Easter Holiday

I am back from another lovely weekend in Rüti, where I spent the Easter break with families Honegger and Jakob. It was fun to see them again, and I was pampered, again.
On Good Friday, Kathy, Ruedi, and Susanne took me to a performance of Bach’s Passion from the gospel of John. Although in German, I enjoyed the voices, especially the resounding notes from the deep voice of the base, who played the part of Pontius Pilate. The concert was really long, but well-done.
The next night, after Kathy and Ruedi skied with me at a nearby mountain, Alzmannig, we drove to a cloister in Rapperswil. Each night at nine, the monks put on a worship/meditation service open to the public. I didn’t understand what the reflection was about until afterwards, but we participated in a circular dance and spent some time listening to chanted music and soothing sounds. Yet another experience that I would have not been able to do unless with locals and a family who is in tune with what is interesting. Thanks Kathy and Ruedi for exposing me to yet another facet of Swiss culture! In my time there, I participated in a few Easter traditions different from my own. The most memorable were centered on hard-boiled eggs. Instead of dying eggs various colors from a kit you pick up at the grocery store, we wrapped eggs in nylon, and pressed leaves and flowers against the shells. Then, the eggs were boiled in an onion skin and water pot for 7.46 minutes (Ruedi’s instructions). After cooling, we cut the nylon off and found the prints of the plants on the shells! On Easter afternoon after a church service and entertaining brunch with the grandparents of Susanne and Simon, we commenced in the annual egg-throwing activity. In a snowy field nearby, we took a dozen hard-boiled eggs and threw them out into the field as far as we could. Object of the game: break the shell. Surprising fact: eggs flung a long distance multiple times don’t necessarily break as quickly as you might think. Once broken, however, you were free to sprinkle salt on it and enjoy.
Monday came too quickly, and I spent the day with family Jakob, all of whom showed up for lunch and an afternoon together. Being a part of their rendezvous made me feel again at home, and it was fun to see that Manuel and Cedric have been growing up in my absence. It will be fun to see them when they are grown. Thank you Vreni and Werner for your hospitality; again, what a wonderful time I was able to cherish at Tannenberg.
egg throwing!