A Surprise Birthday!

Ok so it has been over a month since I have posted. I officially reached my year point but let me update you on what has happened since I reached week FIFTY-TWO!

I had been anticipating my European Birthday since I decided to make the move. Where could I go? Who will I go with? Venice? Paris? Barcelona? Greece? The options seemed endless! Since it is summer, my working hours have, for the first time, outnumbered my playtime hours. So a long weekend getaway was not an option. Plus, I have made amazing friends who I wanted to spend it with. So it was around the corner and since people’s work schedules were all over the place, we decided Switzerland was the place to be. We would have a night out on the town for the first night followed by the Montreux Jazz Festival in the French region of Switzerland. I was excited for the weekend as planned.

So my birthday celebrations started on Thursday night. My Papa B’s Dad was in town for the week and we all went out for a very nice dinner. It was a beautiful restaurant with a vista view of the lake and Zurich, surrounded by the mountains and cows of course.  We toasted champagne and they handed me a few gifts.  One of which is the Swissessity: the Longchamp. The week before I bought myself a lovely little Swatch and now only need a fondue/raclette set to complete my Swissessities! After dinner, the restaurant turned off their lights, turned on a disco ball, and started a recording of something no one could understand other than it said “Happy Birthday” somewhere in there. Then “Happy Birthday” was played and I blew out sparklers on a chocolate delight.

It was a really a great birthday dinner and what has seemed like the real mark of the beginning of the end.

Friday, my actual birthday, I woke up to work a bit and then got off around 1pm.  I met my friends in the city to begin a day by the lake with lunch and wine. However, as we were having lunch, my schedule changed. As it turns out my friends have surprised me with a ticket to the “History of Hip Hop” concert at the Jazz Festival. Nicole and I are leaving after lunch! It was quite the surprise! I was super excited!  After missing a few trains, we were on our way!

The concert was absolutely amazing! Coolio and House of Pain among other performed. Nicole and I were on stage for a bit (video below) dancing away. We were screaming and dancing. As it turns out, that is now how the Swiss enjoy concerts. Nicole and I were each given dirty looks on separate occasions for yelling at “inappropriate times” and the security guards hated us even more. We laughed it off and continued to enjoy our time standing feet from some of the amazing hip hop artists of the past! 

After the concert, we met our Couch Surfer, who took us out for a night out at the Jazz Festival. There are great clubs, free dance and music concerts, and people everywhere. It was a night to remember!

Saturday we enjoyed the city and were joined by another one of our friends. It was, dare I say it, the prettiest lake view of the year.  I can only say thank you to the amazing group I have here for ensuring that I had a wonderful European birthday! xoxo

Birthday Lunch with the Ladies

Not the actual concert but the only picture of the night

See why it is my favorite?

The Apple Man

One thing I don't think I have mentioned all year that I love about where we live, and my guess is much of Switzerland is like this, is the Apply Man. At  least that is what he is called in my  house. He is an adorable old Swiss man who comes with a cart every couple of weeks and sells whatever he has been growing. He always has eggs and apples. We bought raspberries from him yesterday. He is just too cute! And the fruit and vegetables are always delicious!

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!

Stephen's Visit

My BROTHER came to visit! I was so excited that he was coming to get a taste of Europe and more importantly that I got to see him! This has been the longest time I have gone without seeing anyone in my family so it was great to have him around! The second he got off the plane I saw him as an adult. My little brother is no longer a teenager! I couldn't believe how old he looked AND how much he looked like Anthony (my older brother). 

Anyway, he got off the plane, and we headed from the airport, to a quick lunch and a 5 hour train ride to Genea, Italy (also known as Genova). He was exhausted and after we finally found our hotel and got (a delicious) dinner (Italian wine included) it was time for bed. 

Genoa, Italy

When I woke up, I headed out to find us some breakfast before waking him up (I know I am the best sister ever!). After being outside for about 10 minutes, I was sweating from the SUN! It was absolutely amazing. I hadn't felt its warmth in so long and was able to wear SHORTS for the day. The trip was just getting better! 

There are too many pictures of Stephen not smiling and me being ridiculous...hmmm

At port. A self timer picture..you know how I love them!

We explored the city by foot for the rest of the day. Stephen did a little bit of shopping. We found a great restaurant with some salami pasta dish and pesto pasta (both traditional for the region).  We had some more amazing Italian wine and fried dough as an appetizer that was "filled" with "vegetables" but really it was just delicious fried dough!

So we made it to Milan after Genoa. The Duomo in Milan is one of the most famous churches in Europe. Stephen had yet to see a church and seemed confused by the fact that I was so adamant about going to the church in Milan. This may have been one of my favorite moments in Italy. Stephen and I walk up the stairs from the Metro and as he turned to see the church, his face stared in awe at the beautiful church.

It truly was gorgeous and at the recommendation from the same friend we headed to the top of the church. The beauty continued! It is my new favorite church in Europe. I am not sure anything by the Sistine Chapel will surpass this one. When you are in Europe, you see a lot of churches and, well, they get old. They are more of the same. Ornate, gaudy and expensive.  Yet, occasionally I come to a church that I really enjoy and you can't help but admire it. Milan's is one of those! 

View of below from above

After exploring more of Milan and getting disappointed by our lunch meal, we headed off to find gelato. Which made up for it all. It.was.AMAZING. The line out the door was there for a reason! It was absolutely d.e.l.i.c.i.o.u.s.!!!!!  

After another bad meal in Milan we explored more of the city and then headed back to the hotel early to enjoy some Italian TV and a good night of sleep for the first time all weekend. 

After a wonderful four day trip in Italy, we headed to Zurich for the rest of the week.  Stephen got to see where I live, meet the kids, and my friends. It is always fun to show your city to someone! Especially since the sun was shining during his whole trip! 

Our hike in Zurich to the highest place in Zurich

A trip to the Lindt Factory (yummmm)

Yummm

It was insane to see him as an adult and my not-so-little-brother. I was thrilled to have had the chance to show him a little bit of the world and my world! We had some delicious food throughout the whole trip. We were also able to go to the Swiss National Team's tryouts, where Stephen was able to put some of his classes into action!

We both had so many good conversations, laughs, and have I mentioned the food? I have passed him the travel bug and I can't wait until our next trip together!

Pictures to Say it All

or most of it... Here's a photo blog of what I've been up to the last couple of months!

A beautiful day in Luzurn 

Emily came to visit from Dublin!

I went glass blowing

Playing around in the afternoon

Hiking in Falera during ski week

I had a beer at the highest bar in Europe (10,000 feet)

Making birthday cupcakes with G

Hanging out in a glacier (after having my beer at the highest bar in Europe)

Became regular at Oliver Twist's with these ladies

Road a camel

Emily and I preparing for our elephant ride

I never thought I would ride an elephant in Switzerland..but it happened!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

More confetti at Fasnacht!

 It has been an amazing couple of months.  I have had 2 visitors from home. Kristina (an old aupair) came visit and I met Jill, the aupair I replaced.  The months here are coming to a close (more to come on that later) and I have so much more to do before it is over!

Halfway to Nowhere

I have reached my halfway mark. I have been working for 6 months and I have 6 more months to go! Things are going well really well! I have an awesome group of friends and some great travel plans coming up. I am heading out to the mountains for the next week with he family which sounds awful but I think I am ready to embrace a week of isolation with he family( but I will let you know next week how it actually goes!).

What are we going to do next? This question has infiltrated my fellow au pairs' and my regular conversations.  Most of us saw this as a way to travel, attempt to learn a language, and live abroad. (Oh yes and take care of other people's children?) But most of all, as a way to put off being a part of the regular grown-up workforce.  I tried the desk job in DC and it wasn't a great fit. So what's next?

As you have deducted from the title of my blog, I have no idea.  I don't think I am done living abroad but I would like to find a way to incorporate living abroad with actually doing something related to what I want to do professionally. I have also started having he grad school conversation with people again and I know I can't keep outing that off. I have some undergrad classes I need to take before I can apply. And there is the GMAT and GRE to study for. Needless to say it is all just a bit overwhelming.

So that has become an important aspect of deciding what to do next. I have looked into some volunteer abroad programs for the fall. Another opportunity has arisen with the family. They might move to Paris this summer and would love for me to stay. So I am now considering because as you know I fell in love with Paris! So if I stay I have told myself that I will take the classes I need online in he fall and then study I. The spring and apply to start grad school in he stall of 2013.

That is a two year plan with a lit of the plan missing, like he jobs and a but of reality missing by if here is one hint I can guarantee is hat I am having a blast right now and the 2year plan I just laid out will change 10 more times (at least)!!!!

Getting a PhD in Awesome!

To be honest I have been trying to draft an email that will capture the countless hilarious stories and just amazing-ness of the weekend but I have been failing all week. So instead I will share some stories and you too can earn your PhD in awesome!

It was a weekend filled with laughs, drinks, fondue, and soooo many fails and bails!  Now, I have really never skied before. I am not even sure that I have been in a reasonable proximity to skiing since I tried snowboarding when I was 14.  My friend Rachel's brother, who also resides in Switzerland, rented a hut in the mountains so we could all go skiing and just enjoy a lovely weekend away! There were about 35 of us at the height of the weekend, four aupairs and 30 people with PhDs or in the process of getting one! Rachel, Nicole, Anna, and I headed off for a weekend of adult conversations, beautiful views, and skiing. 

1. Rachel is (not) an excellent teacher. (To be completely fair I may have been a difficult student.)   I have NEVER touched skis in my life and in order to get up to hut we had to take a t-bar up the mountain and then ski down a bit to get to where we needed to be. I was terrified.  I asked Rachel for more specific instructions on how to put skis on than "Ok put your skis on."  I proceeded to the t-bar where a mean Swiss man yelled at me in German.  I assume he was telling me to move faster and after missing t-bar chance, he grabbed me and a bar and put me on it and up the mountain I went.  Without any knowledge of what I was doing, I successfully made it up the t-bar on my first try on skis.  Little did I know, getting back down the mountain would be much scarier! 

2.  Don't try to catch the last t-bar up and do not try to hold on with your hands.   Fortunately, I made it up because I was scared and refused to move any part of my body until my truly graceful dismount at the top.  However, my dear friend Nicole did not.  She had to catch a snow-plow like ride a couple hours later. We greeted her at the door with a much needed glass of wine. 

3. The mountains are gorgeous. I know this in theory but the views that surrounded us were just unbelievable. So learning to appreciate the cold and snow, just another step towards your PhD.

4. This is a short video of my second attempt. I am the small black blog that falls at the end.  The fall was much more graceful and I didn't scream the whole time, so it was definitely an improvement! My lack of ability to turn, brings me back to Rachel's teaching abilities.  My instructions were, "turn." And when I continues to not turn, my instructions were "TURN, Why aren't you turning???" In the end, I could turn one direction but never switch directions, which is how you can slow yourself down. 

5. Rachel does have what we can call "motivating skills."  I was not so much enjoying the walk up the hill to ski down for 10 seconds and fall so I lent my poles to someone so that they could ski and I had an excuse not to ski. As it it turns out, this was not a good enough excuse as apparently, like a child, I need to earn my poles as the children do.  So up the hill I went without my safety net of poles.  However, the result was the same, I started going to fast and bailed yet again!

I am the person in black that falls at the end!

6. Having adult conversations with people other than aupairs.  So my social circle is pretty small and while we try to avoid the topic of children and housework, we often times do find ourselves talking about.  This weekend was a reminder than we are all capable of having real adult conversations! 

7.  Apparently, skiing is like riding a bike...but when you haven't learned to ride, it is a difficult to begin.  

Photo courtesy of Olin and Nikki

8. Going up the mountain is easier than going down.  Now I can't say I am any better a skier than I was a week ago. I thought my motivation for learning to ski was that I would have to ski down the mountain so I put a lot into it on Saturday and was out there more than I wasn't However, Sunday I felt a bit defeated watching the three olds ski by me and decided the hut in the mountains was very pleasant place to hang out. I had also decided I would be walking down the mountain instead of skiing so the need to perfect my skill was lost.  

After several hours of trying to use all

the letters in bananagrams! 

Anna skied down with my skis so 

I could walk down! My hero!

Leaving on Sunday night

Making it down the mountain (walking) after a weekend of skiing without a bruise (at least a visible one) or a broken bone makes one memorable weekend in the Alps and each of us non-PhDs receiving a PhD in awesome for just being awesome!

*Title of blog is courtesy of Rachel's (on the left) mind after a few glasses of wine.