One Last Weekend..Sort of

Note: There were people dearly missed this weekend. 

After a week of 7am-9pm, 5 day work week, filled with a few play dates including bowling and glass blowing, the time had come to have our “Final Week” as the fierce and ridiculous wolf pack was spreading out around the world. While some of the wolves had left, it was the end of the road for the people who have been here since last August. Our year was up. And it has been one for the record books.  So we started off on Friday night at good ol’ Twists. As many (one could say too many) of our Friday and Saturday nights were spent over the last year. After saying hello to a few of our favorite bartenders, we headed off to a few places we have liked.  Then Nicole and I finished the night with some dancing and a sleep over at Rachel’s.

The rain washed away the idea for a hike and a few of us wondered the city and did some shopping. All along reminiscing about our favorite trips, weekends, moments. It is a bitter sweet ending. Being the “help” is coming to an end to some of us but it means that gallivanting around Europe is also coming to an end.

Saturday night was the big night out! We started with a few hours of getting ready and making a delicious dinner (which I might mention had to be gluten free, lactose free, and meat-free).  After some pictures and laughs we headed into Zurich. One last time as a wolf pack. Even though our goal was to branch out, we followed a very similar path of the night before, which is not surprising at all!

Another late night of dancing led to a slow morning and then a final day at the spa. A lovely Irish-Roman spa of cleansing and being oh so very Sex in the City, gossiping from room to room and being told to “shhhhh” each time!  I was also finally able to see the Google Building where we took pictures! Next time, the goal will be to get inside the building!

Now to get a little sentimental.  It was just one weekend; there have been dozens. There have been new girls and friends who have come and gone throughout the year. But this weekend, was the fearsome 6 that started and ended the year together. It was the last time we as a group would take on Zurich as a gang of aupairs.  I have always had a lot of girlfriends in my life and I cherish each one of the past just as I do the ones in the present. Each of these ladies are special. I was able to spend a year gallivanting around Europe, with few worries, and insignificant complaints (our first-world problems..where should we travel this week? etc).

This year is special. I look forward to thinking back on my year living in Switzerland! I look forward to thinking about our group running the streets of Europe, meeting new people, and discussing the countless cultural similarities and differences.  You ladies are absolutely amazing.  We were so lucky to have been able to have each other this year. We all brought something different to a group.  There is a closeness between us, a bond, that will never break. We will be able to call each other when we are thinking about  Not many can fall in love with their children and put up with the endless piles of laundry, tears, and lies.  We complained a bit, but our friendship blossomed and it is about so much more than that. I love each one of you so much and will never forget anyone of you. I hope to keep in touch and that just maybe, one of those reunions we have talked about will happen. And when we forget how much work children are, and how many times we contemplating not having them, I hope we can call each other when we end up with one of our own. We can laugh about the times that we had taking care of other peoples’ and then really plan that spa getaway!

I love you ladies. I am so lucky to have met you! Xoxo Sincerely yours, Wolf pack member for life.  

EXTREME Weekend

This weekend will go down as one of my favorite of the year. My friend Maggie from university (I am soo European now) came down from Germany to explore Zurich a bit and most importantly head up to Interlaken for the weekend. After a wonderful Canadian dinner, filled with too much sugar and a game of charades about Canada, Maggie (friend from university..again sooo European), Kathryn, Anna, and I took a train to Interlaken, a popular destination for outdoor adventures in Switzerland.

Shortly after arriving and getting to our hostel, we were on our way to go paragliding! A little terrified and really excited we were giggling our way up the mountain in a car full of people. We pick our guides and headed to our take off spot, seen above. 

After finding a few ways to release our nervous feelings, we were strapped in. My guide asked me if I can run and I said yes, but I usually don't start flying after running for a little while so I am not sure how this will go. He laughed and we started running. And by running a mean we jogged a few steps and then couldn't touch the ground any more. It was simple and absolutely amazing!

View from the sky

The entire experience was absolutely amazing! I am so glad we did it! I really want to do it again all over the world! We were proud of ourselves and headed off to have a delicious wrap and a beer in celebration! 

After we finished the first attempt of being outdoorsy of the day, we headed off to some waterfalls. Along the hike we saw a few here and there.  It was another gorgeous view in the utopia which is known as Switzerland. 

Now, we arrived at the waterfalls and were a little annoyed we had to pay to get in. However, after go up the caves that have been cut next to these waterfalls. It was unbelievable. There was talk of negative ions creating positive vibes. It is totally true. The feel in the caves was amazing and beautiful.  I also felt like it was the environment that Disneyland tries to recreate, and let me say, their effort is appreciated but it just can't compete with the real thing. 

Maggie hanging out in the "weeds"

Kathryn wanted to befriend a cow on our hike.

In the caves!

Double Rainbow

Despite the positive energy we were all experiencing, Kathryn took a little fall. There was blood but she is slowly recovering. Luckily, that was the only real injury for the weekend!

After our big day, we headed back to our tent hostel and ran into some people from Zurich (really small world). We headed out to dinner with them for some delicious Mexican food! Soooo good! I wouldn't have guessed it! Margaritas and a burrito so it was the perfect meal to end the day. We headed to the hostel's party afterwards! 

After a late night, we got up for our last sport of the weekend.  Whitewater rafting. I was more nervous about this than I was for paragliding. This time, we were a key part of the process of surviving. They kept talking about people falling off and what to do and not to panic and watch out for rocks because they can really hurt you. All the things you know but still scary to hear about. 

As it turns out, this is also not as scary as you think it is going to be.  We swam in the 5 degree water and ended in a gorgeous lake.  I am so lucky to have such amazing friends and absolutely loved this weekend...

But wait, it isn't over! After getting back into Zurich, we met up with some of the other girls (and one guy) to experience blind dining. There are a few restaurants around the world, the first one was in Zurich. It is an experience worth having if you have one by you.  You lock up your belongings when you get to the restaurant, look at the menu, and then are guided into the restaurant by your waiter.  Our waitress, Rita, was blind and they employ a mostly blind wait staff.  

After being directed to your seat, you order your drinks and food.  There were 8 of us there so we established where everyone was sitting and how far away from one another you are.  Usually your eyes will find something to focus on, but there was no way to see anything at all. You have to feel for your cup, plate, knife, and fork.  We found ourselves continuing to talk with our hands. I started to close my eyes at times just because it was easier than trying to focus. The food was okay, but it is the experience that made the dinner! 

We ended the weekend at our favorite bar, Oliver Twists with some darts and a few games of giant Jenga. It was hands down one of my favorite weekends full of overcoming fears, too many laughs, and some of the most amazing people I know!