Hard Times I Guess are Still Good?

This past week was a pretty difficult week. It started off by saying good-bye to Spencer and Alrika who came to visit for the weekend. I loved having them here but at the same time it was really hard to see them leaving me. I also heard some great news that Nathanael was going to be moving to Bermuda but that just made me want him to be here with me now. The previous week was a really great week and I wanted another one to be just like it. But as the days were going by it was not getting any better. I was able to work outside some which I really enjoy because the area reminds me a lot of Colorado. Another day went by and I still was not feeling any better, just down in the dumps. Margaret went to the grocery store while I stayed at home and worked a little bit more. I longed to go with her, to leave the farm and see people that I did not know. I think that is my favorite part of my day, when I get to leave the farm to go with Margaret on some journey. Sometimes I imagine what it would be like to live in the houses I see. They are all so old made out of rotting wood, sometimes, and lined with beautiful red flowers. Thursday was probably the worst day out of the week. I woke up feeling ok but as the morning went on I was feeling sick. I worked through the morning because I was not sick enough to quit. For lunch, I tried to take a nap but couldn't. I was looking forward to a short afternoon because Thursdays I usually work less. Come to find out, I was mistaken and it is only every other Thursday that I work less. Margaret said I could quit earlier than normal and I gladly took her up on the offer. Instead of going for my usual run I decided it would be a good idea to let my body rest. I took my book and laid in a chair. I was out in no time. It was about 2 hours later that I woke up feeling better, refreshed, like a new person. I think my body had just been sleep deprived. I have not been sleeping very well in my room. For one thing it is too hot sometimes and another I don't like going to my room because I feel so far away from the family. Saturday was a great day. Even though I spent the morning helping Margaret prepare some food for Sunday, I was able to get out of Fullinsdorf. Debbie, my committee leader, invited me to go shopping with her in Basel. I bought a purple purse and she some face wash. We ended up not taking too long in the city so she invited me over to hang out at her house. We painted some canvases blue and white for her blue and white room, I helped her with her Sunday School lesson, and then we are dinner with her parents. Her mother prepared a wonderful meal of mashed potatoes, mixed vegetables, salad, and rabbit. It was so delicious. We then had a lemony dessert, coffee, and Basel Lakerli (a famous cookie for the area), spending the rest of the time chatting. I enjoyed the conversation because I felt normal again, like an adult who could communicate. The family did not speak in English the whole time, which I am use to, but I enjoyed just being in their presence. Today, I am going to church and hoping I will meet someone from the youth group. Last week I was suppose to go to the youth group but was too nervous because I did not know anyone. Usually, I am not afraid of meeting new people. But not knowing the language adds another dimension. Please pray that this week I have the courage to go and meet new people. I think it is very important that I do that to get out and fill my needs of meeting people. 

This past weekend the two other trainees from Switzerland came to visit me. I am not sure how good it was that they came. I love to see people that I know and can talk English with. At the same time it makes me feel lonely and sad when they leave because it makes me want to be home. It was great to be with them and see Basel together. I am hoping to go and visit their hometowns sometime in the near future. 

Rheinfeld

Today I had the afternoon off. My family suggested that I take a bike ride to get to know the area better. We looked at maps of places where I could go but it all seemed to confusing. So I decided that I would just bike until I found something. I ended up biking for about 2 hours and went 15 miles along the Rhein. It was wonderful. I came upon this old town from the 14th century and decided to take a couple of pictures. There was a beautiful white church that I wanted to go and and see but I thought I was not dressed appropriately. Maybe next time. I biked around for about 3o minutes looking at the bakeries, the beautiful architecture and the wonderful views of the past. I am awaiting the next time I can take this journey and delve deeper into the culture. Maybe next time I will have a chance to go into the church.... if I am dressed more conservatively.  

Feelings I never knew I had.....

Besides missing my home I miss the ability to speak with people. Even though many Swiss, and Europeans for that fact, speak English it is different living in a foreign country. I want so badly just to be able to speak with anyone I want. It takes so much effort to listen and speak German. First, I have to hear very clearly what people are saying. They must speak slowly. And after I hear what they say I have to try to remember what they say so I can try to translate it in my head. Imagine trying to go through this process for every sentence that you speak in a day. It is tiring. But I know it is the only way I will learn. 

I did not know how much of an extrovert I was until this week. I spent most of my first week in the house. I was learning how to clean, cook and other household chores. I learned very much this week and was excited to make my first kuchen (cake) which is very famous for Swiss Mennonites. But at the same time I felt that I was missing something. During the middle of the week I was so frustrated with what I was feeling that I wept. I was talking with my mother at the time and she asked me to explain my emotions. I couldn't. I tried so hard to figure it out. It was not until the next day that I realized what was wrong. Margaret and I had to go to the grocery store to pick up food for the party this weekend. Once we arrived at the grocery store I had new energy. I was so excited to see people even though I did not know them. It was exciting just to watch their actions and see how they differed then what I normally would see. I loved it. That's when I knew that my problem was that I was not getting enough social interaction. Margaret is a great person to connect with, has much humor and I even feel like she a mother to me. But at the same time I enjoy being and conversing with other people. 

Today the Eschbach's had a combined birthday party for Andi and Margaret. They invited their friends over for the celebration. At first I was timid to speak with people because I knew that my German is only par. But once I initiated a conversation people were willing to talk. With one woman I was able to speak English to her and she was able to speak German to me. We both understood each other. I feel rejuvenated by this experience and even though I miss being able to speak English with people I enjoy the ability to converse with people who sometimes do not understand me. 

So today was a much better day than my previous days. First, the sun was shinning for the first time all week. Second, we celebrated Andi, the father's, birthday. Third I was able to cook a lot. The picture above is a typical place setting for the birthday person. Margaret says they don't do it always, only when she remembers. 

The pictures below are showing the process I went through to make the noodles for our supper. They are called Speitz, I think, and come from southern Germany. We ate them with lots of butter and pork. Schmeckt gut! The final picture is the cake that I made for Andi's birthday. It is called a Black Forest Cake. The amount of time the goes into making the cake is a lot, very intensive. In the end the time was worth it because the taste was amazing. 

(Pictures Below)

It seems like it has been more than a week that I left the States. But is has been 6 days. It feels like I have done so much. The first day I arrived in Europe was a long day because we arriced in Amsterdam in the morning and did not go to sleep until eleven that night. For the next three days, we had many different sessions. In the sessions we learned about the differneces in America and Europe. First we had to learn about eating. At all times, we must keep our hands on top of the table and we must always have our fork and knife in our hands. Those are the eating rules. Second, we learned about greeting others. If we are meeting someone for the second time we kiss him or her three times on the cheek. Also, if we answer the phone we only answer the family's last name. So instead of saying "Hello" and waiting for a reply. I would answer "Eschbach" and wait for a reply. I would answer "Eschbach" and wait for a reply. 

We also learned the complicated systems of the trains. This was very important because on Saturday we were to take the trains to our placements. I cannot even explain how difficult it was. But luckily we had some leaders that traveled part of the way with us. Since I traveled from Amsterdam to Basel I had many different trains I had to take. I took 4 different trains to get to Basel. Imagine carrying 3 very large pieces of luggage, sweating, and running down the platfrom; in 2 minutes unloading them and 2 minutes loading the luggage so the train does not leave you or your bags behind. Needles to say, it was very hectic. Luckily, for me I had two other people that travel 3 of the 4 trains with me. One of us would get onto the train while the other two would throw the bags onto the train. The one in the train would organize them so they would be out of the way. Then the two loaders would hop on the train. That might sound easy but at one train station 10 people were trying to get on at the same door. We were trampled by many experienced train loaders. Once we were on the train we could barely move because bags were everywhere. I was thankful for my two friends who traveled with me. They traveled further east in Switzerland about 2 hours in a small town of about 100 people. 

I was met my Margaret Eschbach at the train station. Right away she spoke to me in German. I understood some but not all. She drove me up the hill to their house.  We brought my things to my room which is upstairs with the grandparents. (I will show pictures later when it is clean.) There was a party that night or all the farmers in the area so we went. Margaret, Andreas (Andi) and I drove only a little way down the hill to the party. The children were already there. We ate amazing food and most people there could speak English very well. One woman in particular, came from Israel and had lived in Switzerland for 35 years. She told me that Swiss people were very cold but the Eschbach's were the nicest family she knew. It made me fell better to know that I was staying with a good family. I left the party early because I was so tired. 

The next day I went to church with them. We rode our bikes down the Swiss hillside. Scared, I was, because they live at the very top of a steep ad curvy hill. The church was a Lutheran Church, which they do not normally attend. The service was very short, maybe 20 minutes, and I could not understand anything because it was all in Swiss German. After church, the children and I rode back to the house. I should have taken a picture of the hill we rode up. It was so steep that if you stopped you would go rolling back down. I could not make it to the top so I walked up with the boys. 

After we went back to the house, the family wanted to take me to the Rhine. It is only about one mile away. We loaded up the food for lunch, towels, and motorboat and left. The children and i rode our bikes there. This was a much more pleasant journey because the hills were not so steep. Margaret, the children, and I all went for a swim in the Rhine. It was very cold and felt like needles were poking me everywhere. But it is  very natural for the locals to go for one or two swims in the day. They say it wakes them up. 

Today was my first day of work. Margaret showed me many different jobs to do. First, we cleaned our the dishwasher and while she took the children to school I picked raspberries. Yes, mom, I picked raspberries. The rain came so I had to go back inside. It rains here a lot. After Margaret came back she taught me how to make marmalade. Once we were finished she told me it was time I learned how to cook for the Swiss. I made chicken with mushrooms and a very thick cream sauce. Along with the chicken came rice (with lots of butter),  salad, and a raspberry cream dessert. After lunch I hung the laundry out to dry. It started to rain again so I had to take it back in. Margaret thought it was a good idea to go to town to get my official papers. We also wen to the grocery store an there she decided she would make a Switzerland special for dinner. We just finished eating fondue with zucchini, peppers, bacon , onions, and pinapples. Watching the cheese bubbles as it melted made my mouth water. The smell from the cheese was making me hungry. The children and I cleaned the kitchen together. The boys were very helpful and wanted to speak with me. In very fast German, they would speak, and then I would have to ask them to slow down. Still, when they spoke slowly I understood only a few words. 

Martina, the oldest, told me tat I am one o the better trainees. I understand may words when they are spoken to me slowly. And Martina told me that I can also speak very well. But still I struggle when the family speaks at the dinner table. I keep my ear open for a few words and sometimes I can understand what they are talking about. It is exciting because after two full days of being here I have learned many new words, at least Margaret has said. I am not sure how many words I have learned but I can remember a lot of the German that I learned in school. Hopefully, soon I will be able to speak with better grammar. I am waiting for that day.