Monday, December 23, 2019

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! 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1qE1KiIr6dn-mZqG98L8pRQRB_wfF9l8e

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. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LVkQvkhdeOdINyiuswdb8wmZrcZjXWBE

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! 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=11WD7g4HUXdxgmvV2ID2ekPQutz8rd7nGhttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1jtTv-QQlLA_v91fKBidwHb9b1GQhlJYs
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. https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FfrYwlLpnrCK0Fe9nY6pidp2TPzmO_X-https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=190PWBpok36y2MgFJrWhrbBI-jQwZavvM
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1JziYZ0GSXu-hBP1wBkPgEnzdO9trLVro
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! 


Sunday, November 17, 2019

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. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1MYDz5ppMmYc7JxvFquMiFidEuIlrJLeX
Sunsets from the farm


https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1-AWnaha3F34W21-5pp1_C0GMWeAl79ar
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. 


https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1kcwrxd6yfKZF_62HeLVQLUo3ps022lDy
Finished product of a day's work.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1p3jwoFZn8KDqmKDdNatLAO4D2H-9W58L

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. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1e0f6olkD7L2WqZhNozGpv2fjI5OMrYxY
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.


https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1nnLe9eXmq-o3lksQIbicXhnoWmD2q9rj
Me, biking and not quitting.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1idpGI1lnrZzbqvZt4bXybRJ_t4wKh-W0
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.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Uggy_Ub_U9k7u4KxPcJ67o8Acr7Cclqi

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1_eoat60qHqO5He_bT_TUCmgWLlzV5Zr_
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.

Friday, October 4, 2019

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:
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LqZIynCFDayMdr9r5XCWVOjQPV4VzD_1
Legs were most likely fading away at this point. But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1_tEMo8YlN_O6NR8Dbz5m2f8Zp2yge2M2
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. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1cs-yRr6M4ahCjdtzTyXREtDvCGnlLjzT

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

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1ySBixDueuzv46GcSr2Ce9CMyLMVanyvU
Château Chillon, Montreux.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1--wZ4hKimWdQLptMkKFofpG36a24TjXg
Bern, that unofficial capital of Switzerland. (There is no official capital)
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1WfHk43bgfsKe9A5YJBRpX0DQ4UZZV4-d
Bern Old Town
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1_TxyaVtPnlUEBz3xECOB11nexQMCBp_l
Melchsee Frutt, two weeks ago. Now covered in snow.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Y3Aw9cwc5K4l9G1WsZEwXANR3CmDCC0i
Boat ride on Lake Zurich this week.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1GuQyR4bWWn3AynVj9n4FgUe9O7cAYL4y
Beautiful day in Zurich.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1VWcTrt8P-5HF9_M67x20n-BRZ89yM8pz
Tour of the town with my local Rotary Club! Great view of the old town!
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1HV_gnLiD1apKFVAkrK42PfsVXsYy383g
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. 

Saturday, September 7, 2019

Back to School

My language school (middle)

After a blog hiatus, I thought it would be nice to update everyone on The Swiss Life. My German course in the city of Luzern which lasted 3 weeks, has come and gone. I passed, which means I can successfully tell the time, ask how much the bananas cost, and name every room in the house! Truthfully though, the German course helped a lot. Though I already knew a lot of words beforehand, I wasn't able to properly form sentences. Now, I can successfully do so. Being bilingual was a great advantage to learning the language. I was able to adapt easily to the new sounds, such as the classic German Mid-Word Throat Clearing Sound, and of course ä, ö, ü. I can actually say I have exceeded my own expectations in terms off the language so far.

My second home for 10 months, Kantonsschule Willisau.
That being said, I'll admit I went into regular German school with few worries. Many people were surprised I only had 3 weeks of German course, which is a good pat on the back and awesome motivation to keep getting better. Another ego booster was that I don't have to go to English class. There's no better feeling than being too good for English class in a foreign country, I tell 'ya. French class is a hoot, too. I honestly thought I would have a hard time, but turns out French class is a great way to make easy money. Now, every other subject is a different story, but I'll adjust. So far my other favourites are Philosophy and Psychology. I can gather most of the concepts of class discussions, I'm just not quite good enough to give my input yet. Stay tuned. 

The timetable here is something else! I belong to one class, 5d, and we all move together like a little herd to all our mandatory classes: Math, German, French, physics, philosophy, sport, history, and drawing (are you thinking woah? cause I said woah). But then sometimes we split into our majors and minors. My major is economics and law, and my minor is psychology. And then every week the class is split in two for physics and drawing. So if you go to physics one week, you don't have to go the next week. For drawing, one half goes in the morning, bright and early (me), and the other half can sleep in and go in the afternoon (I would pay big money to be in this half). 
There's an app for that!

I also bike home everyday at lunch, which is worth it. Lunch is a full meal, whereas dinner is usually bread, cheese, and sliced meats. I'm content with both but who wouldn't bike home for a home cooked meal. In preparation for this blog post I timed my bike ride which is about 22 minutes. I bike about 90 minutes everyday which is not so bad if you ask any of your parents and grandparents (you know what I mean millennials and gen z). 

The first week of school was a huge lifestyle change, but over these 5 days I've learned countless new words and the muscle on my legs is unreal. But maybe that's just in my head. Unfortunately, I have no back to school picture that you would usually find on my mom's Facebook. My apologies.

What I, and every other student, like to call level B3.
Funny moment: Many funny moments spur from the times I don't know what someone is saying to me and my natural instinct is to say "Ja". Apparently that's common thing with exchange students. 



Tuesday, August 6, 2019

First Days in Switzerland



If anyone would have told me that I would be where I am today, I would have laughed. Though this adventure has always been a dream of mine, it never seemed like a possible reality, and yet here I am writing a blog about my exchange in Switzerland. I have many people to thank for this, because it is without question that a number of people have contributed to making my dream a reality... but I'll save that for the closing credits.

August 4th was a very emotional day. Although I was beginning an  amazing journey, I was leaving all the people I love in Canada. To say the least, it was an overwhelming situation, as one could imagine. There were many tears that day, before flights and during flights. Flying over North Bay, I felt nostalgic about the strangest things, seeing the streets of the city. I could see Lakeshore drive from the up above and I literally cried - I hated Lakeshore drive. I had never experienced a surge of emotion like I did this day, but I'm sure I will again when the time comes for me to leave this beautiful country.

My emotions settled when I finally arrived in Zürich, and was picked up from the airport. I was welcomed to Switzerland by a friendly, warm couple, whom I will stay with for two weeks. We drove the Autobahn, which is often mistaken for a highway with no speed limit (it's really just the word for a regular highway). The lanes were filled with European cars that would never make it through a Canadian winter, and occasionally I would see a car that is familiar to me. A Honda, for example, except it's not any Honda I've seen before; it's a Honda Jazz. 
Anyway, enough about cars am I right? We finally made our way to my temporary home, where I quickly changed and within 20 minutes we were off to buy an unlimited train pass (which they call a GA here, it allows you to go anywhere in the country), to notify city hall that I have arrived, and of course to stop at a local butcher for some meat! In between all this we also went by the Kantonsschule, where I will go to school, and drove up an unbelievably narrow road, to drive by the home of my first host family. 

We enjoyed a nice lunch, after which the nice couple went back to work downstairs, while I unpacked and settled in. Meals are very interesting here. It's too early to tell whether this is the norm in Switzerland, but so far we eat a larger meal at lunch - what would be considered dinner in Canada - and then at dinner time we eat something light and small; last night it was bread, cheese, and meat, today we ate delicious omlettes... a recipe which I would like to jot down before I leave. 

My second day here was equally busy. This morning I was ready at 10:30am on the dot (the Swiss people are extremely punctual) and we traveled a few kilometers to Wilisau, where I got my first Swiss number (see closing credits for details). Then, we picked the Australian exchange student up, and headed to my first ever rotary meeting in Switzerland. It was entirely different to the meetings in North Bay; there was no singing, no one played the piano, and there was barely any reports to be made, other than my arrival. I shook the hand of every single Rotarian (good thing I've been practicing my firm handshakes) and mingled as much as I could. "Ich spreche ein bisschen Deutsch," I told most people, "I speak a bit of german". After the meeting, Harrison the Australian and I took the train for about 30 minutes to Lucerne, where we wandered a bit, and headed back home.

All in all, my first few days have been great, and I can't wait for tomorrow! I've been offered to ride the dirt bike, and jokes about insurance have already been made. More on that next time!

Funny moment of the day: 
 The English-style restaurant that hosted the Rotary meeting had an interesting beer of the month... anyone heard of this one?


As promised, closing credits: 

First, I would like to thank my parents for allowing me to live this amazing opportunity, for supporting me, and continuing to support me along the way. Additionally, I would like to thank Rotarian, Natalie MacDougall, who has provided me with infinite support and care, which hasn't gone unnoticed. Thank you. This being said, the North Bay Rotary Club, and the 7010 district has prepared me so well for my exchange, and has invested a lot of time ensuring that I, and all other outbounds are ready for this experience. Friends and family who have told me how much they believe in me, and are rooting for me: from the bottom of my heart thank you. Sometimes reassurance and support is necessary, and I have received it from all around me. 

Now as we know, it's a no no to give out your phone number publicly on the internet, therefore, if anyone would like my new Swiss number it's-
Send me a message on Facebook:) and please note long distance charges may apply.