Springtime Updates

Broadcasting from my bed, here are the latest updates and infos from Switzerland...

I have lots of time to think nowadays. Whether I’m sitting on the balcony, helping my host mom make lunch or showering (actually showering = 90% of my thinking time). 

Maybe it’s because of all this time I have to think, but I feel ready to come home. Not that I urgently need to come home because I miss my life in Canada. In fact, I feel ready to come home because after all this time away, I see very clearly what is important to me over there. My life will never be the one it once was and that’s okay. I’ve let go of that, which I think was an important part of my exchange; observing my life from a new perspective. 

I believe that looking back on my life and making these realizations was the most important thing for me to learn here, aside from the language and the culture. This is new knowledge on a much deeper level. 

I‘ll start wrapping this all up now by saying that I will never again throw a fit about unloading the dishwasher before going out with my friends. This was - I know it’s hard to believe - my signature move. 

Perhaps because of this new attitude I have towards being-of-service-to-other-people-for-no-personal-gain, I actually find peace in doing some household chores. In fact, I sometimes fold laundry as a break during my day because it’s just so therapeutic. I don’t know, maybe that will pass. 

I mean other than all this thinking, I’ve been doing a couple other things too! You know, typical quarantine stuff: going for walks, starting a bunch of small projects that I would have never thought of 3 months ago... I sometimes help my host mom in the garden to keep it looking award-winning. I swear, if there was an award show for hobby gardens she would win. I also I started sewing a shirt out of a pair of jeans I ripped while dancing alone in room...

I would say I’ve been doing pretty well! I hope you all are too. If anyone knows how to sew a shirt out of pants please contact me. 

Corona in Switzerland

Well, I guess we all have a little extra free time these days, so I thought I might as well give everyone something to read. I even had time to make a ring from wood!

At first, things were very neutral in Switzerland (naturally). They were one of the last countries in Central Europe to close all schools. Even later than Canada, which has significantly less infected people. Right now Switzerland has around 6500 positive cases, compared to Canada’s 1000.

For a long time, the Swiss government told the public to keep two meters distance from one another, and to wash our hands. As of yesterday, it’s actually a 100CHF fine if you fail to keep a 2m distance. I’m happy to see that people are taking this seriously, but it does make for a very strange atmosphere in the town. At the pharmacy, for example, everyone waits two meters apart from each other in line, and only 6 people are allowed in the pharmacy at once. Inside, there is a line for elderly or sick people, and then a second line for the young and healthy. Between the pharmacists and the customers is a sheet of plastic to prevent airborne infection. 

We receive all our schoolwork online now, and many classes are held via video conferencing. My attention span is really being put to the test, I must say, but I think I could get used to this school style. Once this is all over, I think they should start live streaming classes either way. Luckily for me, the whole week has been beautiful weather, so I’ve been spending lotssss of time outside. 

I haven’t been able to see friends a lot, and actually many of my exchange friends are returning to their home countries. Some rotary districts are demanding that their students come home, and in other cases, the parents are asking their kids to return. I personally think this is very scheisse, and if anyone was wondering, I do not wish to come home at all. In fact, every time I receive an email from Rotary, which is often, due to the constant announcements from the government, my heart drops because I think “this is the email where they tell me to go home”. Then I read it, and I can settle down, but my mind is never truly at ease. 

I also have been thinking about the aftermath of this Corona-era. In Europe, it’s very common to greet with hugs and kisses, and now this has completely changed. I think to myself, when will we go back to normal? When will the public stop feeling skeptical? I suppose, when the Swiss government sends out a typical eerie message that the situation has been handled. I can’t find a link, but a monotone recording plays on the radios and TVs about a million times a day, telling everyone to stay at home and all that good stuff. It sounds seriously creepy. I’m starting to feel like I am living in a movie, or The Walking Dead.

 On the other hand, Mother Nature is thriving in our absence, I don’t know if you have all heard. Very beautiful things are happening around the world. I really hope we can all observe and learn from this, and start making some serious lifestyle changes so that our planet can continue to thrive. 

Here are some videos, to get an idea:

https://www.facebook.com/100010113821218/posts/1146999362313847/?d=n

Oh! And this week all of Switzerland clapped for the nurses and doctors: 

https://mobile.twitter.com/srfnews/status/1241000392298827776

Busy Busy February

February has definitely been an eventful month for my exchange. I experienced a lot of great things with great people, which is what it's all about right?

Firstly, my month started with a professional Unihockey (floor hockey) match that I went to with my Rotary cousellor. I payed close attention to the goalie, because I'm hoping to go pro one day, of course. 

I was too focused to think to take any better pictures of this match

I guess February was a sort of date month for my counselor and I, because a week later we went to a Hockey game in Bern, the capital of Switzerland. It reminded me a lot of OHL hockey, except these fans are much more dedicated; they chant, and wave their flags the whole game, AND do it all STANDING. Puts "GO TROOPS GO" to shame, sorry to say it. An entire side of the arena is actually reserved for standing room tickets, which I find very cool.

  
Then, after two long school weeks of school, came the ski holidays. I usually follow the rules, so I did what they said and went skiing for 5 days in Klosters with a school group. I never get tired of the mountains, and I don't think I ever will. Being able to spend 5 days up there was surreal. The skiing conditions were mostly good, except for one day when they actually closed all the lifts due to intense snowfall and wind... but again, a great adventure. We stayed in a hostel during our time there, which I find is always cozy and welcoming, it's also much more of  cultural experience. Anyone who knows me well knows that I can be a little... forgetful.. so naturally, I forgot my helmet and had to rent one for 5 days. Then I skied with sunglasses, and THEN came the tan lines. Worth it, I'd say.

Stopping myself from making any distracted skiing jokes

Views from the lunch spot

When my ski week came to an end, I came home and did some laundry so I could pack for the Rotary Winter Weekend. It was nice to reconnect with all my exchange friends, and meet the "newbies". "Newbies" are the new exchange students mostly from Australia/New Zealand, and a South America, who come in January. It's very interesting to see them go through the same things we did 6 months ago, I even had to laugh sometimes. We had a lot of free time to get to know each other, and a lot of time to bond during a nice game of Curling! I think I might take it up again in about 30 years, when it's more age appropriate. As of now you can't put me on ice with silly shoes and a broom and expect me to take it seriously.

Newest additions to the Canadian Curling team

But the fun didn't stop there, then came Carnival. I will post more videos and pictures on Facebook about this. This was truly an amazing experience. Just like Halloween, everyone gets dressed up to go to Carnival. There are so many interesting traditions regarding Carnival (Fastnacht, in German). There is always an opening ceremony on Schmutzigen Donnerstag (Dirty Thursday), when "Brother Fritschi" arrives on a boat from Lake Lucerne at 5.a.m. Then, he signals that the party starts. When Brother Fritschi arrives at the Fritschi Fountain, 5 million pieces of small paper, made from phone books, fall from the sky. Then comes Güdis-Montag (Belly Monday), which calls to fill your stomach on Monday and Tuesday, before the beginning of Lent and Ash Wednesday. Both of these days there is a parade with the most crazy floats, and marching bands playing traditional Guuggenmusik. There are often oranges and sweets given away, and sooooo many other little traditions that I am forgetting. But it's truly fascinating. Only the catholic Kantons (Provinces/States) really celebrate Fastnacht, and Lucerne is always the biggest celebration.

One of many amazing floats during the parade on Gudis-Montag

A traditional Carnival tree, displaying all the groups of marching bands. 

All smiles for Fastnacht and non-alcoholic beer.

Then as things quieted down, I spent some time with friends. Made a trip to Ikea, bought a candle... you know, back to reality type stuff.

Cloudy day in Zurich today, but no time to miss the sun when you forget your phone in a tram and have to track it around the city, am I right?

So, safe to stay I'm still doing good. Now with the news that my parents are coming in April, I've been giving that quite some thought. By that I mean I'm creating the best road trip playlist ever. The rest is not so important. A wise man once said, go with the flow. 

A link to some videos of Fastnacht: https://www.facebook.com/100010113821218/posts/1130524333961350/?d=n

The exchange continues...

I haven’t written since before the holidays and if you’re wondering why, it’s because it stresses me to have to write in English. I forget very simple English words on a regular basis, but you all - my friends, my family, my loved ones, rotarians, and my mom’s Facebook friends - await my proper, detailed blogs. 

 I spent wonderful holidays with my last host family skiing in the most beautiful place. And then a week later, I changed host families, which was sad, actually. It also felt weird, like a dine and dash; „Thank you for the wonderful holiday, goodbye“. But for real, it was a hard goodbye. I saw how protective my last host mom had become of me, and it felt like she was sending me off to summer camp. She still texts me to make sure I’m doing well, and to make sure I know I have a rotary weekend coming up. It’s nice. 

Would it be insensitive to say #blessed

Now, I’m all settled into my new family. Things are really really good. They were very excited to have me here, and they welcomed me very warmly. There’s still a sign on the door, „Welcome Kayle“. It‘s cute to me the way the Swiss people struggle with my name. I answer to Kaylee, Kelly, Kylie, and Kallee here, but I really don’t blame them. Anyway, so I’m happy in the new family. They also have a farm, but the differences are, we have pigs, chickens (for eggs), and milk cows in this family, the last one had mainly meat cows and meat chickens. I will say I liked the cows a lot better, though. Pigs are sooo stinky, loud, jumpy... and cows? They are just happy with some grass and a nice rub. 

A view of my new host family's house from my LAST host family's tractor. Touching, if you will.

A lot of people didn’t believe me when I said i would do anything to flee the Bonhomme Carnaval. But here I am, in Switzerland, safe from the deathly stare of that big.. white.. scary... guy. Here is also carnival season, but it’s not nearly as scary. It’s super interesting to party to marching band music in a costume. My friends from school and I go as M&Ms, and everyone else has a costume too, just like Halloween. 

Bonhomme Carnaval, for reference. (For all my non-french-Canadian readers).

Carnival music is traditionally played from people in costumes, like these. 

I’m learning a lot of other interesting things about this country as well. For example there is a national alarm that plays when there’s an emergency, which is meant to advise you to listen to the radio to see what the emergency is. Every town has a very loud siren, or cars with very loud sirens, to make sure everyone hears about the emergency. It could be a war(ironically, in Switzerland), contaminated water, anything. Also, it’s actually illegal to build a Swiss chalet now. There’s too many Swiss chalets that are only inhabited for 3 weeks a year, so they’re not allowed to build them anymore. But if you WERE to build a Swiss chalet, or any building for that matter, you would need to put poles up to show your neighbours how high it is, how close it is to their house, and basically give them a feel for it. These poles have to be up for one month before you can get a move on with anything. I think that’s pretty interesting. 

"Baugespann,"  it's called. Simply meant to give the neighbours a feel. Dip their toes.

I never get tired of this place. I love this country so much, and I’m so grateful. No one has offered to marry me for a green card yet but I’m still on the lookout, and so are my host parents. But I told them please no farmers. I appreciate the work but it is not something I want to do for a living.

I've been having a peak a my mom's Facebook albums lately, and i'd say, I feel the same here as I did in Cuba 2013. Does that make sense?

Last Blog of the Decade!

Who would have thought I would be ending the decade in Switzerland on exchange... holy moly! Pretty epic way to celebrate my 2nd decade on earth, if you ask me. I think of the new year as the middle of my exchange, but it’s not quite the half. It’s really just a huge milestone! 

I’ve realized and learned a lot here, which has caused me to change more than I had initially realized. I am so grateful for this. I often think to myself, that this experience alone will change my path in life forever. If I hadn’t done this exchange, my previously outlook on life would have caused me to make many different decisions that I think I would have regretted. I live my life to the fullest, but more wisely now, I think. I truly hope that when I return to Canada I will not instinctively resort back to my old mindset. 

But anywho, since this is my last blog of the decade I want to reflect back on the wonderful things that made me the person I am right now, but these are not all experiences on my exchange. For example my parents, who raised me to not only be able to handle such an adventure, but how to appreciate it and learn from it. Some people really do live through their exchange without taking anything from it, I’m so happy that’s not me. 

My parents have both given me great advice while I have been here which I often think back to. My mom once told me “feel it, babe” when I was sad. I laughed at the time, because that’s such a typical thing for her to say. But she was so right; it’s important to feel everything, and I think back to what she said not only when I am sad, but every time I feel an emotion. Not to mention, I am super lucky to have parents I enjoy talking to this much! My god I could keep them on the phone for hours sometimes. I raised good parents. 

My host family here has also given me such amazing experiences, which I have mentioned in a previous blog. For example I realized that I really like working in the nature, and with animals. Some people would be really pissed off to have to get their ass out of bed and go clear some trees in the forest, or do some cow stuff, but I find myself really enjoying it (most of the time) (because yesterday I had to walk in the cow stall with all the poop) (and then I realized there was a hole in my boot!). I’m not saying I want to be a farmer, but I find peace in the work, which I would have NEVER imagined for myself when I was living in Canada. I also have great taste in wine now, so please don’t give me wine as a gift, I will most likely be disappointed by your selection. Just kidding! 

I keep great company around me here too. People that make me happy, laugh, and people I can actually hold a conversation with, because that’s a struggle sometimes. My exchange would not be the same without great friends. Sadly, one of my best friends returned to America, but my times with him were good. 

Soon I will change host families, and live new experiences and challenges. I’m happy that I get the chance to do so, even though I will miss some aspects of my current host family. That’s the fun of it all though! 

Lastly I would like to thank you all for always supporting me! It really means a lot to see that. I wish there was another way to thank you, like to send cheese and chocolate but unfortunately no can do. I think if I didn’t have so many people supporting me and cheering me on, perhaps that would have also changed my exchange. It’s nice to go through this knowing that a lot of people care, so thank you.  

Merry Christmas everyone! Until next year! 

Officially Settling In

I would like to think that I am officially settling in to life in Switzerland. Everything is much more normal than it was before. Not many things shock me anymore, which on one hand means I am very accustomed to Swiss life, but is also sad because I have reached a different point in my exchange. I blend in easily with the Swiss culture now, because I have had over 3 months to observe it all. Hence, I would say the “observing” stage of my exchange has passed and I am now in the put-your-headphones-in-and-look-like-you-have-somewhere-important-to-be stage. Which is what everyone looks like in the train station. Stressed and serious, perfectly paired with fantastic outfit. Minimum walking speed is 10km/h in the train station. 

I have also gotten used to the routines in my family. Saturday’s are usually farm days (which is where I am currently headed from luzern, where I had breakfast with my Canadian friend Erin), Sundays are usually family breakfast, on Monday the cleaning lady comes, and on Tuesday and Friday are housekeeper Vreni comes to make us lunch and help around the house. It’s an easy routine that I have gotten used to. Mondays our rooms need to be spotless so the cleaning lady can properly clean them, and Tuesdays and Fridays we need to have our laundry ready for Vreni, and we need to tell her if we will not be home for lunch. Vreni is so kind. She asked if I wanted her to knit me leg warmers because she noticed most of my rise up when I am biking. We sometimes have a language barrier because she mostly only speaks Swiss German, but I have adapted to her mixed dialect. 

Sunsets from the farm

Personally not a pleasant sight for me, but these cows are usually free range.

Farm days are interesting! Last week we moved hundreds of chicks to the chicken huts outside by putting 70 in one cage at once in complete darkness. This is not an easy task... the hardest part is that you can’t scare them too much or else they pile into a corner and the chicks on the bottom unfortunately don’t make it. Luckily no chick was harmed last week. Today we are insulating the new warehouse that was built. **today we insulated the warehouse** I got up in the scaffolding, cut some insulation, shoved it in there (but not too hard of course, that ruins the purpose), and did it all without putting it in my mouth to see if it tastes just a BIT like cotton candy. Can’t say I didn’t think about it, but the fact that I was told it was made of shredded glass was a major turn off. 

Finished product of a day's work.

The chicks are kept in a warm environment and slowly adapted to cooler weather over 3 weeks, so that they can safely be transported to the huts.

Seriously though, the  things I do here are very unlike my life in Canada, for many reasons. For example, picture the Kaylee you all know and love (hopefully), walking through trails in the Swiss alps, intricately cleaning a mushroom with a Swiss Army knife. While walking (and somehow not dying). My mom and Marc can’t even watch me cut vegetables without having a heart attack (my way makes more sense and is more efficient). I also drove a HUGE tractor today! What a thrill driving 20km/h. Natalie McDougall cover your ears. 

Nails could use some work, but ideally my readers will look past that.

There are some things I haven't gotten used to, however. Like the extremely dangerous "drive at your own risk" type roads. Not the mention, my 18 year old brother who just got his learner's permit drives us through these roads. The other day I came across the straightest road I have ever seen in Switzerland, so of course I took a picture. I also am not quite used to biking to school rain or shine. It has caused me many issues clothing wise in the past. Sometimes not even a rain coat and rain pants is enough to keep me dry on my way to school but I am no quitter. I am getting much more used to the language, but it can be exhausting to have to translate everything I hear and say.

Me, biking and not quitting.

I finally felt safe while my brother drove down this road.

On the subject of German, I passed my mandatory A2 exam with a 98%, which I am very happy about. The language is still going very well. I can interact with almost anyone and talk about most things. Of course, sometimes there are words I don’t know in a sentence that someone says to me, but I usually ask, or I can still get the idea without asking. I can also understand Swiss German most times if I know the context. Otherwise, I have no clue what’s going on. My friends only speak Swiss German among each other, which is fine by me, because the more I hear it, the more I learn. One problem with that, however, is that I sometimes mix up the two dialects when I speak myself. My brain is having a hard time sorting it all out I suppose. Understandably.

I also recently attended country fair, where I presented Canada to future exchange students from Switzerland, and try to convince them that Canada is wayyyyy better than America. The big decision is always America or Canada. “In America they have school sports, do you have that in canada too??” “I know it’s cold in Canada but... HOW cold” “how do the gun laws compare?” ... you know the typical questions. Luckily there were three of us there, one from Alberta, one from the east coast, and... me (from Ontario 3 hours north of Toronto, as I explain to everyone). It was very interesting to see all the exchange students represent their countries. The Mexicans brought fantastic guacamole, the Argentinians brought traditional crushed tea, the Japanese brought a table full of traditional games and foods, and truthfully I would not go to Norway based off the food they were serving, I hope they had some better selling points. The Canadian table had maple cookies (you know the ones) and I brought maple candies, which were a hit. I had to  cut some people off and close their tab.

Earlier this month I had a visit with my uncle Bob and his girlfriend Heidi at her home! (Quick 3 hour train ride) I will be back on the 30th of November to return his suitcase, which I had borrowed to transport the care package I received from my loving Mom and Grandma! It was so nice to receive clothes that smelled like home, but made them hard to wear. 

All in all things have been very good. I’ve made a lot of progress in more ways than just the language! 

Funny moment: I got stuck in an elevator with 30 people!! We had to call the police to help us!! Bad idea in retrospect, but a great story to tell.

What’s She Up To?

Well, almost two months in Switzerland already, and just when I was settling into the routine... I got two weeks off from school. Bummer, right? That doesn't necessarily mean I'm catching up on sleep though! Everyday I'm up and on the move, whether I'm hiking or exploring a new city. I am too lucky.

I haven't been travelling alone though! I have made awesome friends here from all over the world. They are spontaneous and adventurous, and exactly the right type of people I want to surround myself with. Almost every night someone says "Hey do you want to go to ___ tomorrow?" paired with a screenshot of our train itinerary.

I do not know what we would do if it weren't for the excellent train system here in Switzerland, along with my unlimited train pass, thanks to Rotary. In one day, I can cross the entire country and return home before 10pm. For example, my friends and I hiked in Zermatt, which is about 4.5 hours of  travelling by train:

Legs were most likely fading away at this point. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

Ideal lunch spot I'd say...

I’m doing really good here. I try not to waste any days, because I always hear that exchange students waste too much time. 

Lately my interactions with customer service workers have greatly improved. One month ago I answered “credit” when a woman asked me in Swiss German if I needed a bag. Now, I can smoothly say “No, I am not a member. I don’t have time to make an account to save 10%. I have my own bag, and yes I would like the receipt.” I would call that an upgrade. 

On a serious note, I have an upcoming A2 test on October 30th. I have already passed A1, and in January I will take B1 level, if I then pass B2 level in June, I can then display this on my resume, as i is internationally recognized. Although I am not worried, exchange students who do not pass will receive a "yellow card." If a student receives 3 yellow cards, they are sent home. I am still going strong with 0 yellow cards, no worries, everyone. 

So far, I have no close Swiss friends. The Swiss people are very reserved and hard to get in with. They aren’t unfriendly, though, in fact everyone is very nice. The fact that I bike home for lunch everyday doesn’t allow me to really interact with the other students a lot, but I think it will come with time. Almost every exchange student I talk to has the same issue, and in the end everyone ends up with friends at school.

I have taken up a new sport, as well. Unihockey! Which I would say is ball hockey with a funky variation of a lacrosse stick. It’s a very interesting sport, but I don’t understand all the rules yet. I will start playing games after the Christmas holidays, but for now only go to practice on Mondays until I get a license to play. Then, I guess i will invest in a stick. 

And now, as I conclude this blog post, I will share some pictures of my adventures! (In absolutely no order at all)

Château Chillon, Montreux.

Bern, that unofficial capital of Switzerland. (There is no official capital)

Bern Old Town

Melchsee Frutt, two weeks ago. Now covered in snow.

Boat ride on Lake Zurich this week.

Beautiful day in Zurich.

Tour of the town with my local Rotary Club! Great view of the old town!

A picture with all my closest friends from the Rotary weekend in Solothurn! (Very sunny)

Funny moment: 

Today while my friend Magnus and I were eating lunch in the cafeteria of a department store, we ran into two other Rotary exchange students who happened to be eating there too! They then showed us around Bern, which is good because naturally, we were there with no real plan.