You know it's cold when you're sitting at home wearing thermal underwear under your jeans and you are thinking of grabbing a blanket. Also, when you step out your front door and think, 'Dang it! I forgot long johns today.' because you can feel the air as if you are not wearing any trousers at all.
To try and contain the heat in our metal school building we have been keeping all the classroom doors closed. After snack one day, I told the girls to clean up because we were going to head out. One of my girls looked at me with the most panicked expression and asked, "not outside?!" I chuckled as I rephrased it to "going out of the classroom." Thank goodness we have an atrium area where the kids can play.
One of the mornings the kids came to school announcing that it was -10 degrees Celsius (14 Fahrenheit)outside, which for someone coming from a temperate climate where the winters consist mainly of rain is stinking cold. Needless to say, while this first week back of school has been amazing and I have been reminded regularly of why I love my job, it has been incredibly frigid.
Not aspiring to be an icicle anytime soon -Aubrey
10 January 2009
04 January 2009
Holiday Catch Up
This holiday break has had the right amount of down time and laziness, as well as chaos...
Christmas Eve started off with me finishing some last minute local presents and watching Mama Mia! That afternoon I found myself enjoying the hospitality of the Reinle family. They live in Frick which I think is a pretty cool town name and they have a roundabout with a dinosaur in the middle of it which I also think is pretty cool. We had a wonderful time of fun and fellowship complete with a Christmas ham, for which I was very excited.
Although, I found myself having a mental battle of how to use my utensils during dinner because of the differences in table manners here compared to the States. I was always told to eat with my left hand on my lap and the fork in my right hand and if I needed my knife (which should not be often) I may transfer my fork to my left hand and cut with my right and return my hands to their original position when I was finished cutting. I don't know why this is; I just remember it being said and enforced again and again as how to eat a meal, especially while a guest at someone's house.
Well, in Switzerland it is considered incredibly rude and basically a sign of distrust to leave one's hand under the table and it is common knowledge that every meal is eaten with both fork and knife in left and right hands respectively. Hence, the mental debate which resulted in actual physical awkwardness!
The night rounded off well with a viewing of 'Elf' and a white elephant gift exchange. I brought bell earrings and a Christmas bear pin and walked away with a 'Swiss Card' which is a type of Swiss Army knife and a picture from Egypt of Tutankhamen with his wife. The present I brought to the Bible Study white elephant gift exchange also popped up here! I think I got the better end of the deal.
Christmas (day 1) began with an international breakfast at Diana's house complete with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Then, off to church we went for the carol sing (one of my favorite parts about Christmas in Europe). Afterward, each of us went our separate ways and I enjoyed a walk about town and 'It's a Wonderful Life' (my first time seeing it) before lighting the candles on my tree and calling family. All in all it was a good Christmas day!
Christmas (day 2- that's right there are two days of Christmas in Germany; Also known as Boxing Day and Stephanstag). The plus side to this is that shops are closed so you are forced to relax, but the downside to this is that shops are closed so there is no option for entertainment in that area and you better hope you bought enough food on the morning of Christmas eve. I spent the day doing nothing and the evening sharing fondue with the Manduka family and Diana and Stephanie. What could be more fun!
On New Year's Eve I tagged along with Stephanie to the Reinle house again. We had Raclette with an added twist of mini pizzas because Raphael and Dominic's friend Lukas doesn't like melted cheese! I have to say that I found this intriguing for a Swiss person, but am happy for the addition to my food repertoire. Raphael had made a special stop in Basel so that we could enjoy A&W root beer. Which, of course, sparked an explanation of root beer floats and, somehow, Wendy's Frostys and fries. At midnight we went outside and welcomed the new year with Champagne, fireworks and by greeting the Swiss and French neighbors! The night came to an end around 4:30 am. Stephanie and I got to chatting.
Then the fun really started- Janet and Stephan's wedding...
Christmas Eve started off with me finishing some last minute local presents and watching Mama Mia! That afternoon I found myself enjoying the hospitality of the Reinle family. They live in Frick which I think is a pretty cool town name and they have a roundabout with a dinosaur in the middle of it which I also think is pretty cool. We had a wonderful time of fun and fellowship complete with a Christmas ham, for which I was very excited.
Although, I found myself having a mental battle of how to use my utensils during dinner because of the differences in table manners here compared to the States. I was always told to eat with my left hand on my lap and the fork in my right hand and if I needed my knife (which should not be often) I may transfer my fork to my left hand and cut with my right and return my hands to their original position when I was finished cutting. I don't know why this is; I just remember it being said and enforced again and again as how to eat a meal, especially while a guest at someone's house.
Well, in Switzerland it is considered incredibly rude and basically a sign of distrust to leave one's hand under the table and it is common knowledge that every meal is eaten with both fork and knife in left and right hands respectively. Hence, the mental debate which resulted in actual physical awkwardness!
The night rounded off well with a viewing of 'Elf' and a white elephant gift exchange. I brought bell earrings and a Christmas bear pin and walked away with a 'Swiss Card' which is a type of Swiss Army knife and a picture from Egypt of Tutankhamen with his wife. The present I brought to the Bible Study white elephant gift exchange also popped up here! I think I got the better end of the deal.
Christmas (day 1) began with an international breakfast at Diana's house complete with pancakes, eggs, and bacon. Then, off to church we went for the carol sing (one of my favorite parts about Christmas in Europe). Afterward, each of us went our separate ways and I enjoyed a walk about town and 'It's a Wonderful Life' (my first time seeing it) before lighting the candles on my tree and calling family. All in all it was a good Christmas day!
Christmas (day 2- that's right there are two days of Christmas in Germany; Also known as Boxing Day and Stephanstag). The plus side to this is that shops are closed so you are forced to relax, but the downside to this is that shops are closed so there is no option for entertainment in that area and you better hope you bought enough food on the morning of Christmas eve. I spent the day doing nothing and the evening sharing fondue with the Manduka family and Diana and Stephanie. What could be more fun!
On New Year's Eve I tagged along with Stephanie to the Reinle house again. We had Raclette with an added twist of mini pizzas because Raphael and Dominic's friend Lukas doesn't like melted cheese! I have to say that I found this intriguing for a Swiss person, but am happy for the addition to my food repertoire. Raphael had made a special stop in Basel so that we could enjoy A&W root beer. Which, of course, sparked an explanation of root beer floats and, somehow, Wendy's Frostys and fries. At midnight we went outside and welcomed the new year with Champagne, fireworks and by greeting the Swiss and French neighbors! The night came to an end around 4:30 am. Stephanie and I got to chatting.
Then the fun really started- Janet and Stephan's wedding...
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