Baby Harvey wants a sausage.

Bonjour! I hoe you all had a great weekend! I know I did!

Let’s see. So last Monday and Tuesday, I stayed home with the host family and just chilled out around here  

My house! Right in the vineyards (that my host dad owns) and on the Lake! It’s so beautiful!

My host dad’s wine cellar. Yes. He has a separate building for his wine.

My house from the front  

The wine cellar, the Alps, France, and Lake Geneva!

The view from my window. Not sure how little ole’ Hickory Street will compare when I get back. . . .

Wednesday, I met up with Becky in Lausanne and we decided to take a boat to France! To Evian to be exact, which is where Evian water comes from! Haha. We go to France to visit a water bottle factory.

“The city of Evian. A natural beauty”

Me in front of Lake Geneva, looking at Switzerland! Normally, it’s the other way around  

In front of the World War 1 memorial.

A famous building that I forgot the name of. . . .Haha. But it’s pretty to look at!

Becky and I!

That night, I went to Morges, which is on the other side of Lausanne. Jenna and I were house-sitting for Zion and her host family, so we had a little sleepover and made Mexican! Which I haven’t had in forever! I can’t wait to have Mexican food again when I get back! 

Thursday, we headed to the other side of Switzerland to go to Lichtenstein and have a little good-bye party for Kathleen, who is leaving next week already! It is so surreal that the time is coming to start saying good-bye.  

The party crew doing the Kathleen pose! From left to right, Sophie, Eddie, Jenna, Michelle, Kathleen and I!

Sophie and I! It is so hard not to love her! She is just so cute! She is originally Chinese but when she was younger, her family moved to Canada, and now she is in Switzerland! She has just the cutest accent ever!

Eddie and I! Go America!

Oh Kathleen. The first day we met, we ended up getting in a helicopter and taking a ride over the Alps. She is going home early because she is going to be working as a forest firefighter, and has to be there for training in May. I think I speak for all of us here when I say we are going to miss her! She is so hilarious! I’ll miss you Kathleen. It’s been amazing being here with you

After wandering for a little bit, we went to this park and had a little picnic! And Jenna and I made Eggy! See him?! I know. He’s cute.  

After our lunch, we just chilled, laughed, talked and smiled and enjoyed our time with Kathleen!

Friday, Jenna and I just chilled out in Lausanne. Not super exciting, but we did treat ourselves to lunch Since normally we just go to a grocery store. But, no, we upgraded to a little restaurant. Fancy.

Saturday, I stayed at home with the host family! There was this little festival going on that I went to with my host sister, Line, and then, after dinner, I headed to Jenna’s house in Luzern, because the next day we had our last Rotary event, and in order for me to get there from where I live, I would have had to leave at 00:57am. I think not. So to Jenna’s house Becky and I went, since she had the same problem.

Sunday, we woke up early so we could get to Glarus on time.

There, we were going to see the Landsgemeide, which is the oldest form of true democracy. It is still done in only 2 of the 26 cantons, and basically, once a year, everyone from the canton gathers in the cantonal capital and gather round in a large circle, and vote on all the issues from the past year. They also elect their new mayor and other members for the year. It is so cool! They all just hold up their hands if they want to vote on things!

If you want to learn more about it, just click on the link  

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsgemeinde

Anyway, so once we got there, we, of course, had to hurry up and wait (typical), so we took some photos, since it’s the last time I’ll be seeing some of these people  

Stefan and I! He is one of our Rotex (my personal favorite) and he is always at all the events and is just so nice! We all love him! He did his exchange year in Wisconsin 2 years ago. It is just so weird that I won’t have to chance to see him before I leave again.

The infamous YodA. This picture perfectly describes his personality. I will definitely be visiting him in Canada next year! Never ceases to make everyone laugh!

Liz (newbie from Australia) and I! With YodA creeping in the back. . . . Ruined my picture. . . Geez. . . .

Winnie and I! Haha. I couldn’t stop laughing about something she said! So all the pictures that were taken, I look like this. Weird. Haha.

The Landsgemeinde! See how everyone is just standing around, and then when the time comes to vote, after the issue is explained, they just raise their hand and vote! So cool!

Me listening in! Even though it was in German, and being the Frenchie that I am, I , as usual, didn’t understand anything. Welcome to my life. Haha. So unfortunate being the minority. . . .  

Another reason I love Switzerland. We were walking through all the little booths they had set u, and we found this Finding Nemo fishing game. And the advertisement for it said that. “Very Interesting Angling game. Children of Love most”. Okay? Haha. Love it. What great English.  

After wandering around and checking it out, we went into this conference room, where a guy came in and explained to us how it works, the history, etc. . . of the Landsgemeide! After, we all signed each others books, flags, exchanged pins, etc. since we had some time to burn! And after that, we headed out to a restaurant

Ben, with his Justin Bieber hair, and I!

This picture describes Becky and mine relationship #1.

This picture describes Becky and mine relationship #2.

German Andrew and I!!!

Sophie, my little Frenchie newbie, and I!

Phoebe and I. This girl seriously needs to be on a reality show. I feel as though the whole world would love it. Haha. She is just too funny.  

After we waited for ages to go in, we finally made it to the table! Nicole, Andrew, Jenna, Becky, me, and YodA shared a table and awaited our “traditional meal” as they called it. Anticipation was building. . . . Building. . . . .Building. . . . .Plus, I was so hungry, as was my little food baby Harvey, and oh, the smell in there was so good. I just couldn’t wait. Haha.

And the “traditional meal” arrives! And Andrew goes in the the veal! Yum! Haha.

And, finally, Becky, me, and YodA with our veal and potatoes! Yummy!

I found my calling.

Where I live here in Switzerland is beautiful and everything. But BALLENBERG IS WHERE IT IS!

Okay. So you all know of Williamsburg, Virginia, right?

Well. It is basically one of my favorite places of all time. I just love it! I love looking at the old building, I love the history, I love how interactive it is, I love basically everything about it.

I. Laura. Am pleased to announce that I have discovered the Swiss version of Williamsburg.

It is called. . . . . Ballenberg.

It is in central Switzerland, on a mountain.

What they did was take old houses from all over Switzerland and move them to Ballenberg! So they aren’t models or reconstructed, they are the original houses that Swiss people used to live in way back when! A lot of them were from the 14 and 1500’s! And you can walk al through the house! (I love looking at houses!) and they have it all set up like it was back then, and they have signs that explain what this was and what that was and there are people demonstrating things, like I watched a demonstration on how to make cheese, on how they made clothes, etc. and it was just. So up my alley!!!!! I love it! I wish I could live there!!!!!!

I am definitely going back when Mom comes here in June. As an excuse so I can go back!  

So, last Saturday, I went with my host family and my counselor and his family and we got there right when the gates opened at 10am and left at 5pm. I was running from house to house I was so excited! Haha. I LOVED it! I took way too many photos, so I went through and chose the best ones, so to say, (there are 88.  . . . ) and put them into a Picasa album, because my blog would freak out if I tried to put in 88 pictures.

So, if you want to look at the pictures, all you have to do is click here ------------->  Ballenberg Photos!

 

So, let’s see. What else.

MOM, DAD, AND BECCA ARE COMING IN 46 DAYS! Can you believe it?!?!?!?! I sure can’t! I mean, wow. I just don’t know what to do with myself!

It is crazy. This year has been everything I could of asked for. Amazing.

Well. My blog is now up to date. I will be gone for the next 4 days, traveling around with other exchange students since this is the last week of vacation, so after that, I will fill you in on those adventures!!! Talk to you all soon!

Laura

Shenanigans.

Last Wednesday, I went to see my big sister, Vera! If you don’t remember her, she lived with us in the States 3 years ago, and she is part of the reason I wanted to become an exchange student! So, off to Weinfelden, on the other side of Switzerland, I went!

We actually met up in St. Gallen, which is over by the German and Austrian boarder. We went to Migros, got some food and then had a little picnic lunch After, we headed to a chocolate factory! One of the plus sides to Switzerland, the chocolate factories are supreme!

Vera with free sample #1! Free samples = yes. I’m all over that. Haha.

Afterwards, we headed back to her house! We were going to have a little cook-out for dinner, so we had to cut wood. And I, Laura, am happy to say that I still have muscles! Or enough at least to cut wood! How I still have them, I have no idea. But I do. Win.  

Vera, me, and her dad, Martin!

Vera and I cooking the sausages! I am so going to miss those German bratwurst next year. Ah. They are so delicious!

Serving dinner!

After dinner, we watched episodes of CSI: New York, since I have the DVD’s and that was her favorite show back in Kansas And then off to bed!

Thursday, I was heading to Bern to meet up with Noemi, who lived with us in the States last year! So, my train was at 9:59, platform 3.

It takes 10 minutes to walk from Vera’s house.

No surprise, I had a million bags and was trying to fit everything, and so at 9:53, I was still packing and grabbing my stuff.

  So, I run out of the house and Vera had gotten 2 bikes out, because we weren’t going to make it, even running. The problem, the bikes were so tall! I mean, I am tall, but these bikes must have been 7 feet tall! So, as we are going up her street, I am trying to hop onto the bike, but I just couldn’t make it! So, I literally throw the bike to the side of the road and start running for it!

But, on the back of Vera’s bike is this little shelf type thing where you can put bags, so she is yelling at me to “Just get on!!! You aren’t going to make the train! Get on!!” So I run and jump on and make it! Haha.

( I feel it is important to mention I was wearing a dress, and sitting on a bike like that doesn’t work in a dress. So, everyone in Weinfelden knows I was wearing pink flowered underwear now) 

So we are going downhill, on a bike, with 2 people. We were flying! I was screaming, afraid we were going to crash and fall. Vera is telling me to be quiet and still otherwise we will crash, and everyone on the sidewalk and street is staring at us.

But, after that terrifying yet hilarious experience, I am happy to say I made the train!

And after, as I was on the train to Bern, she texts me saying “You know, it’s illegal to ride on a bike with 2 people in Switzerland, so if we would of gotten a ticket, I would have made you pay .

So kind of her  

Okay, so in Bern, I met up with Jenna and then Noemi, who, like I said, lived with us last year!

We walked around, went to this restaurant, which was SO AMERICAN it freaked me out! I haven’t been to a place like that in almost 9 months, and it was just wow. So American.

After, we went to the Parliament building! Which is where the Swiss make their laws, etc. It was really cool!

After, Jenna and I said bye to Noemi and then we went to Jenna’s house to get an overnight bag and then we headed back to Vera’s house!

Once there, we just made dinner and then went to bed because we were SO tired!

Another funny story. So, Jenna and I were sleeping in the same bed, and when we went to bed, we were freezing, so we had 3 huge blankets, and we obviously heated up fast. Also since Jenna is literally a human heater! So, I thought she had fallen asleep, but I was literally dying of heat, so I kick off my socks, I kick off the covers, and am sweating! At this point, we had been “sleeping” for 3 or so hours, and so I roll over and Jenna talks to me, and is like “are you dying of heat too?!” Haha. So we kick the covers off, I go and open all the windows in the room and start to cool down. Then I decide that I will just sleep on the floor since it’s cooler down there, so I make a blanket bed and sleep there. But apparently, I was snoring super loud, since I had a cold and couldn’t breathe out of my nose, and so, since she knows I never snore, I guess she thought I was dying or something. haha. So, moving on, I wake up now and it’s daylight (but it was still only 6am) and I was shaking I was so cold! But there were no blankets and Jenna was taking over the bed, and I felt bad waking her up, so I just layed there on the floor freezing. After 5 minutes, (I was staring at her hoping she would wake up) Jenna rolls over, wide awake, and is like “I'm freezing!” And I was like ME TOO! So then I climbed into bed, we grabbed the blankets I was sleeping on, and we instantly heated back up. Haha. Then we layed in bed watching movies all day Traveling around is lots of fun, but sometimes, it’s nice to take a day off, in your p.j.’s, laying in bed with your best friend, watching chick flicks and eating pasta and brownies.

Around 2, when Jenna and I finally decided to get out of bed, we moved into Vera’s room, where we played dress up and danced to Taylor Swift songs.

Graduate!!! (Vera’s high school graduation stuff ) haha.

“Oh my! I’m so proud of you Laura! You finally passed art!” – Jenna.

And with the big sis!

Jenna and I left Vera’s at 5pm then and headed to Fribourg!

Jenna!

Me! I must say, we made quite a change from our nighty with bed head and no make-up to this. Haha.

Once in Fribourg, we met up with Brandon, Cristina, Ian, and Andrew and the 6 of us were going to go out dancing. So we go to the club, but it’s not open yet, so we go across the street to this park and started playing Disney charades! Haha. Kids at heart. But Ian kept cheating and using Pixar movies, so we changed it to where it was just all children’s movies. People were staring at us like we were stupid drunk kids, I don’t know why. I mean, yes, we were jumping around trying to guess the movie and screaming and shouting out guesses, and the whenever we acted them out, we looked ridiculous, but still. . . . .haha.  

So, once the club opened, we got tickets and went inside, but it was so disappointing. The music was some annoying techo thingy that they played the whole hour we lasted in there. I mean, NO ONE was dancing. At all. Because there was no way to dance to that. So after literally falling asleep, Jenna and Andrew decide to make the best of it and go out into the middle of the floor and start dancing, and then Brandon and I decide to go, and we looked so funny! I mean, there was NO one dancing, and everyone was just staring at the weird foreigners doing weird dance moves. Haha. That’s us for ya!

Afterwards, we had to run back to the train station so we didn’t miss our train (we barely made it) and then Jenna came back to my house for a sleepover!

Going caveing.

After our Roman adventure, Becky came over to my house and we had a sleepover!

After we finally went to bed at 4am, we woke up around 10, got up and dressed and then headed out to the canton Wallis, which is where the Matterhorn and lots of other big mountains are! Destination: St. Leonard.

In St. Leonard, there is a cave. And in the cave, is a lake. And in the lake are boats. And in the boats, was us.   Hence, the St. Leonard Underground Lake.

Becky and I on our way to St. Leonard!

Shot from the train!

Warning: My pictures are all really bad, so once I get Becky’s, I will put them up. But until then, sorry.

This is the opening of the cave, and also the lake!

Me in front of the boats waiting to get on!

In the cave!

And afterwards! You can’t see it, but the cave is behind me