Rain, rain, go away...

Unfortunately, it did start raining again, and my plans to explore were thwarted once again by the inclement weather. So instead I stayed at home, like a good little girl, and did my college research. I have decided I don't think I want to go to college in Canada. Today we had our math test, and one girl in my class here only lasted about ten minutes before she tried to hand in her paper and burst into tears, saying she didn't know how to do any of it. I felt really bad for her, and a few of the others did the same thing and handed their papers in really early without having done very much. I was the last one to hand mine in, of course, and then we were all free for the day, and it was only around 11:30. Kim asked me if I wanted to come with her and some others to get lunch in the city and then go with Lucie to see of friend of theirs. I agreed to go, although not because I really wanted to, but more because I thought I should continue to try to be social. So we went to the city, found Ken, and went to lunch at - guess where - that's right, McDonald's. One of the guys, Nicolas, got a huge soda, almost 1 liter. And I keep thinking, I'm supposed to be the American, right? But they all go shopping and eat fast food so much more than I ever have. Anyway, after that, Lucie, Kim and I went to find this friend of there's. I asked who he was, and what we were going to do, but I got no real answer. So we turn up in Onex, and he and Thomas are there. And they all pull out their cigarettes and walk to a park, where we sit ourselves down on a bench and we end up staying there for about 3 hours. I was bored out of my mind, and was wondering how they enjoyed doing things like this as a way of being social. Smoke together, shop together, drink together. They smoked more than just cigarettes, and when it started to rain we went to one of the guys' apartment and did the same thing there, only there was a TV in front of us with a terrible, old, American movie about some guy in LA and lots of shooting, where the bad guys were all black. Not only that, but it was badly dubbed in French. So I sat on the couch there until they decided they were ready to go home, and I have only now gotten back to Kim's house. One of the guys was kind of nice, and spoke very good English because he had lived in London with his girlfriend for three years, so it was nice to talk to him about that, because he was obviously happy to have a chance to practice his English. So now I am back here, very tired, headache-y and hungry. I am going to try to go to bed really early tonight, I think.

Walking the Dog

With only 17 days left until I come back, I'm now at the point where I have to make sure I do everything that I wanted to do before I leave. On the 19th our class is going to Annecy, in France, for a day trip. Next Wednesday I might go with Maryse to the Red Cross, and this Saturday or Sunday I might go to the U.N. with Marie and Rachel. Yesterday we had our three hour long, torturous French test, and I thought I had done terribly, and actually dreamt last night that I had gotten the worst score and that the school was mad at me, but today the French teacher showed me what I had done and its not bad. Not a perfect score, but way better that I had expected. Today they had English, which I happily didn't have to take, but tomorrow is the math test. So today I plan on taking my bag with some math work in it, putting the dog on a leash, and going for a little exploratory walk around Chancy. I've walked around here before, but I thought I might go in a different direction today. Hopefully it won't start raining again.

Motorcycles and McDonald's

First motorcycles... On Friday evening, Kim's best friend, Lucie, invited me to go out with her, and some other people who live near her in France. She and her father picked me up around nine, and we drove to her house in Farges, and then walked to the house of her friend, Margot. We hung around there for a bit, waiting for her jeans to dry, and two guys, friends of theirs who I had met before came up on their motorcycles. So when Margot was ready, we all found helmets, and she got her scooter, while Lucie and I each got on behind one of the guys. I went on a motorcycle!!! I thought I would be scared, but it was exhilarating and awesome. We went to two different bars, and one of them was called Blue Moon. We had a good time, they were all very nice, and talked to me quite a bit, which I appreciate. I slept at Lucie's house that night, or morning rather, because I didn't get to bed until almost 3 AM. Next morning I went shoe shopping with Lucie and her mom, and it was pouring rain outside. She got her shoes and we went to a mall, while her mom got groceries, Lucie looked at playboy stuff, and got a tank top that says cherry up on it, with two happy cherries. The amount of European clothing with writing in English on it is astounding, there is really so much of it, and they buy it without knowing what it says. So that was nice, we went back to her house, watched Taxi, which was very good, and then her brother brought me home.

Now for McDonald's... Later that evening, I took the bus to school to meet Kim and Ken at the 12th grade class play, called Three Diamonds and a Woman, which was kind of boring, but alright. It was my second time seeing it. Matthieu, a guy in my class here, was in their play as a small part, and he was great, really funny. He played the grandfather, and was bouncing up and down in his chair and shaking like crazy, and repeating himself very loudly. After the play ended, really late for a play, around 10:30, I think, I went with Kim, Ken, Matthieu, and Joel, a guy who used to be in their class, to a historic site - Switzerland's first McDonald's, in Geneva. I was the only one who didn't get anything. McDonald's is so expensive here in comparison to the US, and it is never my favorite food, so I'm really not tempted, but they all go there all the time. I have been to McDonald's more times since I have been here than I have in at least the last six months in the US. Kim and I couldn't stay out too late, because the last bus home left at 1:30, so while we did go to a bar with the guys, we could only stay for 20 minutes. The bar was called the LA Cafe, I thought that was funny. The inside had a lot of Hollywood memorabilia and stuff. So after the long bus ride home, I went to sleep at 2:30 AM for the second night in a row.

The next day I slept in, and Kim and I stayed home and did homework, and Ken came over in the afternoon, and that was the extent of my weekend. Fun, tiring, and feeling far too short. In my opinion, three day weekends are better, and vacations are best. I can't wait for this summer!

Continued...

Part two of my Swiss cheese adventure
We found the hotel after driving around confused for a bit, and stopping to eat our picnic dinner in the car because it was raining outside. The directions to the hotel were very vague, something like, "Turn right after the first forest beyond this town." So that really confused us for a while, and then Maryse just found it, through her instinctive bed-finding ability. It was a small hotel and restaurant on an organic farm, and the whole thing was beautiful and hilariously Waldorf-y looking, with doors frames without any right angles at the top, the distinctive Waldorf font used for the sign, and typical Waldorfian clothes, books, and toys being sold at the hotel's gift shop. Our room was beautiful, green, and had a balcony and just felt so peaceful overall. In the morning we got up fairly early, and Maryse and I went to a little indoor gardening area where we sat and read or wrote until the breakfast was available. The breakfast was amazingly good, with much of it produced from the farm. There was coffee and tea, croissants, bread, many different cheeses (including a very good carrot one), jelly, yogurt, granola, cereal, juice, and fruit. It felt like the perfect breakfast. Afterward we went with Michael to the farm's cheesemaker, who very kindly offered to give us a little tour and explanation of how he managed the farm and the cheese-making. This was the first time I had experienced a Swiss-German area of Switzerland, but the cheese-maker spoke very good English with us. After that, we walked around the farm a little bit, checked out the bee hives, the cows, and two adorable kittens, which made me think of the two that my family will be getting soon at home. Maryse saw some rocks that she was interested in getting for her garden, so we drove the car down, loaded up the trunk with rocks, and set out the second part of our great cheese adventure. We drove through a lot of incredibly picturesque farmland, and through Vully (I think), and Montreux. The mountains towering over the lake looked incredible, and it made me feel very surrounded and shut in, in a way. We passed into France, and there was a policeman checking each car as it passed through, but he let us go right away, because of Maryse's smile as we drove up. She got teased about that for a bit as we continued on to Evian, home of the Evian bottled water company. It was a bizarre place, because it is a casino town, which contrasted weirdly with a feeling of quaintness at the same time, but it was really hot and expensive there, and most things were closed because it was a holiday, so we didn't stay for long. We eventually got to our next destination of Abondance, a small village in the French mountains known for a type of cheese that is illegal in the U.S.. Michael got some, and we walked around for a bit. While walking past a group of kids, one of the boys who was probably around 13 years old, asked Maryse where she was from. She told him, and then Michael said he was from California, and then I said I was from New York, but the kid didn't believe me and asked if I spoke English, but I didn't understand him. Then Maryse explained, and I said "Yes," very emphatically, I guess, and the kid looked really surprised and walked away, and Maryse started laughing. It must be surprising to find two people from different parts of America, and one from Switzerland walking through your small village, while the only tourist draw is during the winter for skiing. So that was our last stop before heading back to Geneva, where Maryse and Michael dropped me off at Kim's house.

Overall, I had a really great time, saw some amazing things, ate really good food, won the navigating contest between me and Michael, and learned a lot about cheese-making.

A lot has happened...

So, I went on the two-day cheese tour of the area of Switzerland and France around Lac Leman, had a really good time, saw some incredible mountains, ate some really good cheese, and saw more of Switzerland in general, which is a really beautiful country, from what I've seen.
On the first day, Maryse and a friend of hers, Michael, for whose benefit we were taking this tour because he wants to become a cheese-maker, picked me up at Laconnex. We went to a small, traditional cheese-maker in the mountains above Gruyere, watched his demonstration, and afterward had lunch outside. The lunch was the most amazing fondue I have ever had, with bread and white wine, and it was perfect. After that, Michael managed to get a contact number for a traditional cheese-maker who might be interested in hiring him for a few months, and we called and he agreed to meet us later. So we headed down to Gruyere to check out how the classic Gruyere cheese is made in a much more modern way at their tourism center. That was not as interesting, but we did get to listen to an audioguide that was very entertaining, because it was told from the perspective of Cherry, the cow, who assured us of lots of strange facts in a high, slightly irritating voice. But still, it was all very interesting. Then we walked up to Gruyere village and castle, which I loved. It was super touristy, but absolutely beautiful. The castle was perfect, up on top of the hill, and there were amazing views in every direction. There was also the unexpected added bonus of a creapy-looking museum dedicated to aliens, and a man who had spent his life creating art about them. There was an alien-based cafe also, and all of the walls and chairs and decorations were skeletal and bizarre. There was an old woman sitting alone in one of the skeletal chairs and she looked so lost and out of place there, it was really unusual. So after Gruyere, we set out to find the man who Michael was interested in working for. When Maryse spoke to him on the phone, his strong accent made her think that he said he would be waiting for us at the end of the road in his skirt, and we spent quite a bit of time wondering what kind of person we were going to find at the end of the long, narrow road, winding up into the mountains. Instead, we found him with his Jeep, which in French sounds similar to "jupe," the word for skirt, so we figured that out eventually. It started to rain, a full out thunder storm, which was very impressive that high up in the mountains. We got into his Jeep, and he drove us up a long, muddy, stressfully steep, narrow and close-to-the-edge, dirt road which led to his families small house, perched high on the mountainside, almost at the top, where there was still snow in patches everywhere. The building held everything; their house, the barn for the cows and goats, and his place for cheese-making. They live there whenever the snow has melted enough to make driving up there possible. It was really incredible, unlike anything I had ever seen before. He and his wife and two sons were very friendly and welcoming, and we sat down with them and had tea and tasted some of their home-made cheese. They worked out the particulars of Michael working for him; issues with his visa, insurance, the amount of time he would be there, all of that. I haven't heard yet if everything worked out well, but I think it probably did. Michael was happy with the opportunity, and the cheese-maker was grateful for the offer of work. He said that not many people were looking to help on the small farms anymore. So we drove back down, and they agreed to talk again a few days later, to settle everything finally. Then Maryse, Michael and I set off in search of our hotel.
To be continued...

Half way!

I am now exactly half way through my exchange, so if I made it so far, I can handle the rest. It is beautiful here, the weather is finally warm and sunny, and we are doing Perceval in school this week. Along with reading the book and talking about it in class, our only other subject this week is an art project, which I am really enjoying, and there is no homework! I got a letter from Nana yesterday, with a very funny Baby Blues comic along with the note. I love getting the letters, thank you!!! I want to put some of the pictures and comics and drawings that have been sent to me up on my wall, I think I will start that tonight. Not this coming weekend, but the one after, I am going to go on a two-day trip with Maryse and a few of her friends around other parts of Switzerland, visiting - believe it or not - cheese farms. I think it will be really fun, and I love cheese, so that should be enjoyable and funny. I believe the cheese element of the trip was a special request of one of her friends. Anyway, only two months left until I'm coming home!

Excerpts from my journal during my trip to Paris

April 16, 2008
11:15 PM
My bedroom

Well, I'm pretty much packed now, and by this time tomorrow I'll be on my own in Paris, or maybe with Maria. I spent the afternoon looking at the websites for Notre Dame, the Louvre, Versailles, and the Eiffel Tower, checking prices and times. On the map I was given with my tickets, I found the roads that Maria and I are staying on, which actually intersect, so we should be very close to each other. I am excited, really looking forward, and a bit nervous. I am logical though, so when I feel nervous, I just think through exactly what I have to do and then I do it. That calms me down a bit. I really can't wait, I am going to get out of school at lunch, go into the city and buy tights, an umbrella, batteries, and an alarm clock. That will be really necessary for this trip, since I plan on hardly sleeping and just fending off exhaustion with coffee, tea, and energy drinks even, if worse comes to worse. Hopefully not, I prefer not to be shaking...I will have a great time, I am so determined to make the absolute best use of this opportunity, and no weather, or lack of knowing people, no cramps, or tiredness, is going to stop me from having the time of my life exploring Paris.



April 17, 2008
6:50 PM
On a train from Geneva to Paris

"So far, so good, although it is grey and miserable outside. I left school after French today, around 1... I took the bus into the city and wandered around Co-op looking for a battery-run clock, but didn't find one. I did get batteries, tights, and lunch though, before going to H&M to buy an umbrella I had seen before to take with me. I had perfect timing, because when I stepped outside it was raining. The umbrella is pink with white stripes and really stands out among the sea of normal black, I like it. I went to the train station, changed some money, although not much, so I hope I have enough to get me through all this. The train is very nice and comfortable, and the countryside we have been driving through is really beautiful, with very striking mountains, rivers, and fields, and a few places that I would have loved to take pictures of but we just went by too quickly...I have been spending the past few hours eating the occasional Werther's caramel or Ovalmatine cookie...I just got my ticket stamped, and the scenery is looking slightly more populated, only 35 minutes left!



April 19, 2008
7:35 AM
Auberge de Jeunesse d'Artagnan, Paris

I have had so much fun since I got here, it is hard to believe. I'll start from the beginning. When I got to the train station, I found the right exit, walked out, and saw a game of street hockey and a couple passionately kissing in the street. Then I walked, with my two very heavy bags, for an hour and a half, with the help of the great map of Paris I had been given with my train ticket. It was tiring and a bit confusing, but fun, and I impressed myself with my map skills. I got to the hostel around 9:15 or so, checked in, payed, couldn't make my card work right the first time and had to get it re-swiped, and set up my stuff for one night in the 9-bed, girl's room. Only five people, counting me, actually slept there though. After that I decided to go find Maria's hotel, so I set out at dark, by myself, which made me a bit nervous, but I knew the hotel was really close. I found it after once starting out in the right direction, thinking I was wrong and going the other way, figuring it out, and going the way I had originally started. I walked in and asked the guy at the desk if he knew the group of American students staying there, and if they were in. He knew them, but he said they weren't there, so I asked if I could leave a note. As I was writing it, Maria's class started walking in, so I stood by the door until she came in, saw me, and exploded. I teared up, it was so good to see her, and she was so happy, and I have missed her a lot, but it wasn't to bad, I kept myself under control. She was so happy, and seeing her felt unbelievable, it was such a perfect, crazy moment. I was introduced to a lot of people and them went up with some of them to the room Maria was sharing with two other girls... I stayed there until 12, when they had their curfew and were taped in, but while I was there, there was a lot of confusion and drama and conflict...but it was really cool to be there...



April 19, 2008
5:15 PM
Place de la Concorde/Champs Elysees

I am sitting on a bench in a park off of the Place de la Concorde and Champs Elysees. The clouds are beautiful and dramatic, and the sun dis- and reappears every so often, making me crave coffee when it is cold, and ice cream when it is hot. I seem to be craving something all the time. From Place de la Concorde almost every major monument in Paris is visible. The Eiffel Tower, L'Obelisque, L'Arc du Triumph, and the Louvre. Obviously there are others, but still, it is amazing. I am tired, physically and mentally, and my feet are throbbing from walking so much.But I have to finish where I left off from, which was after the first day... Maria's group all went somewhere together as a class the next morning, and I went out on my own to Ile de la Cite, which was absolutely beautiful. I figured out how to take the metro from Nation there, and spent the day following up on Matt and Esther's very good advice, writing and sending postcards, eating a panini and having a cup of coffee for lunch, eating it on Pont Neuf. I also went to Notre Dame, which was awe-inspiring, beautiful, completely amazing over all. As I walked in the doors I felt overwhelmed somehow, and as I sat down to listen to the girl's choir who were singing in the front, I literally started crying. At first I thought I would just tear up a bit, but they just poured down my face for a few moments, but it ended quickly. I am too self-conscious to allow myself to cry in public if I can help it...OK, more later, I'm going to keep walking.



April 19, 2008
8:40 PM
On top of L'Arc de Triumph

It is absolutely stunning up here, you have a 360 degree view of Paris, with about 8 roads radiating out from L'Arc de Triumph like the spokes of a wheel. It feels like you are at the center of the city, and I can't wait until the sun sets and the city lights up. Hopefully that won't take too long, but even if it does, I can wait because I figured out a way to take the metro from here almost all the way back to Rue de Vitruve, where the hostel is...I am so exhausted, happy, miserable, self-confident, and self-conscious. I shouldn't be able to feel all this at once, it is messing me up...but I am so happy to be here in Paris.



April 20, 2008
2 PM
Le Jardin de Musee Rodin, Paris

I am eating perfectly right now, and it is for me and Matt and Esther. I have a bagette, cheese, wine, coffee, muffin and chocolate, what more could anyone want. And I am sitting in a garden full of beautiful statues, singing birds, and the air is cool and fresh because it was raining earlier. I just wrote Maria her postcard, and will send it tonight or tomorrow...

Paris!

I am going to Paris this Thursday and will be staying there until Monday afternoon. I really can not believe it, I am so excited. My friend Maria is visiting there at the same time with her French class, so I will get to see her as well as Bronwyn and Eugenie, two friends who actually live in Paris. I am going to stay at a youth hostel, and I am taking a train from Geneva to the Gare de Lyon. I plan on spending as much time as is physically possible seeing as much of the city as I can. I will take hundreds of pictures, I'm sure, and will put them up here as soon as I get back. The whole trip will be so different for me, much more independent and open than anything I have done before because I am going alone, although still meeting people there. I am really looking forward to it, and promise to give a detailed account of it all when return.