Early Saturday Morning Post

Ok, well it's not that early, it's 9:50. But Saturday are typically eating breakfast as a family days. Which is actually more like brunch since it's always late. It's annoying because typically I can't sleep in when I'm used to getting earlier. I almost always wake up like a couple minutes before my alarm clock because my body is smart like that. Today I did pretty well, sleeping in till 9:30. I went straight for the computer, my room is still dark since I didn't even bother to put the roller's up. If you don't know what those are then you've never been to Switzerland or maybe you do know...Even if I did open them there I doubt there is much sun to be seen. My little MSN today weather thing says today is a high of 12 degrees and a low of 12 degress, with a cloud and rain next to it, not so different from the rest of this week.
The work week was alright. I spent quite a bit of time playing with Sarah. I enjoy playing with her, but for short amounts of time and the less pretend the better. We almost always play doctor. I normally like when I'm the patient and I just lay there, but not when she wants me to make birthing noises for 10 minutes. "MACH!" she always says, ugh..."Ich will nicht." Once I'm healthy again then I have to be the doctor or "Krankenhaus"(which actually means 'hospital') She means 'Krankenschwester', a nurse. She just dictates everything I'm suposed to do and I don't always understand what she means and then she gets annoyed. I laugh.
I normally spend most of my time with Simon and Sarah. Yesterday Simon was at a friends house and Sarah has school till 4:30. Elke and her mom were shopping the whole day in Germany. I ironed the whole morning. I then made lunch for Tim and Andre. In the afternoon Tim asked if I wanted to go bike riding with him. He normally does things with friends and I'm with the other two. So we went bike riding in the woods and went to Volg and bought chocolate. It was still rainy and cool though. We went back and watched an episode of Zack and Cody till Sarah got home.
I don't really have anything planned this weekend. I'm invited to go with the family to a neighbor's birthday party this afternoon. Unfortunately, the party is at the exact same time that the kick off of the European Cup begins, in Basel. Which is a pretty big event. The countdown sign and the train stations, that have been up for over a year are finally down to just hours. The city will be crazy with partys despite the weather. I would love to be there as well, but I don't have anyone to go with me. Makes me a little sad, especially since before I had Katie and then Rich, a 10 minute walk away. They're both gone now.
I'm gonna get take a shower now, or at least after I listen to my bbc Friday night pub quiz podcast. It's funny.

Playing with fire

Friday I went along with Geigers to a kid's circus in the neighboring village. I don't think they could do some of the things they did in the states with the kids, for example dipping their hands in gas or alcohol then lighting them on fire! It's better when people don't have to be so strict about those things. It was cute in any case.
Saturday I went to the flea market in Zurich for the second time around. Rebecca wanted to go so we went. I love the flea market there, if I didn't mention that before. It has nice things, unlike the ones in the US. I like Zurich aw well, although I'm not supossed to say that being from Basel. They kind of have this rivalry that started I suppose with football, but I'm not exactly sure. Some people there are minted though. I've seen more bentleys and ferraris there than I've ever seen in my life. In Zurich you can also rent bikes there for free. We wanted to do that, but you have to put down 20 bucks and an ID card. I'm half to blame for forgetting my swiss "foreigner id card" and I blame the rest on the dumb man that wouldn't accept my drivers license as an acceptable form of id. So that kind of sucked.
Monday was a rather pleasant working day for me. I ironed in the morning then spent the rest of the day with Simon, bike riding, playing computer, and dancing. It was just me and him for lunch as well and he wanted me to make "my pancakes" for him, that I had made Friday night. My parents brought a box of hungry jack pancake mix for me and syrup. Comfort food :) The kids really liked them as well. But Simon said the syrup is too sweet so instead he eats them with a pile of sugar on top. Really.
Today I cleaned. When I visited Schowalters, Nikki said she will never clean "like a German." I have to agree with that. Generalisations are not something I like to make, but I'm gonna go with it anyway. I cleaned things this entire year that I would never think to clean myself. For example, doors, the rim between the floor and the wall, and the indents on the buttons on the oven (with a toothpick!). I also think a lot of time and energy would be saved if they just took all the calcium out of the water. So much time is spent getting rid of it. I guess the vinegar lobby is strong in Germany and Switzerland. I dunno...
The weather has been pretty pathetic here. It's been cool, rainy, then a bit of sun and hotness, then windy. I'm not a fan. I'm trying to talk to my dad on Skype now and type this and I seem to be incapable of doing both.

Driving Around the Place

My parents visit came and went so fast. I really enjoyed it, although the beginning stated out a bit rough. The time at Geigers was fine. But Paris, although overall enjoyable had some rough patches. Jessica one month ago had also done some traveling with her parents. She said the first few days she was really moody with them. Then she got used to them. That was her, but I will just be too happy that I won't get like that. Somehow I did. Partly based on the circumstances of the horrible hotel and the ignorant people running it, the other was just me being critical. It just took some getting used to. Maybe part of the reason is, family is really the only people I can truely let all my frustration out in perhaps not always the most mature ways. So they got nine months of things I had pushed aside dumped out on them. Really my attitude only lasted a day and a half. Then I was fine. Our trip ended up being two nights in each place-Paris, Netherlands (staying with a friend my dad worked with in Burkina Faso, and his family), Zwickau, Germany(with my former host mom's brother), then back to Dorndorf for the weekend. From each of those places we made a day trips to Keukenhof(where all the tulips are), Dresden and Munich. I loved being back at Schowalters. I really love that family. It was good to have Nikki there as well to be with.

Sunday night we were back in Lupsingen. Monday was a holiday, Pentecost, so I had off. My parents and I drove to Vevey to visit friends of my moms from when she lived in Haiti. I remembered them since they visited us in Burkina. They live by lake Geneva. I didn't know it would be so pretty. We took the boat to a castle, toured that, then walked along the lake through Montreux. My parents stayed there a night, then went to Geneva for a night. I took the train home Monday and was back to work on Tuesday. I spent a couple hours every day last week on the latest project of collecting stones in the yard. Geigers are redoing? thier yard and now it's just dirt. They have to take a machine over it, so there can be too many rocks. I hate the job because it is seemingly endless. I could work in one spot for an hour and still not guarantee that there are no stones there. It's still not finished-I don't actually see an end to it, so I will be confronted with this job again. Hopefully not too much more of it.
I was happy when Friday came and had to catch a bus at 16:20 to get to the trainee spring retreat for the German and Swiss trainees. Unlike the majority of them, who spent half the day traveling. I was there in less than an hour. It was at some salvation army house, slightly isolated, that is used for these type of gatherings. It was good to see them all again. I did kind of like the fact that I didn't have to be so far from home. Saturday we spent most of the day in Basel, doing as it unfortunately turned out to be, a non-competitive scavenger hunt, as well as some shopping. Sunday we went to Debbie's church, then had our lunch there.
Jessica stayed overnight at Debbie's Sunday night for a meeting, then came over to Geigers before lunch. That made my work day very pleasant. She and I(i just realized writing this that out loud I would say "me and her", although I don't personally care) played with the kids most of the afternoon. I love it when we can be with the kids together. I'm glad she loved it here so much that she keeps finding ways to come back. At night, the neighbors, Rudy and Monica came over and visited. They're good friends with my host parents so I'm getting to know them pretty good. They're really nice people as well as their two daughters that are often around as well.
Jessica and I ended up staying up late talking as we always do. Surprisingly though I didn't feel that tired today although it's beginning to set in.
Elke's mom is here now till the end of June for a visit. Obviously a very extended one, which is normal for her. It makes things a little different around here. For example I do less dishes, but then I also am more likely to stay home when they both go shopping. Oh well. Anyways she's nice just like Elke, they are actually so much alike.
Anyways, I think my ramblings are done for the day.

Laufen in Lupsingen

Last weekend I went to Jessica's placement in Germany, near Worms. It was her birthday so we went shopping, to a movie, and then out to eat. Her host family had "kaffee and kuchen" for her on Sunday.
This weeks work came a little more difficult than usual. I think it's because I'm looking forward to my parents visit coming this Thusday!! I'm excited. I can't believe I'm gonna see them again after 9 months!
Nearly every evening this week I went over to Katies and hung out there. Thursday night I did go to youth group here. It's only the second time that I've been. It's so hard there because it's always in swiss german and I really don't understand it well. Actually there wasn't even a bible study we just prayed nearly the whole time. I think I dosed off a couple times. I do like the people. It's more the language thing than anything.
Katie left early this morning to travel a bit more in Europe then back to States. I will miss her and my shirt that I forgot to get back from her. It was since she was leaving that I thought I'd see her when I could last week. On Tuesday, the woman she lived with, son came over from England and is here till he feels like going back.
Today was the "Lupsingen Lauf" aka run. It's mostly for the kids but adults can run in it too. They run about 2 km, then later go to the gym to get prizes and have food and drink. I watched some of the event, then checked out the prize giveaway with Rich, the guy from england. It was a little humorous when I was buying ice cream. Rich was standing next to me. The lady thought he was standing in line too and he said in English, no I'm just waiting. She then said something in English, then the other lady selling ice cream as well. I heard 2 more comments in English from behind me. I just had to laugh how excited they got to use their English. I never speak English otherwise so it doesn't happen. Today was perfect spring weather. We haven't had much of it yet. So I couldn't get enough of it today.

Um um um...

The weather was gross all this past week. So when it came to the weekend I kind of had to force myself to be active. But it turned out fine. Luckily the weather was also better. Friday night I met up with Katy, the girl from Minnesota. On Saturday we decided to go to Zürich since she only has to weeks left in Switzerland she though she should get around a bit. I enjoyed the day. The highlight of it being a flea market. It was pretty cool, actually. Better than the flea markets in the states, like you can find some pretty good souvenirs there. They have swiss army knives by the dozen. And I just remembered while writing this that I wanted to visit those Mennonite things in Zürich. Oops I forgot. There is something there, I think, and I do want to. That night we decided to go into Basel. We started talking to these people on the train there who were going to some funk/jazz club. Since we didn't have any specific direction it worked out well. Meeting people on public transportation is working out really well. Another advantage of it.
Sunday, I assumed I would go to church, I've only been to Elke's like twice. But Andre and the boys went to a car race and she didn't go. So the day was pretty lazy for me. I also wanted to go to an FCB game with Debbie but she was sick. I guess I won't make it to one at all. Not that I still couldn't have gone by myself. I just didn't really feel like going alone. O well. I did go for a walk in the evening and then we went out to eat for supper.
Today I did my usual tasks of vacuming, mopping, ironing, picking Simon up, and going for a walk with Simon and Sarah. I don't really enjoy walking with them when they have bikes or scooters and I'm on foot. It's hard to control them. I was over at Katy's for a couple hours this evening. I am really glad we met.

Over the weekend the two other Swiss trainees came down their mountains and Rebecca and I spent the day with them in Basel and met up with Debbie at night and stayed overnight at her place. On Sunday we watched the FCB(not Barcelona or Bayern) FCB only means on thing here-Basel game on TV. It was kind of a big game so Debbie said that we would go into the city for the after celebrations but she didn't feel like it then, the weather wasn't great so I and the others didn't protest. Speaking of football, to give you an idea of what things are like here at this point in time, I can't go to the store, turn on the tv, or read the newspaper without being reminded about the European Cup that's coming up in June, with some of the games being in Basel.
Sunday on the bus ride home I noticed the girls I was sitting beside was reading a book in English so I asked where she was from. It's turns out she from Minnesota, and living in the Lupsingen as well. It's not that strange to find an American in CH, but in Lupsingen...Anyways she's here till may doing student teaching at the international school. So some extra company :) That is why you should talk to strangers. Sometimes I'm too shy to start conversations on trains and such. But to me it's like a Carpe Diem thing. I never regret it when I do, so I try to do it. My personality is such that usually requires the extra push on my part.
Monday night Elke and Andre were at the neighbors and I had to put the kids to bed. It's always a struggle to put them to bed, but they did fall asleep even before 10. I also went to bed around 11:30. I woke up around 1 to hear Simon screaming for his mommy. I then ran upstairs to Elke and Andres room where he and Sarah had gone to sleep and Sarah was not there. Simon told me that she went to get her parents. Scheisse! I ran to get the phone book to call them. As I'm scrambling through it I hear her come in along with Andre and Elke. I was slightly panicked especially since in the past she has gotten the idea to drive the car. I felt pretty angry with her and expected her parents to be the same. They weren't. The idea of her just walking out at 1 in the morning to get her parents is slightly humorous. Simon wakes up asking for mommy-OK she'll go get mommy. That's just how she is.
The weather since Sunday here has been rainy and cold. I'm tired of it. I think I'm also coming down with a cold, my head didn't feel the best today. But of course I'm bound to get sick here, when I spend so much time with kids. I'm not at all OCD but sometimes(all the time), I just cringe at the things they do.

April April!

During the day while I'm working I think about things I should do when I'm done like study german, write emails, clean my room, write in my blog-whatever...I guess my bedroom door as some kind of special brain washer thing that makes me forget about those things. I only remember to get on facebook and watch the daily show/colbert report. Hmm...
To my credit I have seemed to be pretty busy these past few weeks. The day before Jessica and her family came I took a train to Strasbourg for the day because I had to get my visa. I had some issues with the visa, well actually really the only issue was this woman (...well there is another word for what she was) I spoke with on the phone at the Swiss Embassy in New York who tried to tell me, in the rudest way I've ever been spoken to on the phone, that I would need to go to New York to get the thing. Luckily, she was the only one that seemed to have this idea. So I took a day trip to Strasbourg. I enjoyed it, did some shopping, spoke some french. I realized how independent I am, which I like to be. I just get on the bus, and an hour later I'm in a different country with only an address of the consulate. I didn't even call ahead. I didn't even know I was arriving there 20 minutes before the place closed, so lucky me.
On Tuesday, I went with the whole Geiger family and with Jess and parents to Lucerne. We first took a boat on the lake, then we headed up to mount Pilatus which was nice, cause I just think it would be a little sad if I came to Switzerland and never went up a big mountain. In the late afternoon/evening we walked around Lucerne a bit. It's funny because the whole time I enjoyed having the kids around. Sarah just makes things a little more interesting. However, I sat next to her on the car ride home and I was dying to get out of that car. That just how it is with her. Jess describes her like this, and I would to, "One minute you want to give her big hug, then the next you want to pull your hair out." I think described in similarly before.
Yesterday, I went to Rebecca's for her birthday dinner. Debbie was there too. She wished for borritos, so that's what we had. I miss my tex mex food. I think she had a good birthday. However, I talked to her today and she said she and her host sister were throwing up the whole night.
My parents and I are trying to plan the details of their visit which in in less than one month now! I know that will be a good time.
I guess I should explain the blog title-It's the German version of April fools. It's funner to say I think.