Rotary reports!
These are the Reports I send back to Prisca and Chis. in Cali and in Switzerland. I could write two different ones. but in the spirit of Switzerland, I am conserving!
1st Rotary report
Guess what, I am in Switzerland! Haha, wow, you have no idea. Ok, so you want to hear about it.
I have only been here a month, and already you want to hear how I am doing. Wow, *sniff *sniff, I feel so loved. Let's see, first of all. It is small. Actually, I try to stay away from using that to describe anything in Switzerland. I would say it is cozy. I really have fallen in love with the Swiss people. The kids are amazingly friendly, the adults respect you, and the strangers... well, the strangers walk by without noticing you. But they are so nice once you get to know them. Hmm, I guess you want to hear about the bad stuff, too. Yes, there are bad things to being an exchange student. All my friends say "oh my god. I am so jealous of you. You get to fly half way around the world and live there for a year, and people are so friendly to you." While you're on the topic, you might as well add how you just fit in perfectly, and speak perfect German over night, how they hand you a car, and say "where can we take you? And then to top it off they say, if you're ever unhappy just tell us and we'll make everything better." Ha! The first month of being an exchange student is really hard! So hard in fact that many kids spend nights crying to sleep. They tell you, your exchange year is going to be hard, but nothing like it really is. You have a horrible time with the language. You think all the other exchange students are getting it faster then you. You spend almost every weekend alone, you wonder how your family is doing. Half your friends, if they still talk to you just tell you how perfect it must be. And by the end of the day you just want to cry.
I would just like to take a minute to tell all the exchanges. I am cheering for you! You can do. And don't give up. Let's see what else, oh yeah, the chocolate here is great! Oh, and the deserts, so good. And, I am not gaining weight (at this point most girls attack me).
So far I have been to Zürich, Luzern, and also the Alps. Hehe, I love the Alps. They are my favorite of all Switzerland.
Swiss people are hard to get to open up to you, but once you befriend a Swiss, you have a friend for life, the trick is starting a conversation with one, though. I have met all three of my host families now. I think all three are very good matches. My family now is great, they took me to the mountains last weekend, and I look forward to another two months of spending time with them. I met my godmother. (It is a rotary thing.) Where you get adopted by a god mother, and they show you the ropes of Switzerland. Mine is great. I love you Yvonne! You wonderful!
I think it can be said that I only really miss three things. My family, Jesse, the Ocean, and the hugs! Ok, I lied four things, I can't count. But Swiss people don't give hugs, or so I found out. Hehe, but I am working on it! Ok, I know everyone says this, but I gotta say thanks to the rotary. You guys are awesome. What can I say? If I could, I would pick you guys up from all over the world and give you a great big hug. And maybe a kiss too. You guys are great. And although right now, I may wish that this was my last report and not my first, I know, that this year I will learn so much, I will have so many great experiences, I will make so many new people, that in the end, all those nights I spend crying are going to be turned in for days I can't stop laughing. Bye for now.
— your friend in Switzerland
