oh man! i just got back from the landschulwoche. i went with the 9A class from Campus Muristalden in bern. the other teacher people were Matthias Blum and Mathias Kobel. both very nice men and easy to get along with. Blum is the class' class teacher and Kobel is their math teacher who volunteered (like me) to come along.
this was our route: bern to romanshorn (train) to friedrichshafen (boat) (DE) to überlingen (DE) to diessendorf to walshut (DE) to möhlin to liestal from there i took blum's car back to bern. (he had to get his car because he couldn't ride his bike anymore due to his knee - oh well.) that's 174 km!
Größere Kartenansicht
after the boat, all we did was bike - all day. some kids were fast and others barely rode at al because they just latched onto someone else and let the other person pull them. that got very annoying after a while.
all in all though, the week went by peacefully except for the students that didn't listen to rules concerning tents and not making them suddenly co-ed, and the rules on the streets where there were cars. there were moments when we were on a rather big street and the kids were biking three deep and we told them over and over again that they should bike one behind the other and they didn't listen. ❝was i like that too??❞
by this morning though, everyone was able to go up an incline whereas on Monday, most of the girls were pushing their bikes up the smallest hill. even i am now a proud hill-biker ☆
i DO however, have some amazing bruises on my lower right leg from my bike (which i borrowed from the Schmid - Jegenstorf - family. among other things). oh well - sh✻t happens. at least i feel like i accomplished something. :)
now i need to find a mattress and get some much deserved sleep. i love feeling absolutely tired.
much ♡
carolineli.
17 September 2010
08 September 2010
noch etwas..
Susanne asked me if i wanted to go bike riding with a class for a week - land schuhl woche - we're going from Schaffhausen all the way to Liestal, Basel, on a bike. who knows how that's going to work out. i haven't been on a bike in so long, but i'm looking forward to it because i haven't really been to that part of switzerland before and seeing it on a bike will be that much more fun because everything will go by slower ... much slower. :D
we have officially confirmed Spain. we are leaving Kirchdorf, BE, on September 25th at 20:45 and driving all night. it's a bistro bus, so if we can't sleep, we can go downstairs and eat something and chat etc. i'm excited.! i'm going to be back on October 2nd. we're headed to the Costa Brava - to Rosas - and staying in the Hotel Marian. i don't think it's a 5 * hotel, but to sleep in it'll be fine i'm sure. we're going to be at the beach and at the market most of the time, so who cares about the hotel? haha
i'm glad i've going something going on now for a while. i don't know what i would have done if i'd have had to sit around for the next 4 weeks since i start work on the 12 of october.
much love.
carolineli.
we have officially confirmed Spain. we are leaving Kirchdorf, BE, on September 25th at 20:45 and driving all night. it's a bistro bus, so if we can't sleep, we can go downstairs and eat something and chat etc. i'm excited.! i'm going to be back on October 2nd. we're headed to the Costa Brava - to Rosas - and staying in the Hotel Marian. i don't think it's a 5 * hotel, but to sleep in it'll be fine i'm sure. we're going to be at the beach and at the market most of the time, so who cares about the hotel? haha
i'm glad i've going something going on now for a while. i don't know what i would have done if i'd have had to sit around for the next 4 weeks since i start work on the 12 of october.
much love.
carolineli.
05 September 2010
some new - some old
details about my trip so far...
july 22, 2010 - arrived in switzerland safely with nina waiting at the train station in bern for me. it's always so nice when someone is waiting for you at the end of that ramp. from there we went to Lyss and Biel and grandma bought me some sneakers (she was in a giving mood - like always).
i left for the farm the next day and spent 3 weeks there contemplating the pros and cons of staying in switzerland. daniela helped me figure out the pros and i knew what the cons were. first of all, there was family and friends. i know mom and dad come to switzerland more often then the rest of you, so i would see them, but i would miss you all terribly. i've never really been one to miss people, even family, so i'm sure that if you guys started trying to come visit more often, it would help me immensely. :D there haven't been many changes there since i was there last, well i also wasn't around to pursuade Daniela to buy anything at ikea.. that all changed once we WENT to ikea. cows, cows, weird plants you have to rip out, cows, cows and more cows. thats almost what those 3 weeks consisted of and i loved every minute of it!
Chris came on august 22, and we spent a wonderful afternoon with grandpa and grandma in Lyss, drinking wine and beer and discussing about this and that. on sunday, we decided we would go to Grindelwald. originally we were going to go on monday, but the weather was SO beautiful and i wanted chris to be able to see all the Grindelwald has to offer without the clouds. we took the train all the way up to town, where we then met Nina & Davide and his friends Daniele and Simona. Daniele cooked the first night and man that italian can cook! he and Simona brought us parmasan and a real, awesomely good, italian sausage from their town, Suzzara. the next night Nina and I made fondue, which the italians and Chris loved! we also happened to find a bottle of absinthe and a deck of cards... but thats another story completely.
we went on the Öpfuchüechliwäg with them all and i think they all want to learn german and move to switzerland now. especially Davide and Chris. i think they were in awe of their surroundings (which is totally understandable! - i mean HELLO!!).
we also went to the papiliorama (you know, the butterfly farm) with chris. it was so beautiful! all those colors all over the place and the butterflies just flying around and landing everywhere. i took some beautiful pictures and will share some at the end of this blog. considering i only have a lowly digital camera, some of the photos came out really well and i was mega surprised! ;)
i had started looking around for jobs the week before Chris came and was hoping to hear back from someone .. and SOON. i had left resumes at some restaurants, but a lot of people said that since it was the end of the summer season, all of their employment openings were already filled - bummer. i heard back from the Metzgerstübli a few days after i left the resume there via text when i was at Daniela's (i go there a lot now to help out in the barn - makes me feel like i'm doing something productive), i was so excited to hear back from them that i didn't really know what to do/write back. the boss man said he would call me the next day and we could get together sometime the week after for a bit of a chat. since chris and i were going to Grindelwald, i asked if thursday, august 26th, would be ok. he said sure - 10:30. so, as it would go, mom landed in Züri on thursday and needed help with her luggage due to her oozing poison ivy siutation, so chris and grandma helped her with her luggage while i went down to the Münster to have my little interview-type talk. it went really well and we agreed for me to have some trial days the next week - that would have been last wednesday and thursday the 1st & 2nd of september - and as it was, at the end of my trial evening the boss man and boss lady (Andres (res) and Gabriella) shook my hand and said: 'Welcome to the team.'!!!! WOOHOOOO!!! i had landed a job in a super nice place (mom can testify), and in a short amount of time. i signed everything yesterday and can't wait to start. Res needed someone for october because i am replacing Nicole who is going to China, so i am officially starting work on October 12, 2010, at the Metzgerstübli Restaurant, Münstergasse 60, 3011 Bern, CH! it had all worked out so well and i couldn't believe it! to top it all off, i called Daniela (she had been waiting for me to call her about the job etc etc) and she told me that during the kids' fall break she, the kids, and a friend of hers were going to Spain for a week if i would like to join them. can you imagine how excited i was about that too!! and then ... money! bummer - i haven't really been making much since i landed, and i told her as much. you know what she said? she said i could work it off - which is awesome because i have a month to work it off and i get to go to Spain - probably.
right now, for me things couldn't be better. a lot of people are asking about my situation with Chris. we talked today and he told me he'd come after me no matter what. he wants to learn german (with mom of course since she offered, as a mini test maybe? to see how fast he can pick it up since she usually taught us when we were younger) and all is well, but time will tell. until he is ready to come here, so much can change, but i want to stay as positive as possible. we shall see what happens.
paps : thank you so much for everything that you have done for me since i decided to stay. i know it's probably been a hassle for you (especially CVS), but i want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you did! i love you so much and appreciate everything! xo
mam : oh mom! i have no words, only that i will miss all your quirks, especially the one about the little 'schälli' everywhere! i know it isn't easy for any parent to see their child move 4'000 miles away and i want to thank you for not discouraging me tooooo much. there were some times though were i wasn't sure if you were saying things to try to help me or try to discourage me. all in all, i'm glad i'm doing it and hope that i can ALWAYS count on you and your 'schälli'! <3
michi : well i haven't talked to you much lately - at all really. but i know that you are so busy now mowing the lawn and not hearing your phone in your nice new house, that i think updates like these will be a bit easier for you. ;) definitely come visit me with Anna and Timmy one day - the visit would be even more fun with something in that pink room i heard about that's in your house. no worries - you've got a year until time runs out... :D i can't wait for your visit!!!!!!!!! <3 you more than words.
lin : i wish i was there to celebrate your big 2-5 in style - next time hopefully. you've been amazing and i hope you come visit soon too. maybe without J? we might we able to do more.. just an idea. i love you so much and i'm sorry if you had to find some things out over FB before i could tell you personally. there has been so much going through my mind as of late that it's hard to keep track of who to call, txt, email etc etc.. you da best!
vänny : i already know what i'm getting you for your birthday... :) you'll love it. how i'm going to get it TO you might be a bit more of a puzzle. maybe for christmas .. if i can find it. vänny, vänny. you've come so far and have only just started. it's satisfying to know that you've passed the hardest part (surgeries and all) and can now look forward to an awesome last year in high school and then college. i wish i could be there for your rose ceremony in the beginning and the end of your school year - i mean... it's a ROSE CEREMONY! i never had one. :/ i'm more proud of you than words can say and i'll ALWAYS be there for you if you ever need anything..
that goes for all of you! i love you all so much and your support in this new venture of mine means the world to me. just remember that you've got a sister & child in switzerland that still wants to be in the loop - even if she is far away. <3
much love
caroline.
now for the pictures...
july 22, 2010 - arrived in switzerland safely with nina waiting at the train station in bern for me. it's always so nice when someone is waiting for you at the end of that ramp. from there we went to Lyss and Biel and grandma bought me some sneakers (she was in a giving mood - like always).
i left for the farm the next day and spent 3 weeks there contemplating the pros and cons of staying in switzerland. daniela helped me figure out the pros and i knew what the cons were. first of all, there was family and friends. i know mom and dad come to switzerland more often then the rest of you, so i would see them, but i would miss you all terribly. i've never really been one to miss people, even family, so i'm sure that if you guys started trying to come visit more often, it would help me immensely. :D there haven't been many changes there since i was there last, well i also wasn't around to pursuade Daniela to buy anything at ikea.. that all changed once we WENT to ikea. cows, cows, weird plants you have to rip out, cows, cows and more cows. thats almost what those 3 weeks consisted of and i loved every minute of it!
Chris came on august 22, and we spent a wonderful afternoon with grandpa and grandma in Lyss, drinking wine and beer and discussing about this and that. on sunday, we decided we would go to Grindelwald. originally we were going to go on monday, but the weather was SO beautiful and i wanted chris to be able to see all the Grindelwald has to offer without the clouds. we took the train all the way up to town, where we then met Nina & Davide and his friends Daniele and Simona. Daniele cooked the first night and man that italian can cook! he and Simona brought us parmasan and a real, awesomely good, italian sausage from their town, Suzzara. the next night Nina and I made fondue, which the italians and Chris loved! we also happened to find a bottle of absinthe and a deck of cards... but thats another story completely.
we went on the Öpfuchüechliwäg with them all and i think they all want to learn german and move to switzerland now. especially Davide and Chris. i think they were in awe of their surroundings (which is totally understandable! - i mean HELLO!!). we also went to the papiliorama (you know, the butterfly farm) with chris. it was so beautiful! all those colors all over the place and the butterflies just flying around and landing everywhere. i took some beautiful pictures and will share some at the end of this blog. considering i only have a lowly digital camera, some of the photos came out really well and i was mega surprised! ;)
i had started looking around for jobs the week before Chris came and was hoping to hear back from someone .. and SOON. i had left resumes at some restaurants, but a lot of people said that since it was the end of the summer season, all of their employment openings were already filled - bummer. i heard back from the Metzgerstübli a few days after i left the resume there via text when i was at Daniela's (i go there a lot now to help out in the barn - makes me feel like i'm doing something productive), i was so excited to hear back from them that i didn't really know what to do/write back. the boss man said he would call me the next day and we could get together sometime the week after for a bit of a chat. since chris and i were going to Grindelwald, i asked if thursday, august 26th, would be ok. he said sure - 10:30. so, as it would go, mom landed in Züri on thursday and needed help with her luggage due to her oozing poison ivy siutation, so chris and grandma helped her with her luggage while i went down to the Münster to have my little interview-type talk. it went really well and we agreed for me to have some trial days the next week - that would have been last wednesday and thursday the 1st & 2nd of september - and as it was, at the end of my trial evening the boss man and boss lady (Andres (res) and Gabriella) shook my hand and said: 'Welcome to the team.'!!!! WOOHOOOO!!! i had landed a job in a super nice place (mom can testify), and in a short amount of time. i signed everything yesterday and can't wait to start. Res needed someone for october because i am replacing Nicole who is going to China, so i am officially starting work on October 12, 2010, at the Metzgerstübli Restaurant, Münstergasse 60, 3011 Bern, CH! it had all worked out so well and i couldn't believe it! to top it all off, i called Daniela (she had been waiting for me to call her about the job etc etc) and she told me that during the kids' fall break she, the kids, and a friend of hers were going to Spain for a week if i would like to join them. can you imagine how excited i was about that too!! and then ... money! bummer - i haven't really been making much since i landed, and i told her as much. you know what she said? she said i could work it off - which is awesome because i have a month to work it off and i get to go to Spain - probably.
right now, for me things couldn't be better. a lot of people are asking about my situation with Chris. we talked today and he told me he'd come after me no matter what. he wants to learn german (with mom of course since she offered, as a mini test maybe? to see how fast he can pick it up since she usually taught us when we were younger) and all is well, but time will tell. until he is ready to come here, so much can change, but i want to stay as positive as possible. we shall see what happens.
paps : thank you so much for everything that you have done for me since i decided to stay. i know it's probably been a hassle for you (especially CVS), but i want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for everything you did! i love you so much and appreciate everything! xo
mam : oh mom! i have no words, only that i will miss all your quirks, especially the one about the little 'schälli' everywhere! i know it isn't easy for any parent to see their child move 4'000 miles away and i want to thank you for not discouraging me tooooo much. there were some times though were i wasn't sure if you were saying things to try to help me or try to discourage me. all in all, i'm glad i'm doing it and hope that i can ALWAYS count on you and your 'schälli'! <3
michi : well i haven't talked to you much lately - at all really. but i know that you are so busy now mowing the lawn and not hearing your phone in your nice new house, that i think updates like these will be a bit easier for you. ;) definitely come visit me with Anna and Timmy one day - the visit would be even more fun with something in that pink room i heard about that's in your house. no worries - you've got a year until time runs out... :D i can't wait for your visit!!!!!!!!! <3 you more than words.
lin : i wish i was there to celebrate your big 2-5 in style - next time hopefully. you've been amazing and i hope you come visit soon too. maybe without J? we might we able to do more.. just an idea. i love you so much and i'm sorry if you had to find some things out over FB before i could tell you personally. there has been so much going through my mind as of late that it's hard to keep track of who to call, txt, email etc etc.. you da best!
vänny : i already know what i'm getting you for your birthday... :) you'll love it. how i'm going to get it TO you might be a bit more of a puzzle. maybe for christmas .. if i can find it. vänny, vänny. you've come so far and have only just started. it's satisfying to know that you've passed the hardest part (surgeries and all) and can now look forward to an awesome last year in high school and then college. i wish i could be there for your rose ceremony in the beginning and the end of your school year - i mean... it's a ROSE CEREMONY! i never had one. :/ i'm more proud of you than words can say and i'll ALWAYS be there for you if you ever need anything..
that goes for all of you! i love you all so much and your support in this new venture of mine means the world to me. just remember that you've got a sister & child in switzerland that still wants to be in the loop - even if she is far away. <3
much love
caroline.
now for the pictures...
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| brandegg & öpfuchüechli .. mmmmm!!! |
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on the way to brandegg... |
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| papiliorama - by kerzers, BE |
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| crazy awesome - papiliorama. |
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| who knows what he turns into.. |
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| why hello there! |
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| i love this one. even sent it to WWF. it looks awesome really big. |
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| bärn - münschter |
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| zytglogge - bärn |
p.s. : if you guys have any questions or anything - don't hesitate - mingshu64@gmail.com - i use this one most.
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