End Of Semester

The end of the first three months has finally come. I head out today to France for a month, which will be fun to enjoy with my family and some friends. I have posted some more pictures of just day-to-day life here with the other 40 kids in my program, as we enjoy various parties (Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas), and live in our close-knit community. I'm looking forward to a break from schoolwork, am anticipating Harry Potter in French, and spending the my time here in Europe!
May God bless your holiday season.
Until January, when a new semester and line up of trips begin,
au revoir!
JoAnne

Return to Ruti, Switzerland

Although its been a while since I posted, here's my 22 November weekend summary:

A fun-filled, sport-heavy weekend! Susan Honegger and family took me in, and I was able to play floorball for the first time, participate in a volleyball tournament, and attend two hockey games! Floorball is a game of indoor hockey with a whiffle ball and hockey sticks, and Susan invited me to play with her in an informal Thursday night league. I ended up making two assists, and enjoyed playing as a forward the best. What’s so neat about sports is that the language barrier is eliminated, and it’s back to talent, guts, sportsmanship, and teamwork. The element of my game that I normally contribute to any sporting event is talk, the chatter to rile up my teammates, but in this context, it was lost on the girls, but it still was fun to play a new game.
Friday was a day at Susan’s school; I spoke just a small bit in her English class, in a position where my mother tongue was very much valued. The teacher asked that I return to present a talk about life in the States, so that will be something to put together for next semester.
I watched two Rapperswil-Jona Lakers ice hockey games, one pro game, and one junior league game. Although the pros lost, it was cool to be a part of a popular Swiss pastime, and cheer on the guys. Simon (Susan’s younger brother) had a hockey game too, as he is on the junior league. Hockey’s a rough game, how they bash each other around the rink, and get into some tussles, but it is cool to hear the skate blades scrape against the ice, and see how talented the players are not only at puck control, but in skating ability too. I enjoyed being able to see the progression from junior to professional, in watching Simon’s game, I better understood the ease with which the pros carry themselves on the ice.
I think the highlight of the weekend, however, although it didn’t fit in with the sports theme these last few days seemed to have, was Susan’s Gospel Project concert. She sang 15 songs with 130 other singers, who performed all their pieces in English. I recognized several of the songs, and it was a wonderful time of praise and a well-done performance. Seeing Susan perform with such joy makes me want to join a choir as soon as I can – we’ll have to see what presents itself when I return to the States or head back to Pepperdine.
What a blessing it is to have yet another family to be a part of – I feel like all these families I’ve stayed with are now in my own extended family. I am thankful for being so wonderfully welcomed in the Honegger home, and for spending one-on-one time with Susan, Kathy, Ruedi, and Simon. I especially cherished Simon and Susan this weekend, who served as interim siblings, when I am really missing Jen and Brett. Thank you!

Fall Break in Rimini, Italy

Yet another enjoyable weekend! What an authentically Italian experience I had, listening to beautiful Italian in conversation (which to my dismay I didn’t understand), eating pasta with every meal, and seeing what life is like in a beachside town in Emilia-Romagna, Italy. I was graciously hosted by Jonathan Benatti and family, and boy, did they take good care of me – walking me through local markets, the beach, around the old part of town, and welcomed in their day-to-day activities. I gained some culinary knowledge from Mrs. Benatti on real Italian cooking during me time there too. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to trying some new tricks with my homemade pizzas when I return home.

Jonathan included me in his school day also; I was able to visit his school in Forli where he studies aeronautical engineering and is working toward obtaining his masters degree. One of the nights, he invited me to join him and his friends in a game of Texas Hold ‘Em. (Unfortunately, I didn’t hold my own, but I was able to win a few rounds when we played 5-card poker – what they call “European” poker) I enjoyed meeting his friends, and was a little sad that is wasn’t summer, because I would really have liked to play soccer and volleyball on the beach with them. One morning, however, I took the opportunity to run alongside the Adriatic on the boardwalk. What a gorgeous body of water; the run was memorable as I could see down the coast, distinguish each brightly colored hotel and building along the beach, smell the fish and saltwater, and hear the waves washing up on the sand.

As Jonathan took me around Rimini, there were several things that reminded me of a Northern Californian city, but missing the hustle and bustle. Perhaps the feeling in town is different in the off-season, when I visited, nevertheless, the foliage was very similar, the streets, and various store fronts were reminiscent of a Carmel.
Rimini itself is quite young; for many of the buildings were destroyed by Allied bombs in WWII. There still are, however, remnants of Roman walls, a medieval castle, and a couple of Renaissance-era buildings. What still gets me in Italy, especially, are the unexpected churches that you come upon, or Roman arches that just lie at the end of a street, and how that is just a part of the country’s history and a typical part of the Italian landscape.

Rimini was greener and quieter than the cities I had previously visited in Italy. I got to try my first roasted chestnut, and also some piada (a local favorite of meat, cheese, pumpkin stuffing in a flat-bread/tortilla that was very good).
Thank you Benattis for allowing me to be a part of your lives in Rimini!

Ciao!

Gimmelwald

To describe the beauty and the grandeur of the mountains in words is difficult. To capture their sheer size and the way that the sun glints off the snow-covered peaks is similarly challenging. Needless to say, the Alps this weekend really were spectacular, and it was a perfect, relaxing retreat to the mountains. We were able to hike all weekend, and discover several trails in the Schilthorn Mountain hiking/skiing basin.


Our hostel was set on the side of a cliff in the small 100-person town of Gimmelwald, Switzerland. The weather was perfect the entire time, and although most of the Alpine farm animals were in barns or on the Lauterbrunnen Valley floor far below, we still were able to see some ponies, sheep, and goats on our walks through Gimmelwald and neighboring village Murren. What we found out later is that the town faces three significantly tall (and well-known) mountains in the Alps (Eiger, Monch, and Jungfrau), so that was cool too.

This was my favorite weekend so far, as I was able to spend quality time with dear friend Max Mean, explore the interior of some sweet ice caves, and enjoy the outdoors and breathtaking views. My favorite meal (I'm coming to find that I seem to mention something about a meal every post..) was a simple picnic of Swiss cheese, fresh baguette, apples, and trail mix. We were situated on a grassy hill warmed by the sun, and we were satisfied to simply bask in the heart of the mountains. For a time, we just watched helicopters fly by, counted the paragliders (and wished we were paragliding too), and talked in awe about the raw beauty and peacefulness of the place.

After this weekend, I now am hooked on Rooibos chai tea, looking for the next opportunity to jump off a cliff and paraglide, and trying to figure out when I can return to this mountain paradise, eat some more of Esther's fresh yogurt, and tally up shooting stars in the night sky.

Video one: Max found a PVC pipe and decided to play his own Alpenhorn song...
Video two: our picnic spot!

Max also has some pictures online also at http://picasaweb.google.com/maxwellmean/Switzerland?authkey=WaEvf1R3QYk
Check them out too!!!

Florence, Italy

With a group of friends (the largest group I’ve traveled with so far), I rolled into Florence, Italy this weekend. It turned out to be three days of art in 3 awesome expressions. Not only were we visiting the birthplace of the Renaissance to see sculptures and paintings, but we also came to enjoy Michael Buble’s impressive musical talents, as he was putting on a concert during our time there.

It’s much too difficult to rank the three forms of artistry and talent I saw and heard on this trip, so I’ll cover them chronologically. The first stop was the Academia, home of some of Michelangelo’s unfinished sculptures, and, most importantly, his well-known David. After seeing the unfinished works, you gain a greater image of the work as a finished piece and the emotion that goes into extracting a figure from a block of marble. The power of David in the room is simply overwhelming. He is so big, well-polished, obviously toiled over, and utterly awe-inspiring. The musculature of his body is toned, the marble so smooth and flawless, and it seemed as if his blood was coursing through his veins as we looked up to his detailed hands, neck, head, and captivating face. To try and grasp the full impact and importance of this piece of artwork is close to impossible. I found it hard enough to think about the years, the frustrations, and the pressures of imagining, creating, and completing such a work. David was amazing, and difficult to effectively describe the genius of Michelangelo. I think that those who marvel at such a masterpiece can’t help but better imagine the love and individual attention God puts into creating each of us. Also, the fact that God would care so much to foster the artistic development in Michelangelo to give him the talent to sculpt such a beautiful piece is awesome too. I could have stared at David much longer than I did this weekend, and although the pictures of him in textbooks are clear and detailed, they fall far short to seeing in person this enormous, confident, calm, and beautiful sculpture in the Academia.

The Uffizi also had much to offer, but Botticelli’s detail in the foliage of La Primavera really was intricate and deliberate, making it the most memorable piece of art in the Uffizi to gaze at. It was amusing to walk through this huge museum, passing by hundreds of works of art, and finding myself doing double-takes when I came upon works that we had studied in our Western Civilization class. Not only do the pieces take on that much more importance for me, but they are many times more interesting when you know the background of the artist and the story and symbolism in the painting.

Finally, we attended the Michael Buble concert, and I was again (this was my second of his concerts) thoroughly impressed by the sheer musicianship of this charming modern-day crooner. It was his “Call Me Irresponsible” tour, and he also played and sang some old favorites too. We rushed up to the stage front for the encore songs, and listened to his a cappella piece of Song for You to finish it up. What a way to end a great performance! He’s just such a talented artist, with perfect pitch, and a real passion for his music. The band behind him was made up of just as accomplished musicians, and that too was a treat to hear. I loved how we grooved on stage with the beat and how several times throughout the concert I caught myself beaming ear to ear. I did have a gaping hole, though, in my experience, because my fellow Michael Buble diehard fan was not with me. Her squeals and utter excitement were missed; Jenica, I hope we can see Michael in concert together some time soon; it wasn’t the same without you!
Nevertheless, I managed to soak in the tunes and enjoy the concert in Florence. All in all, a cultural and artistic weekend, but I’m happy to be reporting from smaller, cleaner, more peaceful Lausanne.

Until next weekend (I’m headed to the Alps!),
JoAnne

Michael's version of I've Got the World On a String:

Salt Mine

Today we visited the Salt Mines of Bex about 45 minutes from Lausanne. It was especially neat because these mines are still functioning and selling salt today. The miners each morning take the same train that we rode into the mountain to see the galleries.

We were able to hear about the history and the back-breaking work (chiseling out tunnels by hand, carrying out loads of rocks 50 kg in a wooden backpack) that went into extracting this valuable mineral from the earth. The trip was enjoyable and interesting to see the insides of a mountain from a rickety miniature train (see photo below).

Strasbourg, Brussels, Metz

Our Educational Field Trip (a special trip planned by our directors for the entire group) was very politically charged. A majority of the time, we were in presentations at various European Union buildings. We listened to spokespeople at the Council of Europe, the European Parliament, and the European Commission, the latter two directly associated with the EU itself. Quite complex, and somewhat overwhelming, we learned about the goals and origins of these European institutions.

Although it was good to be exposed to the organization of the European community, I personally enjoyed other parts of the trip much better. Strasbourg, for one, was the first French city I’d ever visited, and I thoroughly enjoyed exploring the old parts of the city (despite the touristy section) and listening to the history of the city and cathedral from our tour guide. There was one pointed moment that I remember in Strasbourg as I stood in the square in front of the Notre Dame, in the shadow of the high Gothic tower and peered into a cobble-stoned back street, serenaded by an accordion player in which I felt the joy of travel, the satisfaction found in soaking up new and invigorating sights, acknowledging (and understanding) the French language surrounding me, and basking in the European midday autumn sun. In discovering and coming upon so many cathedrals, wandering the streets of many a city and town, I am finding it is essential to record and remember each city for these specific and unique moments, lest all the trips I take blend into one.

Brussels, on the other hand, felt disjointed without a real identity of its own, and because of that patchwork, I disliked it. As we drove through the streets, sections of town were designed by past rulers trying to emulate other Western European city plans such as London and Paris. The center of town was dominated by modern EU buildings and other offices. Old town was interesting, but I felt that the size of the city, and the lack of unity in the town identified well with Belgium itself because we learned that the country is dealing with a lack of government right now, and also struggling with a division between North and South, creating problems riddled with language issues, and various opinions on political structure. We did enjoy fries and Belgian waffles, but all in all, I much prefer other European cities to this one.

The final stop on our trip was Metz, France, a small French town with another Cathedral and rich history, as it was the military stronghold for German, French, and Roman soldiers in the past.

The 50-person coach ride was fun too, as we went from destination to destination, watching the French, Luxembourg, and Belgian countryside pass by. The most surprising parts of the road trip, though, were the elaborate and expansive middle-of-nowhere rest stops we came upon. These stop-offs were equipped with fully stocked convenience stores, cafeterias, gift shops, and were pretty impressive, and we all looked forward to eating at these places on our way to the next city. As we neared home at the end of the week, we were able to witness a gorgeous sunset that painted the mountains pink and purple; a great way to end another journey and welcome us back to Lausanne and the beauty that is Switzerland.

Ruti

Ruti is a town of 11,000 about 15 minutes by train east of Zurich in the Swiss German part of the country. I was well taken care of by my Swiss family, the Jakobs, all weekend long. I know this family because Werner Jakob came to stay with my dad’s family as an exchange student in 1969. Our families have stayed in touch and Werner’s kids (Mat, Christoph, and Barbara), now all grown, have visited and spent time with our family over the years. Now, I am finally able to do a short-term US-Swiss exchange! It’s a blessing to have them nearby, and I really did feel at home there in Ruti.

In our time there, Robin and I were served wonderfully prepared, fresh, authentic Swiss meals (Alplermaccaroni, Raclette, fruit pies), and were even able to hike in the Alps! I think that my favorite part of the weekend was stepping over mud puddles, scaling boulders in a rock field, and following the white and red painted stripes marking our hiking path through tundra-like grassy plains before finally reaching the top of a 2262 meter-high point called Chaserrugg. This summit was quite impressive; we could see much from the top. From the viewpoint, Christoph and Mat pointed out the Austrian, Liechtenstein, German, and Swiss mountains that surrounded us. In addition to the breathtaking sights of the Alps, we could also peer down on the valley we came from, those green and peaceful valleys littered with chalets and windows sills brimming with healthy geraniums. Our hike began after riding two quad chairlifts up the mountainside. Eventually, we set out along a path that covered different terrains, climbed several hundred meters in altitude, and curved around a plateau that served as a destination of yet another ski lift. The October weather still was warm, perfect for our day trip, and luckily, the snow at the 1000-2000 meter level still wasn’t on the ground. The sun even brought out a soaring eagle, which beautifully floated on the high mountain gusts so effortlessly.

Although the mountains were semi-enveloped in a fog creating a fog lake or “sea of fog,” direct translation of the German word for the view we saw from the summit, it surely was a phenomenal sight to see. I have determined that some time in my life I’d like to live in the Alps, or at least nearby a mountain range of this intensity; it’s just so awesome, and so peaceful. Although this may not ever become a reality, I like to dream, and pick out places like the picture below in which to live, at least for a summer some day.
Although this short description is just a small part of my weekend, it was the most memorable.
Jakob Family: Thanks for a refreshing and fun weekend!!

Want to see more pictures from the hiking trip and the other excursions we took that weekend (afternoon in Zurich, a walk to Rapperswil)? Check out the photo album!

Barcelona

Hola! I was able to visit the great city of Barcelona this past weekend, and encountered a different mindset in the people we met, tried to learn a few words in a new language, and enjoyed a warmer climate! I’d have to say one of the highlights of the trip was aboard our rented bikes as we wove in and out of Vespas, and avoided taxi cabs on our excursion through the city. With a trusty city map, Robin (my friend/travel partner/Spanish language translator) and I set out to see the sights of this metropolis, from the shores of the Mediterranean and yachts of Port Vell, to the parks and wide-sweeping boulevards lined with beautiful Gothic churches, modernistic buildings, and specially marked bike lanes (with our own stoplights and crosswalks).

In this waterfront city situated in Catalonia, Spain, we beheld the architectural masterpieces of Alberti Gaudi, and enjoyed the wonderful and colorful mosaics that adorned several of his buildings, artfully scattered throughout the city (creating a fun little treasure hunt for us on our bikes and in our walks around town).

One thing that we did have to adapt to was the difference in the layout of the day. The Spanish time schedule is much more laid back than the typical Swiss day, and although we failed to participate in the daily siesta during our stay there, we did manage to adhere to the correct meal times and opted to indulge in the seafood specialties of the region. Our first culinary encounter was at a restaurant about two blocks from the Sagrada Familia (Gaudi’s famous, but not yet finished, sandcastle-like church), where we decided to order the “menu del dia” and try whatever came to the table. My little barat fish was really tasty, and the spinach/onion/potato casserole first course wasn’t bad either. With Barcelona’s proximity to the Mediterranean, the seafood was awesome. That night, although we also wanted to try tapas, various appetizers popular in several of the local eateries, we thoroughly enjoyed the Paella Marisco (a seafood & seasoned rice dish, that, if I even attempted to describe it, would fall so far short, that it’s just better to recommend that you go to Spain and get a pan of it for yourself).

Anyway, Barcelona was an interesting town to uncover, and I really would like to return to Spain sometime soon. Adios for now!

More pictures can be found in my photo album link in the right-hand column.

Approaching the Arc de Triumf

360 of Port Vell

Salzburg, Austria

Although this weekend’s trip was a repeat visit for me (I had visited Salzburg three summers ago with my family), I was able to experience more of the local flavor of this town, and participate in an annual festival! Two friends and I ventured into Austria, and set out not only to see all the filming locations associated with the Sound of Music, but also to try and make some Austrian acquaintances, and see another side of the touristy, but still interesting town of Salzburg.

Upon our arrival to town, we found that there were several booths, tents, and stages set up all through old town, and were curious as to what was happening that weekend. Turns out, we picked the right time to visit, because we were able to not only see the noteworthy portions of the city (Nonnberg Abbey, Mirabell Gardens), but the weather was absolutely perfect, and the festival was in full swing the entire trip. This celebration was to acknowledge the county’s patron, Saint Rupert, in a festival called Rupertikirtag, and along with that came the Lederhosen (traditional leather or velour short and vest outfit) and dresses, as well as every size of pretzel you could imagine, numerous handicraft artisan vendors, too many bratwurst and pastry connoisseurs, and a new folk band that came in every hour playing songs throughout the day.

We were determined to make some conversation with locals, to find out about the festivities, and attempt to connect with the city from the perspective of a resident rather than a tourist. In our exploration of each of the booths, and after watching a marching band for a while, we approached a group of drum-wielding, trombone-toting band members and asked some questions of them. Turns out that the Rupertikirtag occurs each year, welcomes all the local village bands to perform, and everyone comes to Salzburg to celebrate and compete in various presentations ranging from polka dancing to musket demonstrations on the main stage. It’s the only other celebration besides Christmas that brings so many people to town.

That night for dinner, at the suggestion of our new friends, we decided to try some Austrian grub and scoot in next to the locals for a smoky, “oom-pah-pah” laced night under the Steigl Beer tent. I had an unbelievably moist half rotisserie chicken and fries, ordered after peeking at what everyone else in the tent was eating, and we had to make sure to wash it all down with the house brew, which, although we didn’t get the giant steins everyone else had, gave us a good taste of what living and passing the time in Salzburg is really like. All in all, I’d consider it a good cultural experience, and a great way to wrap up our time in town. We were able to strike up a couple of conversations, talk about what a typical weekend in Salzburg looks like, and also able to learn some German phrases. Perfect timing, though, for the festival falling on the weekend we visited.

folk dancing:
additional pictures are also updated.

Brienz and Bern

I just returned from a peaceful and enjoyable weekend in the Berner Mitteland, three hours from our place in Lausanne. We visited Brienz and Bern, walked through the Open Air Museum, Ballenberg, outside of Brienz, and were able to sit in a German church service in Munster Cathedral in Bern among other things, but I’ll just share one story from our weekend (although there were many more, this one is my favorite). Bern was interesting, and its old town, especially from the Aare riverbank, is much more preserved and unique than I would have thought. But, my story is from our first stop in a village by the lake.
A friend of mine (Kim) and I set out on Friday morning for Brienz, Switzerland, a small town on Brienzsee (or Lake Brienz), the place where her relatives once lived. We were on an ancestry quest of sorts, looking for hints of her great-grandparents’ names, or possibly some records in the area. Although we were unsuccessful in those efforts, we deemed our trip to Brienz quite lovely, filled with unforgettable accommodations, and a unique experience.
Since we didn’t reserve a place to sleep on Friday night, it proved to be quite a tossup as far as who would take us in, because we wanted just a bed, not anything too fancy or big. It added a challenge to our trip, and a pinch of spontaneity, perhaps, to find a room day-of. Anyway, we started by inquiring at places right along the lake, which were all equally appealing because of proximity to the train station and city, but not so favorable in price range and availability. Nevertheless, we walked on, exploring and enjoying this quaint town as we ventured into the neighborhoods of the Brienz residents, and marveled at the beautiful lake that they look out on each morning, and the Alps behind that loom over the entire landscape and seem to envelop the lake and the town with cliffs and tree-covered slopes that extend right into the water. Equipped with a list of a couple more places to try, possible hotels and rooms to rent, we continued up the hillside in search of a bed. It became hard to determine which places were homes, and which were businesses, but, after being turned away at a hotel high above the middle of town, we glanced over to see a B&B sign in front of a traditional Swiss home. The side door was closed, so we walked around the deck to find a couple folding sheets in their living room. With hesitation, since we didn’t practice much German before our excursion, we inquired about a room, and they graciously showed us a little chalet nearby that was cute, but not what we were looking for. We explained that we were looking simply for a cheap bed, and after thanking her for her help, we were set on heading to the hostel outside of town. But as we were about to turn back down the hill, she beckoned us into her home and to the back patio, above which sat a small playhouse-looking chalet. It was 7 feet by 10 feet at most, and just what we wanted: a simple bunk bed. She mentioned that normally they don’t rent out this room, simply because of the size and the fact that we would be sharing the bathroom with them, but it was perfect for us. The little window looked out onto the patio and had a gorgeous view of Brienzsee, and Kim and I looked at each other and immediately took the offer. A chance to be hosted by a friendly Swiss German couple in a humble lakeside village! Our stay there was wonderful, and it was a real treat to relax on the patio, listen to Marcel (her husband) play the piano, and smell Irene’s bread baking in the oven that we just couldn’t wait to eat in the morning for breakfast. We were also able to have some time to talk with Irene and Marcel, and see what living in on a small Swiss lake is like from that side. They were so hospitable, and if I ever return Brienz someday, I would enjoy staying with the Jobins again.

My photos are also updated: see the right-hand column on this page!

I have finally arrived and begun to settle into life in Lausanne, Switzerland. After an informative, yet fascinating, 3 day tour of the city, and time on our own to explore, the 42 of us are transitioning well. Lausanne is a city of 125,000 people, and it does still feel quite large to me. Although we are getting a good sense of the layout of town, there’s still much to discover, and then, of course, determine where the best places are to grab lunch, un café du lait, or a comfy chair in which to study and spend time.

The city is on the shore of Lake Geneva, and, therefore, a little hilly. We walk an average of 45 minutes a day, either running errands, finding lunch, or venturing into another part of town, whether it be Ouchy, the waterfront, or the Vielle Ville (the old part of town with the cathedral and cobblestoned streets).

We’ve only been here for six days, but the fact that we’re not simply vacationing here really hasn’t sunk in yet. Ranging from organ concerts in the cathedral, trips to lakeside towns, and walking tours of chateaus, our itinerary has been varied and interesting. Our initial trips to the grocery store have been made, and after speaking with the employees there about choosing the best laundry detergent, our French is slowly being developed with the interactions we make during the day. I am on the lookout for a family here in Lausanne, so I can spend some time with them and really give myself an opportunity to become comfortable speaking French.

I find myself seeking out parks and time in our backyard garden at the hotel where I can relax, read, write, and reflect on the week we’ve already spent here in Lausanne. The parks are havens for me especially because I want to take full advantage of the sunny weather we’re having, and get away from the hustle and bustle of the city life before we’re relegated to studying and hanging out indoors when the cooler weather arrives.

The produce and bakery items are fresh here, and when I weave through the streets on my morning “wake up the city” runs, I can see (and smell) the boulangers setting out their pastries and loaves of freshly baked breads for customers to purchase on the way to work. Our hotel does provide a continental breakfast, le petit dejeuner, shall we say, for us, and I am pleased to report that we have a wonderful array of fresh bread, aromatic cheeses, and hand-picked apples from our back garden to help start off the day well.

This video is from the organ concert held in the cathedral. It's a brand new organ, complete with 7000 pipes and 100 stops. Pretty cool when the music fills the entire church.

If you'd like to check out more pictures of mine, (including some other things I've been doing that I haven't mentioned in this post), I have a web photo album at http://picasaweb.google.com/baldjojo/September .

Let the Adventure Begin

Bonjour mes amis et ma famille!

In less than a week, I head off for Switzerland! I will be living and studying in Lausanne, a picturesque lake town settled on a hill overlooking Lake Geneva (or Lac Leman). It's French-speaking country there, and I am trying to prepare myself for some major culture shock as well as a language barrier (speed of speech especially).

This blog will be updated as I journey through Europe, and will also include photos, videos, and any other relevant information that you may want to know as you track me during my year abroad. As you can see, I've included a couple of weekly features, links to picture albums, and various daily 'life in Lausanne' stories on the side column of this page, and the longer posts will cover my weekend trips for the most part.

I am looking forward to hearing what you too are doing, because we all know that life in the States is exciting too, and every day presents its own challenges, triumphs, and stories that I would enjoy hearing from you.

Hope you get the chance to check out this blog every once and a while!