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

Sick

Well, I've gotten sick in Switzerland. Last night I got what Ben and Daniel had gotten Tuesday. I'm nauseous, was throwing up all night and missed class today. It was only a matter of time I know, but I was definitely hoping I'd make it more than a week. :(

It's pretty crazy, I don't remember the last time I was this type of sick. It must be a 24-hour stomach flu but it's pretty horrible. And it's not helping with my jetlag which is still making me somewhat miserable as well. I didn't sleep through the night, and I kept throwing up... what's next?!?

My family is being really kind though. They had me sleep in this morning and try to feel better (it's sort of working). But it's weird being in the house by myself.

My daily chores are pretty straightforward: make beds, tidy the kitchen, bathrooms, kids' rooms, etc., vacuum the floors, do the laundry (which I'm still not quite sure how to do - they have some high-tech machinery around here) and maintain the general appearance of the house.

I got a phone yesterday too, for emergencies & such which is nice. I sort of feel like a business person though, since I still have my iPhone and carrying around two is a little obnoxious. I really hope I get over this flu thing asap because it's really draining me.

Anyway, I'm going to try & take a little nap and then finish my jobs around the house. Just thought I'd share a little update. This weekend we're going to the mountains with some friends of the family and will go "sledging" with the kids. I'm looking forward to it, as long as my stomach cooperates.

Missing & Loving you all. Will keep you updated as I can. <3

Exhausted

I'm simply exhausted. I'm not sure when I'll feel like I'm on the right time zone. Today I was up at 3:55, again around 6 and then again at 7:30 (and I get to sleep in today! Not fair!!!

Today is Wednesday, which is my day to spend with the boys, no school, no chores, etc. I'm looking forward to it, but if I don't rest I know it will be miserable. Yesterday afternoon I was so tired I felt like I was going to fall asleep while sitting with Ben. Not good!

I'm still in a weird space, not quite adjusted to my surroundings but also not entirely homesick or worried. I really, truly just want a full night's sleep without interruption. That would be nice.

Thankfully I discovered that I can watch the Daily Show & Colbert report over here, so I get a bit of news that I care about! After playing with the kids today, I have homework to do for my class, which just requires a mindset that I can't seem to grasp at the moment. I can think of things to say in French, but reading and doing excercises specific to a lesson is really hard. I had forgotten how hard school was. (Even harder when you don't speak the primary language).

I took the bus yesterday, which was a new experience (BTW all the public buses are Mercedes-Benz). Wasn't too difficult, except I missed the first bus (while buying a much needed French/English dictionary) then I wasn't exactly sure where to go, thankfully I have the ability to ask "Où est la bus pour Céligny?" and mostly understand their responses. I missed the second bus somehow, but I don't remember seeing it. And I was looking. Anyway, finally I made it on the bus and back to the house. Someday, it will be second nature but for now I'm still learning.

I haven't been eating much, which probably isn't a good thing either, but for what ever reason I just don't eat. I'll have a little bit here and there but I haven't had a full meal since Sunday.... I plan to work on that. :)

I'm missing everyone back home, hope all is well. We're going to the mountains this weekend, and I promise to take some photos. Love to all,

Les Cours

Today I begin my french classes. I think the part I'm most nervous for though is taking the bus on my own into Nyon. With such limited language skills I'm not quite sure how I'll do. I've been here for 3 days now, and finally slept through most of the night. So maybe by this weekend I'll be on track. Things seem to be coming together quite well.

Yesterday, Solveig took me into Nyon and then took me shopping because she & Daniel are convinced I didn't have warm enough clothes. (Which is probably true considering it was -7º celsius yesterday morning. Likely to be about the same today). I got a beautiful black wool coat, a ski jacket because we're going to the mountains tonight where it will be extremely cold ALL day long and then a pair of boots for the city & a pair for the mountains. Along with a few sweaters.

I took my entrance exam for classes yesterday as well, got 28/36 which is a lot better than I had expected. I have placed into level A2 (there is A1, A2, B1, B2, C1, C2 - C2 is "native" speaker basically). So I didn't place at the very beginning but I also didn't do amazingly. It'll take a little time.

I'm still adjusting to it even happening. Everything is going so fast it's hard to believe sometimes that it is real.

As for my health, things are so far so good. I have yet to have a major headache (knock on wood) and so far haven't needed to adjust my activities for that. In fact the only thing affecting me is my major jetlag.

I love you all & will let you know how french classes go. Missing my American families!

Avec tout mon amour,

Céligny

Well I made it. I'm in Célingy. Unfortunately I cannot sleep. I have been sleeping. In fact I took a nap yesterday afternoon (Sunday) and then woke up and proceeded to play with the children. Which was quite fun. Benjamin, the eldest has already told me "je t'aime" which makes me feel good about being here. And Melchoir (Kiki) also seems to like me (or at least is beginning to).

They picked me up from the airport (which is only 15 or so minutes from their gorgeous home) and we just relaxed a bit. Then they had a short dinner engagement so my first night I babysat the boys. (well sort of, Kiki was already in bed, and Ben & I watched a little télé and then I read him a story, or at least attempted to... and tucked him into bed. I sang Twinkle Twinkle to him and then went and took a bath. It was so nice to just emerge into the hot water. I could have stayed there all night but I was exhausted so I went to bed.

Yesterday, Sunday - we went to Nyon, the nearest "large town" which appeared to me to be the size of say, Arlington. But of course MUCH more gorgeous. According to my employer, Solveig, all lakeside property must be public land. There are a few places where old houses still sit on the water and are "private" but for the most part she says that the waterfront is public space. In Nyon it was the day of the monthly flea market where vendors set up along the brick boardwalk and sell antiques and misc. wares. It was sort of a cross between an antique mall, Pike Place & a garage sale. This is Nyon, looking at the castle (17th Century I believe). It's quite beautiful.

After walking along the water for a while, stopping at the ice skating rink to say hi to some friends we came back to the house and I was given a driving lesson. I felt just fine behind the wheel, it isn't too difficult, however it's FAST. The speed limit through the towns is about 50kmph which is about 30mph (but this is through a windy road in the middle of a town). On the country roads it's up to 80kmph (or about 50mph) and that's a road where houses are, there are occasional crosswalks, etc. The other odd item is when two roads merge, those to the right have the right of way, not necessarily the one on the arterial route. This can be confusing because you approach a street and you must try to see if someone is coming from the right and if so they go first. Also, although I have yet to come to a stop light, I have been informed that one cannot turn right on red, which is good to know.

Then, after a little driving together, Daniel left me with the car to drive on my own a bit and get a little more comfortable behind the wheel. They have a GPS in the car which helps a lot, except that it wanted me to hop on the highway and I refused to do so. (I'm sorry 120kmphh is just a little fast for me to begin with).

They had some friends over for brunch and the children played in the playroom in the cellar. After I ate I crashed for about an hour & 1/2 which probably wasn't the best idea considering now it's 6:20am and I can't sleep but I needed it then. After I woke up I played with Ben, Kiki and their friend Alicia for a few hours and had my first experience trying to discipline "en français" which is terribly difficult if you speak so little. Actually, my french isn't so bad compared to the children, it's when I'm around the adults I feel as though it's Swahili not French, they speak so fast and detailed I pick up about every 5th word. But that's better than nothing I suppose.

Today is my first official day "on duty." Solvieg has taken the day off so we will do everything together, wake the children in about an hour, get them dressed and then take both to school. Then it's off to Nyon again to take my placement exam for french classes, which I'm a little nervous about but know that I'll do fine. Then, Solveig is taking me to buy a real winter coat because I came "unprepared" for the 1º celsius weather that they have here (and the even colder weather in the mountains were we will go this weekend). Then, back to the house to go over my cleaning duties (nothing major, make beds, kids laundry, dishes, etc.) By then it will be close to the time to pick up Ben from elementary school in Céligny and then back to Nyon to pick up Kiki.

Tuesday I'll be picking up Ben on my own. Wednesday is my day with the boys, both are out of school and we'll spend the day playing. Solveig is working from home Wednesday so I won't be totally on my own. Thursday is my first day solo, so wish me luck!

I'm going to try and grab another 20 minutes of sleep before the day begins, but wanted to say I miss you all deeply & hope to see you soon. Below are a few pictures from yesterday, I will share more as I take them.

Love you all!