Thursday, May 7, 2020

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...https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1NolF4bns6JXTX5Bp_oZiuarAi8bzd4L7https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1BPhSh0BO6q1tWE8Xyg7-cUaVrfm1NsJFhttps://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1yUtADWnoPbv0721LINwgIqS4i9vGqC5k
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. 



Monday, March 23, 2020

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!https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Shx6rFOiyKd9FuIQIiOLtibWzEi7h_8_

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.https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1yPpUsKjopimXlCtnKfE0kXt1LVeQBbNn

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. https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1rNgQzAUPV_W-AhpFalKfAe9SN013Lhju

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:

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

Sunday, March 1, 2020

Busy Busy February

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1depzWRSFmXIHJLtITqWOHZD7IX1dPr9xFebruary 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. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1AFWL14WwykOFRynpSlEKiob0BzCjyQxU
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.

  https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1PwPmlqDM74ubkjOzAiIaWQTsAkq9_fG2
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.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=15_Os9Jw-I5nbdLDpWLpsbDN36YJrtOhM
Stopping myself from making any distracted skiing jokes
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1P5XLhxtye-E8sP1OJ7CTDXHqkXOxFmky
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.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1vc-iO176QD5jTHW_VhpKD35ifjmst065
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.

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1QjOWU944bzZWrKcjeuvlXsGJDAdLD2yh
One of many amazing floats during the parade on Gudis-Montag
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1v4_6LmRhQDEZbqo3HSaMjEwIawYldqi8
A traditional Carnival tree, displaying all the groups of marching bands. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1EaBIoeFyfOITDR3BKqclh1NlGMfmaY7D
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.
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=18uM9l1DE5yJn2czIpYt1ms6MYr7TZXwH
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. 

Thursday, February 6, 2020

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. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1Y2XWykOVFM1DKA50NXu4KrczpfuWmafV
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. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1LpMiIJQA8lh2Vi_MvUU22r2V_npjZEMj
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. 
https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1i9PBeOGsxUb67cFoHv1_PVRekI-MZEx0
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. 

https://drive.google.com/uc?export=view&id=1FHd9WrXB4ENsmvgxpBZnt5vuuqGBhfHf
"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?