The Three C's: Cheese, Chocolate, and Carbs

So I've learned I will be eating three main things, Cheese, Chocolate, and Carbs. Take today's meals for instance, Breakfast: Chocolate Croissant with Hot Chocolate. Lunch: Baked Macaroni and Cheese (made with gruyere...SOO good) Snack: another chocolate croissant this time fresh from a patisserie and un cafe. Dinner: a savory crepe with some form of cheese in it and two sweet crepes- one with sugar and one with nutella. Other meals have included, pizza- because apparently the swiss love to own pizzerias, fondue (cheese with bread), sandwiches with cheese and the most delicious hot chocolates...no swiss miss here. However, I have yet to have a legit piece of chocolate from a swiss chocolatier....so this is my mission for the week!

But enough about food...I'm too full to even think of eating.

So Chudsy..to answer your questions: I don't have any roommates- in fact i have my own bedroom and bathroom so that is really nice. As for my family here are some descriptions...

The dad, Cedric, is a cool guy. He helped me figure out my internet and such and we've chatted. He keeps offering me wine at dinner and I feel weird because only he is drinking it..but ill prob accept in the next couple of days. He also likes to put spicy toppings on his food (so dad, if you are reading this, you two are apparently alike...clearly i can't get rid of people who are like you).

The mom, Irma, is so nice. She is a great cook, does laundry basically every day (including mine), and great to talk to. She is really sweet and understanding and has already made me feel at home.

The two daughters, Brianna and Louana are really cute and nice. Louana, the 7 year old, wrote me a note yesterday saying she liked me and my laugh. It was really cute.

I pretty much am free to do whatever I want. I have a key to the apartment and can go out whenever til whenever. I just have to call if I won't be home for dinner! There is a Migros (grocery and convenience store- so that is super helpful). I am also just a 7 min walk to the train station..so that is helpful. But so far, it has been great living here and am loving it!

So last night was my first night in Gland, the town i'm living in which is 2 train stops away from Geneva (about 20 min away), and it was quite the experience. When my host mom told me that there wasn't much to do in this town..she wasn't lying. There are two places: Fingers (yes...fingers), a wine bar, and Finnegans an Irish Pub. So two other girls from the program, one of their host brothers, and I went to Finnegans. We passed by Fingers but 1. we didn't think we were dressed well enough and 2. it was called fingers..so we braved the cold a little longer to get to the pub. Anyways, Finnegans was quite the experience- they played Green Day, Blink 182, and this song called Africa (which sounds nothing like Green Day or Blink 182 if you have never heard that song). Anyways, aside from the random music selections it was filled with french speaking people that ranged from 16 to i don't even know where. Not to mention a beer was 8.50 CHF...this city is going to kill my bank account (but I'll soon be living off 2.90 CHF wine...i think that'll work out better). But within this crazy atmosphere, it was pretty fun. The two other girls from the program and me tried to speak to the french brother...it kinda failed...but we can work on that. So yes...pretty chill of a night but it was fun.

Today, I slept in..finally. I had asked my host mom when I should wake up and she told me to sleep in...so I did. Aside from all my meals today, I went into Nyon with the other two girls living in my town and met someone else from the program. We walked to the lake and there was a market going on that happens on the last sunday of every month. At this market, you could probably find any random thing you would ever want. There were salad choppers (Chop't style), snow boots, beads, paintings, random mannequin legs...so yea. The rest of the city was pretty much shut down because it's Sunday..so no one really does much. But we just walked around and went to a patisserie and chatted.

So now I am sitting in my bed writing this post, and procrastinating doing readings...so i guess somethings never change.... 3 hour french classes start tomorrow...this should be an interesting experience in itself.

À tout à l'heure!

Finally in Gevève- with a view of the Alps from my window

So I safely made it to Geneva on Wed. morning at 7:30 AM Geneva time. It was an okay flight- some turbulence- but half empty so I was able to stretch out. My sleeping plan semi-worked but not so much. So I got in way early and was all by myself for like 20 min. There was another girl who was on my flight that I thought may of been with the SIT program..so I went to go ask and got shot down...sooo that was fail #1 of Geneva. So finally more people got there, we find a corner of the airport to hang out in until 12:30 when we were being picked up from the airport!

It was an interesting 4 hours- trying to meet everyone/stay awake but it was fun! Once we got picked up we went to a hostel in the city and dove straight into orientation. We were tired and miserable, but we met Earl...so life quickly became better. Earl, our academic director, is QUITE the character (al- that use of the word character is dedicated to you). He is older, in fact its his last year doing this, bald, does NOT wear jackets in the freezing cold weather, but only scarfs and a fleece vest. Not even a hat. While I am bundled up in a puffy jacket, huge scarf, glittens, and a hat with earflaps. Anyways- he doesnt walk, he glides and he apparently ice skates. He flips his hands around a lot and has can pivot very well- tyra banks would be so proud. Needless to say, we all love earl and he takes up over 50% of the groups conversations.

Anywho. Geneva is beautiful. we toured the old town yesterday and it was great. Very old and european-esque. I was finally able to see the Alps because visibility was a little better. But the lake is beautiful.

Today we moved to our homestays. We had this reception were literally the Americans sat and waited for the families to arrive...it felt like judgement day or something. Anyways mine were like 5th to last to come, but they are GREAT. I live with two parents and two girls (15 and 8). They are so nice and so welcoming- i even have my own bedroom and bathroom. I live two train stops away from Geneva- about a 20 minish train ride but most of our classes are in Nyon which is only one train stop away. The best part is- i can see the Alps from my window. I am seriously living in a postcard it is amazing.

Anyways- now that i have a constant internet connection (wireless WOO!) i will be able to update/keep in contact with everyone.

a bientot!

The Night Before...

So, I have been convinced by a few to keep a blog while I'm studying abroad in Geneva! Though I am not really sure how often I'll be able to write/what I'll actually write about- I decided it would be a good way to keep some form of communication with everyone! So first, I have a couple shout-outs to get out of the way.

• First goes to Miz Eric for coming up with a name for the blog. Naming it turned out to be quite difficult, but with Eric's mind we were able to come up with something that actually had to do with Geneva (unlike Matty's suggestion). Though Eric, I am sorry I took out the victim part- I figured only 4 people would actually understand this absurdity of me playing victim, which is totally untrue. But, thanks!! Next goes to Matty. I don't really have anything new to tell you because I was just staring at your's (and Eric's) face for 1:16 min via skype..but I didn't want to ignore you like you did to me in the elevator. But, I commend you on your effort for trying to come up with a name "the life and times of an abnormal/paranormal child." Sadly this has little to do with Geneva and nothing to do with me, so you lose. But, you have bbm access so in the grand scheme of things you win since we can easily talk to each other.
• Lastly (for this post at least) I choose Liz Vargasss. Again, I don't really know why you, but we talked before so I guess that works. I forgot to ask you how your peanut butter captain crunch with milk was the other night. So let me know, please? You were having such an ethical debate about it. But, I guess I can also give you a Switzerland related shout out because of this famous quote: Liz: Hey, did you know that Switzerland and Ireland are exact opposites? Me: Umm how is that? Liz: Switzerland is landlocked and Ireland is an island!" So just for that, I guess you rightfully earn a mention in my first post.

Anyways, its 1:52 and I'm trying to stay up late so I can fall asleep on the plane. Though this is probably the stupidest thing to do, because I just don't sleep on planes, hopefully some Nyquil or something will help with this endeavor. In 24 hours I will actually already be in Geneva- which is so exciting, yet so nerve-racking. But, I have been waiting to do this since Jr year of high school- so IT'S FINALLY HERE!

So, to everyone back at GW/in the US- I'll miss you all! I'll try to keep you all updated somehow!

And to everyone already in Europe- see you there :)

For now, I have to finish packing my life into ONE suitcase (impossible? hopefully not) and then cram everything else into my backpack/carry on duffle...

talk to you all from Geneva!