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
07 December 2007
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!
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!
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