Dear United States Dollar, stop falling.

I usually don't write during the day, mainly because I'm working. But there's nothing for me to do at the moment. So I thought I'd write.
I just got an Easter card from my parents and a gift card from the church-shirks. I love getting real mail. I enjoyed reading them. Nathan wrote me a few weeks ago, although I'm sure mom made him. That made me smile. But I still can't get over the fact that he won't come to visit me. It drives me insane every time I think about it. I always say something to him, which probably drives him insane. The other night, I was talking to him on msn and he said he wouldn't give up going to Orlando to come here. However, he said to dad that he would rather have a new tv than go to Orlando!! So according to some law of which I forget the name, that I learned in math class, he would take a tv or his sister!!!!!!! And I quote from our conversation, "family is priceless, you're right, but time is pricesless too, and I would have more time with the tv than with family and so it's worth more." Does that make any sense!?!?!? I love him, but don't understand the child!!!
This weekend I went to a cabin with the youth group here. I don't really know them that well but this was a chance to get to know them. The nice thing was that Jessica went too and she already knows them. So it worked out really well. I like them a lot. It would have been stupid for me not to go. Since I've been to Switzerland, I've compared myself so much to Jessica(the trainee before me). Especially when I went to the youth group because I felt like everybody around me was comparing me to her. So I struggled with that. This weekend helped me get passed it. Since we were able to be together, and be seen as two different people. Well people probably already did. It was more for myself. The weekend allowed for a lot of time to spend alone in prayer. Which I don't really do on a regular basis. So that also helped with this struggle. It is ridiculous that I should compare myself with her. I love that girl. She has been such a blessing to me as a friend.
Sunday night, when we go back I went to Basel with her where she had to catch the train to go home. We went to Starbucks (cuz she wanted to go there, not me). We had a good discussion. Then it was time for her to leave. Jess had gotten in her mind that the train left at 19:19 when really it was 12 after! So we arrived to just in time to see the train drive off! The poor girl-that is something that I could so see myself doing! But the bad thing is, because of the type of ticket she had, she had to buy a new one- 44 euros, and get home really late. The only positive thing about it was that we could keep talking.
So I am continuing this post in the afternoon. Elke, my host mom, wasn't feeling well today. She had a car accident about ten years ago and ever since has had problems with he muscle in her neck and head. So she often gets really bad headaches. It comes and goes the pain. But today was a bad day. I made crepes for lunch, then played with Simon since then. We played Wii. Normally I don't like video games but Wii is fun since the controllers are motion sensored, or whatever that called. Simon is outside playing now, Sarah is at school. Tim went to the Volg, the only grocery store in the town, really it's more like a convenient store. I get sent there every other day for one thing or another.
This evening I'm going out to eat in Basel with Debbie and Rebecca I think. Then this weekend I'm going to Geneva. I'm looking forward to that visit. Sunday, my host family leaves for Bayern to visit Elkes family. They're gone for two weeks. I'm still here since they don't have room for me to go with, and I'm not taking any vacation time. Next week I'm going to go another family in the church to help. Elke worked it out. They also have a daughter with down syndrom, also named Sarah. She only four. So that will be good I think. So I'm keeping busy.

Gut Eingelebt.

I hear the word "einleben" a lot in the form of a question here, in Germany it was mentioned a lot in my goodbyes. I got the idea of the word but didn't bother to look up the meaning till today. It means "settling in". Makes sense.
At this point I am feeling pretty settled in in my new home here. I already love Switzerland as country more than I expected to. It's hard to explain why. But I think it has something to do with the smallness of it, people are more locally oriented it seems. I can't really put my finger on specific reasons. But according to a study by Britain's University of Leicester, Swiss are the second most happiest people in the world. Only in Denmark are they happier. Newsweek also reported on a study that Switzerland is the greenest country out of 149 studied. (http://www.newsweek.com/id/98010) Happy and environmentally friendly. I guess in Switzerland you CAN have you cake and eat it too!
I guess I should say what I've been up to the past few weeks. I've been in Lupsingen most of the time. Me and the vacuume cleaner are becoming good friends. The kitchen, living room, and dining room have white floors so it needs a lot of vacuuming. But it's all good because I think that what keeps me from being allergic to the cat Tiger. Tiger is a very unusual cat. Not only am I not allergic, but he's friendly. While normally I'm a cat hater, I make exceptions for the nice one (which are very rare.)
I love the kids. They keep me pretty busy, as well as entertained, and sometimes very worn out. Sarah is the best at doing so. Last Tuesday she wanted to go for a walk with me and she took her bike. It started off nice until we got to an apartment building. She stops and says her friend lives there. Well I don't know for sure that her friend doesn't so I let her ring the one bell. Maybe she knows...Then she rings another one. Ok she doesn't. Luckily nobody answers. Then we get to more apartments. Unfortunately the door actually opens and she goes in and onto the elevator. Then I finally get her out of that building and she already into the next, still talking about how she wants to visit her friend, who I found out later doesn't even live in our town. In this building she rings a couple door bells and someone even comes out very confused. Once she out of there, she hops onto her bike. I say we're going home now! But she's on her bike and she goes to the community offices, where I had registered the day before. She starts talking to them about this friend and I have no clue what else. They have even less of a clue. By then I wasn't going to take anymore, so I took her bike and headed home. Then she's wailing and sits on the sidewalk continuing to do so. Then she recovers and walks with me. By the time we reach the house she's perfectly fine and talking to me about what she did in school and I am completely worn out. It's defiantly a new learning experience working with Sarah. Often by the end of the day I have had enough of her. Then the next day, I'm so happy to see her again. It's interesting.
I've been able to see some things in the area already here. I've gone to Basel the last two Sundays and the weather has been nice. I like the city a lot, although I haven't done all that much-a lot of walking around though. Last Sunday I went with Rebecca and Debbie to a movie, since Debbie had a gift card. I don't think I'll be seeing too many movies here...it costs 18 francs(about 17 $$) and next time you go to starbucks don't complain about the price, here a tall normal coffee is over 4 usd. I guess my shock will soon subside. I'll adjust, like I have to so much at this point. Funny how that works, how one's mentality can be so easily changed, there's reason why it's called a shock, it's very temporary. I just hope it is when I go back to the US, which I don't want to talk about, I still have time here, I'm not going to rush it. I will not talk about it anymore till the the very end of my intermenno term. I don't even know why I mentioned it now. But no more.

I am proud to be an American (or at least I'm not ashamed)

There's a lot of talk out there about how now is a bad time to travel as an American, because of our government and our reputation as ignorant people. People are so quick to slap on a Canadian flag patch on their bag, before boarding the plane.
That couldn't be more wrong. One should try to hide what they are, really it's only the geographical location one happens to be born in. Nor should an American think that it is a bad time to travel abroad. In fact, it is just the opposite. The fact is, the bar has been set so low, a baby could crawl over it. Yeah, maybe when you first let someone know that you are an American they will assume the worst (most don't). However, it doesn't take much to impress them and change their view of you, and then maybe even their view towards Americans as a whole. In reality, people do base stereotypes of a society on very few encounters or more pathetically-on hearsay.
I have found language to be a very simple way of impressing and also just learning a little about the world around you and not only from an American perspective. But about language, as an American one doesn't have to know much of another language, they just have to try. But nobody is impressed if a German, or anyone else for that matter, is speaking English. Of course they can. It's English.
Really when it comes down to it, don't act like the "ugly american" people expect you to be and nobody will give you trouble. I promise it's not that hard. So I just thought I would share that.

While I'm venting, and sort of on the topic of languages. One thing that bugs me in German is when I hear English words that have a different meaning in German. I'm sure more example will come to me later, but one I can give is "handy", which is a cell phone. Then one can't imagine it would be a different word in English. Understandably, but what dumbass thought of the word in the first place. But then I realized that we have plenty of words like that in English. Like "salsa", it means sauce in Spanish or "gelato" in Italian, it took me a while to realize that it simply means "ice cream", nothing specific. We specify general terms. These things could bug Spanish or Italians. But only the fussy ones like me of course.

I promise I will write about my life soon. It's just that Rebecca and I were talking about these things the other day, so I was thinking about it and I though I'd write about it.

This blog needs to be modified-any suggestions?

I am now writing from the same laptop in a new room, in a new house, in a new family, in a new town, and even a new country (this country being Switzerland). Which is great, however, the title of this blog doesn't really fit. So please tell me what to do about that. I hope this incoherance doesn't keep you from reading.

So let's get to the point and roll another j-. Never mind-song. Once again I have too much to write about. It always happens.

I left Schowalters on the 30th of January. The Saturday before I spent the day shopping with Mirjam and went to see Bee Movie. So that was some good quality time together before I left. That Sunday in church Sonja made me say something to the church. She didn't tell me before which was probably for the better. Public speaking is one thing-but in German...ehhh. O well. Egal. In youth group they did a little going away thing!! So sweet. Well I will put a picture. They even made me a picture book. Awww. The day I left I had a little "kaffee und kuchen" going away thing which turned out really well. I was very pleased. Unfortunatly I didn't plan my time well (story of my life) and I kind of left my room a mess. Which I don't think Schowalters were too happy about, well they wrote me and told me. So I just want to say to them Es tut mir sehr sehr leid!!! I do feel very bad about that. oops. Anyway so then the next week was spent a lot en route.

Wednesday I traveled overnight to Listal where I met Jessica and dropped my huge suitcase off. That worked out really well. Then...I went to Basel airport and hopped on a plane to London. So I went to London. I stayed part of the time with Kate and Ben. Ausralian friends I met at the Hofbrauhaus. I know that sounds slightly ridiculous but it's not. Just have to change your thinking. *cough mom. I sightsaw a lot by myself but then did some with Kate and Ben which was a lot of fun. I even went out with her coworkers and talked after lunch with kate and her boss. Three of the nights I then stayed at the mennonite centre in London. There's a lot to see in that city-like infinite things to do. It drains your money though, i'll tell you what.

A week later I took the plane to Dortmund, then from there I went to the Midterm conference at Thomashof. I thoughoully enjoyed my time there. It nicely organized-i think. Well...okay we went to an opera which I don't really like. But I'm glad I went because I think in order to acheive a "cultured" status one has to see at least one opera. We had a few formal discussion things about culture and stuff which to me is always an interesting topic.

Monday morning I said goodbye to the other trainees and we were all sent off to our new placements. Now I've been here for almost a week. I really like it so far. But it has only been a week. I love my host family so far, although they don't speak ANY english. So communication is not always the best, but I can tell it won't really matter. Except that my host dad Andre is one of those people that knows a lot and like to talk a lot and fast and with a swiss german accent. It's good practice for me, but he has to know that I'm not really understanding everything and I just nod and smile. I'm noticing things here that I missed at Schowalters but didn't really know I was missing, which is good. For example, being nearer to other trainees, good public transportation, and having more of a nanny job than just cleaning. Sarah, the 12 year old with down syndrom has been at camp since I got here so that will be different dynamics when she is here. But I love Simon, the 5 year old who I spent a lot of time this week with. He's incredibly cute. Like how he says "amerita" not amerika. But this week is not a normal week in this canton. While everywhere else in the world mardis gras/faschings/carnival whatever you call it is over. Here it is the monday, tuesday, and wednesday after ash wednesday and here it's called "fasnacht". Everyday there are parades and musik and such. So those three days we went to parardes. It's definatly a unique experience that I didn't even know I would get to experience. The parades consists of marching bands all wearing masks with some theme and then wagons with people also in costumes that give out candy, flowers, oranges and some random things like little toys, tester products, and really random things like leeks, carrots, and potatoes. Really they are more willing to give to kids. But my host mom, Elke and I still left with full bags. The other thing is that the throw out confetti and tons and tons of it. I've never seen so much in my entire life. They even sometimes grab you and rub it in your hair. It was really quite the experience.

This morning I went shopping in Germany, (because its cheaper and we're only 25 minutes away) with Debbie, an intermenno comitee person who also lives nearby. Later we're going to Andre's mom's house and between then, well I've been doing this.

note: i don't know why the spell check isn't working but its not.

Back to School

Saturday night I went to the birthday party of Nils from the youth group here (also hes Sarahs brother.) Most of the youth group was there. It was pretty good. Although social things such as this one are when I wish most that my German was better. Sometimes I find my self a little bored and left out and constantly thinking how much better it would be I could understand all that's said. I did manage to stay up till 4:00 before I called it a night. Most slept overnight and even managed to make it to church, where we sang.
I went home with Sarah because my car was still at their house and spent the afternoon there. I will miss the youth group here especially Katarina and Sarah. Sarah is going to Paraguay this summer for a year with CD (the german version of mcc). Before Germany I never knew or heard anything about that country. Now I want to go. I hear so much about it here from the Mennonites and also because Schowalters have farm workers from there. I didn't even know about the german mennonite thing there. LMH has taught me so well.
Monday I went to school. However, it was not my normal German lessons. I went to school with Sarah. She asked me to do a short presentation in her English class about my life in america. (The main reason she asked me was to spite her teacher, who she thinks doesn't know English all that well. And since I am pro teacher-spiting I agreed.) The teacher also wanted me to talk politics and the presidential elections so I did. I tried to explain and I also gave my personal opinions on things to the class. Of course this was all in English :) I was really happy about being able to spend the school day with Sarah. I love seeing how the school here is. They stay the whole day with the same people and the teachers move around. Except in biology, where they did move to a different classroom. I couldn't help but think that my high school experience could have been better if school got out at 13:00 and we were aloud to off campus too.

Too much to write about.

I have kept putting this of and putting it off only because I thought there was too much to explain. Of course that doesn't make any sense but it's only human. Now I am supposed somehow put into one blog post around 1 months worth (Unfortunately these days happened to be very busy and about as eventful as my life gets, which isn't all that. And filled with highs and lows.)
So perhaps I shall work my way backwards with this one.
I only now have a month left at the Schwalters and in Germany for that matter. The time has gone so fast. I am not yet feeling sadness about leaving, although I have no doubt it will come. However, I am feeling the pressure that comes at the end of something, to accomplish everything that you had hoped to in the time you have.
This weekend I went to youth group. I was able to follow the conversation basically the entire time, as there was no bible study. We sang, went around the room and shared about ourselves, and the majority of the time was spend debating whether we could sing a song in church the next Sunday or if everyone would be to tired or hungover from one boys birthday party Saturday night. That is one conversation that just wouldn't hear at james street youth group. ha. Saturday I worked. The work day seemed to drag on. Sunday night I went to Sarahs to watch a movie. I love my movie nights there.
The work week went pretty smoothly. When I get irritated or tired with my work I just have to remind myself that I don't have it much longer here and I should be positive.
Monday I had some issues to work out with Sonja involving a few misunderstandings, and vacation timing. I won't go into details cause I don't feel like it but it was tough for me and things are good now. Although I should talk to her again soon.
The three days after new years I worked at Ruths because Schowalters were on holidays. For new years I decided last minute to go Enkenbach and meet with 3 other trainees. This turned out to be a good time with them. And luckily I was already over the stomach virus that I came down with on the second day of Christmas.
Christmas-Weihnachten was quite an enjoyable time for me here. I spent it with the Schowalter side of the family, who all came to Dorndorf for the holiday. We ate nice meals together and opened a lot of presents Christmas Eve. That evening, as well as the morning of the 26th (the second day of Christmas, we went the Church services. Christmas day we actually went out to eat.
My days before Christmas were very far from my routine of going to the mall every other day and whatnot. It worked out the Danica came to visit from the 16th to the 23rd of December. I had the best time with her. Also it made my birthday a very good one. For my birthday, Monday, Danica went to German class with me in the morning. That afternoon we had cake and coffee with the family(also celebrating Opas birthday). That was nice. Then that night we went to Munich and celebrated there and stayed overnight there. Tuesday night we left for Amsterdam and stayed there for the rest of our time together. I had so much fun.
This brings me back to about 30 days ago. And I really need a shower so I'm going to stop and take one.

"I want to talk to you before you leave for the weekend."

....said Sonja on Thursday while baking our Christmas cookies. And actually she said it in German. But in any language those words always make me a little anxious. However, she only wanted to talk about how things were going for me.
Thursday night I sat down in the leaving room with Sonja and Rolf. They asked me what I thought about my experience here so far and how I felt. I didn't really know how to respond to such a broad question. I said overall really liked here then tried to get into specifics of matters. They proceeded to tell me how they felt since that was really what I needed to know so I could know how to respond. They observed several points about me that they had questions about. First of all was that sometimes I looked sad or upset while working and they were concerned about that. I think I figured out that my facial expressions don't always reflect how I'm feeling. I think when I'm not smiling I just look upset or angry. I've been told so before. Maybe if I am upset it is something else going on or that perhaps I am sometimes frustrated with the work itself, but that is kept to a minimum.
They also thought that sometimes I looked like I was in my own little world and I don't live in the moment. I had to think about that and was a little surprised over this observation especially because I do feel that I'm soaking things in here. I do tend to space out and distance myself sometimes since I feel like sometimes I should give them space and as comfortable as I do feel with them I guess there is still a part of me that is unsure of how much I should involve myself in their lives. The second reason for this is because of the language. It's hard to always try to listen to the conversation when I am only picking up half of it. It often much easier to just not pay attention altogether. And what can I say-I'm a daydreamer. I think they don't completely understand how that is with the language and tuning out of it sometimes. I work very hard at trying to listen and learn but I need a break sometime from German. We were able to talk about all of this and I'm really happy that we had the talk. I learned a lot about myself that I could only get from another person's observation. It's not as if things were bad before but now I feel much better about my work and my relationship with them and feel much more comfortable knowing where I stand with them. I also told Sonja and Rolf that they have to tell me next time they think I'm too much "in my own world."
Thursday night we had this talk and Friday night I left for Hamburg. I decided to use the rest of my Eurail pass to meet with 4 other trainees who were going there mainly for a concert Saturday night. It was an enjoyable weekend with the others at the concert, as well as seeing the other sights of the city such as the Harbour, Weinachtmarkts (Christmas Markets), and the infamous Reeperbahn.
Yesterday and today's work was pretty tiresome as far as work is concerned. We are getting the extra rooms cleaned for Christmas and the family that is coming then. This house has tons of space. Not only do they have a whole 2 bedroom apartment between their house and the parents house, but they have an attic with 4 beds as well as a huge basement with a room-a room that hadn't been slept in or cleaned for 10 years. Needless to mention, there was a lot of dust which was not cool for the allergies. But I must say it looks really good now. Monday, Sonja's brother dropped off his 6 year old son and 4 year old daughter to stay here for the next ten days. I enjoy them being around, makes things a little more interesting.