understand that December 6th is a special day in Switzerland. I hope that my hubby is going to do something traditional on this day for the tweenager and the wee babe (hint hint hubby).

There are decorations throughout the streets of our town and the neighbouring towns. There are craft markets happening everywhere. The sweet smell of cinnamon and nutmeg linger in the air. We will be visiting Santa on top of Rochers de Naye AND he will be arriving in Vevey by helicopter on the 21st.

There’s so much to see and do here and it’s all within walking distance which makes it really cool to check out without having to plan a whole day around things.

I’m not really a big Christmas baker but I was thinking of doing up a few oldies but goodies to get us even more in the holiday mood and remind me a little bit of back home (cheese sticks sans orange cheese, ginger bread men and maybe some shortbread).

I’ve heard some Christmas music in the malls and I’m really looking forward to hearing some Swiss Christmas carols (do they call them that?) that I’m not familiar with. I have yet to turn on the Christmas iTunes but it’s not far away I assure you.

Me thinks me and the tweenager should do up some Christmas crafts that we could normally hang on a tree and decorate the apartment with them to make things a little more festive at home.

I’m a little sad that I don’t get to make hand-made Christmas cards this year since all my craft supplies are back in Canada but we’re going to try it electronically this year and we’re going to have a little fun with it! I hope our family and friends enjoy it. I’ll post it up on the blog when we release it.

What’s in store for us on Christmas eve and Christmas day? I’m not really sure yet but I’m sure that we will be spending it with family. It’s been 7/8 years since my hubby has been home for Christmas and I’m positive that he’s going to want to spend it traditionally with his family.

What I’m the MOST excited for is seeing a real Christmas tree decorated with REAL candles! Every year the hubby turns up his nose at our twinkling lights strung around the tree, and reminisces about holidays past where there has been real candles on the tree. I always admonish him about the dangers of fire on an evergreen but he ensures me, it is fine. This is the year, my friends, that I get to see this in action – and I can wait!

Regardless, I’m really looking forward to the memories that we make this holiday season with friends and family and new Swiss traditions that we hopefully can take a little bit back to Canada with us (maybe not the the candles in the tree though ).

And then once we’re back in Canada we get to do it all over again with my family! Two Christmas’s is not too shabby!

What traditions are you looking forward to this year?

We were fortunate, recently, to be invited high into the Swiss mountains to a place called Bretaye. Bretaye is a quaint little mountain village about 1850 meters above sea level. It’s more of a skiing village. Before the snow comes, you can drive into your chalet but once the snow comes, the only way up is by train.

It is forbidden to do any additions to the chalets due to strict building regulations. It seems the Swiss like to keep their chalets and buildings as typical as can be. Additionally, they are also very strict on who can drive up to Bretaye with one very windy road that is only really fit for one car and you must register the cars that can have access to Bretaye.

The friends that invited us have a chalet up there so we headed up there Friday evening. During the drive, the wee babe didn’t really enjoy all the twists and turns and puked her guts out all over the car seat. I was a little nervous since I’ve never seen her puke so much all at once.

Once we arrived, it was dark and quiet. Just exactly how my hubby had described the area. You can see all the stars and not hear a single thing save for the wind whispering through the trees. The chalet was old and wonderful. Our friend’s grandfather bought it for $80 years ago.

Let me back up a bit. When we were organizing the trip up, my hubby told me that there is only one heater in the place and they turn if off at night. I asked what the temperature was in the chalet at night and he said 5 degrees. 5 degrees! He said, we travelled across Canada and now we can do anything. I begged to differ. Actually, I was really quite stressed about how the wee babe was going to do in that temperature and if I was going to have to sleep with her all night long. I hate sleeping with her. I chatted with our friend the next day and all was good, there was an electric heater in the room that stays on all night long so there was no need for me to worry. Thanks hubby.

When we arrived there were balloons for the hubby and the tweenager’s birthday, the fire was going in the kitchen, the gas furnace in the living room and the electric heater in the bedroom. It was cozy. We settled into crepes all around the table. It was delicious!! Shortly after that we ate birthday cake and after that the kids headed to bed.

The bedroom was small but we all fit so cozy. Bunk beds, single beds, and we brought the playpen/bed for the wee babe. The adults chatted for a little while and then we tucked ourselves in for the night.

The sleep that night was pretty good. A little early but all in all a good sleep. We had breakfast and got ready for the day. When I asked our friend before we left if we would be going for a walk, she said that her 4 year old wouldn’t last longer than about 20 mins so we could but it would be short. Well, let’s just say the plans changed significantly. I hadn’t brought appropriate footwear so I had to borrow some hiking shoes. We set out. It was supposedly a 2.5 hour hike up to the top of the mountain and then back down again. Eeep!

It was straight up. I don’t know if I’ve ever climbed anything that was ever so steep. It was almost impossible to climb it without falling backwards. The hubby was carrying the wee babe on his front thank goodness for me. It was like climbing Mt. Finlayson only harder I think. After getting to the first top, we negotiated along the top with drop offs on either side of us. It was a little nerve wracking. The tweenager said that she was shaking it was so scary. I was just trying not to think about it. Let’s not forget about the 4 year old that walked the whole thing by himself. I think if I was his mom I would have been freaking out. The Swiss start young here that’s for sure.

But the top was amazing. A beautiful view of the valley, lake, mountains… Simply stunning. Check out the photos and video to see what I’m talking about.

The walk down was through a cow field. Easy peasy lemon squeezy.

We had lunch when we got back and then I took a snooze while the rest played Uno and frisbee.

Then it was dinner. My favourite – Raclette!! The only problem was our friends thought that there was a boneified raclette machine in the chalet but it wasn’t so. So they started calling around to the family and friends and as luck would have it, a light came on in the restaurant that was there and there just happened to be some people there fixing a computer and then just happened to have a raclette machine! Pure genious. It was by far the BEST raclette I’ve ever had.

After our bellies were full, the kids went to bed and the adults stayed up and played some Yahtzee. I lost horribly.

Another good night of sleeping and a low key breakfast. It was our last day in Bretaye so we went for a little hike around the lake and had some lunch. Then we were homeward bound.

Many thanks to our friends Alexandra, Mike, Adrien and Roxanne for inviting us to your little piece of heaven in Switzerland. We had an amazingly memorable time!!

The tweenager has been is Swiss school for a while now and a few people have been asking how she is enjoying it and what it’s like for her. Additionally, I wanted her to give us a snapshot of her trip to the Jura for a week with school as this is such a unique experience for her.

Please feel free to ask your own questions in the comments below and she will happily be sure to respond toute de suite!

How long have you been going to school in Switzerland now?

I have been going to school since August 22. So about a month.

How are you liking it?

School is much different in Canada then in Switzerland, I really like school here and I think it’s better than school in Canada.

What subjects do you have?

I take music, math, science, history, religious history, drawing, sewing, German, PE…

What is your favourite and why?

My favourite subject is History, because I love stories about Greek and Egyptian mythology.

What subject do you like the least?

PE, out teacher insists we run lap after lap around the track, right now we are doing 1200 meters, 1,2 km. of non-stop running.

Have you made many friends?

Yes, in Switzerland everyone wanted to accept me into their group (especially when they heard I was Canadian).

How is school different here than in Canada?

Wow, the most striking difference between schools is class changes; in Canada all the classes are in a wing or pod of a building, FAAS (Fine Arts and Applied Skills) are in the north pod and all French immersion classes in the east pod. In Switzerland we move around a lot, PE is about a half an hour away in a stadium in the suburbs, art and music in the high school and more music, academics, and sewing are in the 4^th floor Elementary school.

Tell us about a typical day at Swiss school.

So the day starts with me not wanting to get out of bed then I get dressed, eat breakfast, and leave for school. We walk there and, take Tuesday for example, walk to the high school for music in first block then after that I go with my friends back to the normal building then we go to PE on the other side of town and then my mom comes and gets me for lunch. We go home and eat lunch for two hours, back to school for a while and home again. Usually pretty busy!

You just went on a trip to the Jura with your school. Tell us about that.

The Jura is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. Imagine cows walking past your bedroom window every morning and fields stretching away and away. Here you are the one enclosed and horses and cows are grazing and having adventures totally free to go anywhere they want.

What did you like the most?

My favourite part of camp was the course d’orientation that means orientation race. We teamed up in groups of three and we got sent to different posts in about a 5km radius, it’s a race to see who can go to the 9 posts first.

Tell us about a typical day.

7:30am the teacher comes and wakes us up then puts on some good music

8:00am we eat breakfast

8:30am we brush our teeth and finish getting ready

9:00am we play ball assis

11:00am-1:00pm we leave for a walk (depending on the time we either eat a picnic of have lunch at the chalet)

4:00pm we get back

4:30pm we play more ball assis or ping pong

7:00pm we eat dinner

8:30pm we play pin pong or foose ball

9:30pm we go to bed

11:30pm we go to sleep

What was the food like?

Some times the food was really good (like paella) and some times really bad (like thai soup). It was really cool that any one who wanted to could cook.

What is the boom and what was it like?

The boom is a dance at the end of the camp where all the guys ask girls to dance and try to impress them with break dancing; it is as fun as it sounds. The boom was super fun and I even got to slow dance with my crush… They played lots of good songs in English and in French.

Tell us about the slow dancing. And don’t leave anything out.

It doesn’t matter who asks, guy or girl, you always have to say yes. My two best friends are both really pretty and lots of guys like them so they didn’t even get a chance to sit down. When you’re dancing with somebody it is okay that if at any point in the dance it gets awkward you can stop and walk away from them. In general you only slow dance for approx. 30 seconds per guy (unless later on he asks you again).

Was there any drama at camp?

Not really (besides everyone figuring out who I have a crush on).

Was there anything that happened that was not amazing?

Mmmmm… boys beating each other up but I think that’s part of the experience.

How do you think the camp changed you?

Well I think I’m a lot more fit and can walk greater distances.

Did you miss me? Even a little?

Let’s say that.

I attended my first English speaking mom and babe group yesterday. I had such a great time meeting other moms!

I walked down to the church where it was held. Only about a 10 minute walk, where I was warmly welcomed by the woman who runs the show.

Upon entering, I scoped the scene. There were craft tables and the stations on the floor where the littler ones could play. I put the wee babe down so she could cruise through the toys.

The place began to fill up with moms (and one dad) and kids ranging from 8 months (that was us, we were the youngest) to 5 years. The wee babe happily played with the toys and even when a boy yanked out the toy she was playing with, she didn’t cry. Not yet at least. Guess that comes later.

I eagerly chatted with the other moms. I hoped that I didn’t appear too desperate for a friend.

There were some commonalities among the woman:

• Either them or the husbands worked for Nestle (not all mind you, just the majority).
• A lot of them have been here for 6 years.
• A lot of them had a British accent. (With the exception of 2 Americans, a woman from Dubai, a woman from South Africa and an Ozzie)
• A lot of them couldn’t speak French but were in classes.
• The ones that had school age children as well, weren’t going to the local French school (like the tweenager) but were going to an International school for English speaking children.
• All of them were permanently here (I was the only temporary one).

I got a chance to meet and chat with probably 10 out of the 12ish parents there. I found myself asking everyone the same questions. How long have you been here? Do you speak French? Who are your children? What brought you here? Where do you live?

The Ozzie I met fascinated me though. I think it was maybe because my best friend has 5 kids and this woman has 5 kids and she packed up ship and moved here permanently. Never to return to Australia again (unless it’s for a holiday.) Her husband owns his own software business. I asked her if it was hard and expensive to bring everything over here. She said it was but that everyone in her family was much happier in Switzerland than in Australia. I guess here they have a bigger yard and house and the school is much better.

Something else that really struck me was that all the families just packed up where they were living and took off to Switzerland to live forever. I mean it’s not completely out of left field but they all had done this coupled with the fact that none of them know French, that must have been really challenging for them. They all did seem like strong women though so I guess it makes sense. Still, I found myself admiring them for being so brave.

Some other things that were mentioned on more than one occasion:

• you can get by here without knowing French (except for the doctor’s office),
• it seems to be a lot safer place for kids to grow up,
• and the general consensus was that it was a great place for the kids to grow up.

Everyone was really nice. I wished that we had name tags though as I’m never going to remember everyone’s names!! I wished that I could have made a connection right away so that maybe I was meeting someone for a coffee/play date this week or even just a walk around the neighbourhood but I guess it was a bit early. Again, desperation is not what I was going for.

All in all I had a great time and can’t wait to go back next Wednesday.