One week

Well, as of tomorrow evening I will have been in Switzerland for 1 week. It's amazing that it's been that long already. I'm still adjusting to everything. (Including the time-change). Solvieg & Daniel have told me it's a day per hour so I'm looking at another 2-3 days before I truly adjust. *oh joy*

I'm getting used to the job and the children. I think I'm doing well & they seem to be happy with me. I think one of the most difficult aspects of it is learning to discipline when you don't speak the language. I can tell you that the words I use most often seems to be: "arrêt" "mange" and "maintenant" (stop, eat & now) lol

I'm overwhelmed by the support of my family & friends back home, and appreciate all that you are doing for me, just knowing people care about me, and are sending me good vibes, etc. is such a blessing and really helps me to avoid feeling too homesick.

Today I found Dawson's Creek on TV - in French of course, which was really funny, because if that show isn't sappy enough imagine adding 3 words per mouth movement given! It seems like I have hundreds of channel options but finding something that I can somewhat understand is difficult.

I'm looking forward to next week & hoping to do a little exploration on my own, with hopes that I don't get a) lost or b) totally outed as an American.

This evening Daniel & Solvieg had friends over and just standing there with them listening to the conversation nearly blew my mind. I understood maybe every 6th word. I'm truly hoping that soon I will understand enough to really contribute and not feel like a total outsider. Thankfully all their friends are very understanding of my lack in knowledge and are patient with me both trying to understand, asking questions & using hand gestures. Thank heavens for worldwide hand movements. :D

Other than language things are well. I'm driving just fine & understanding the traffic signs & signals. It's interesting though, there are still occasional signs I'm trying to understand. One surprising traffic difference is speed limits. In towns they have listed speeds varying from 40kmph to 70kmph but when you leave that area there is no posted limit. I usually keep it around 70 but some people go as fast as 100kmph on roads that are similar to a highway frontage road.

Tomorrow we leave for the mountains and are staying with some English speaking friends of theirs, which I am both thankful for and worried simply because it seems I should be working on my French more. Anyway, tonight I'm hoping to fall asleep to something "en français" and perhaps it will inspire some French dreams.

Much love,
Mattie