a swiss story by kylie

The final, very last blog post at the end.

2010-09-15T09:40:00.003+02:00

The final, very last blog post at the end.

Thanks for reading my Swiss blog. I had it printed the other day into a book and I certainly managed to talk about myself a lot. 150 A4 pages. Small print. Thanks for wading through all that.
I'm a bit sad that my Swiss life is over. I've started a new blog about ... well, me - (You, by the way, are more than welcome to start a blog about YOU) - and if you want to take a look, I've set it up her e http://kylieathome.blogspot.com/

Thanks for reading my Swiss stories and being a part of a (very excellent) Swiss Story.

See you on the other side. I mean, the other blog. http://kylieathome.blogspot.com/

Toto, We're Not In Europe Anymore. Part 2:

2010-06-11T01:39:00.005+02:00

On Returning home.

Out of the bajillion of flights I've taken on this trip, the last one was the worst. It's a 4 hour drive from Sydney to our family home and so I decided to fly, rather than beg my parents to be waiting for me at 6AM in Sydney. I should have been on this domestic flight at 8AM and then glided in sometime around 9AM and been home in time for a coffee. Should.

But.

With thanks to

ChinaAir for their tardiness, Sydney Airport for their exceptionally long customs and baggage line at 7AM in the morning(!), the Sniffer Dog for thinking my nail polish was delicious (thus requiring a search of my luggage for non-existant food), and a broken Qantas plane,

for making this not possible.

Instead my family went to the airport and waited for an unaccounted-for missing daughter (sorry! but I did try and call!) Heartfelt apologies to the any disembarking female passengers in the 20-24 age bracket who may have been swamped by a loving but foreign family.

Thankfully, they did come back and fetch me later that afternoon when I finally got in. Go here for my Mother's Side of the Story.

During the wait, where they shifted us between planes, buses and waiting gates I drifted off to sleep so many times. Each time waking with a shock and having to think about those essentials - who am I? where am I? why am i drooling? what am i doing here? why does everyone here have that strange accent?

Someone's gotta provide the entertainment.

But now, I'm home. Spending time with my fam. Shocked a lot by the local-yokel-ness of Australians. Finding myself out in the bush helping chop firewood (ok let's be honest, Dad uses his chainsaw and I collected the logs - why chop when you can chainsaw!?). Eating Mumma's food again. Taking family pictures. Freezing. Hunting down my old Uggboots. Catching up with friends. Baking Swiss bread --

What can I say? Old habits die hard.

Toto, We're Not In Europe Anymore, Part 1

2010-06-08T11:53:00.004+02:00

I took myself off to the Airport and waved myself off. After a bad experience the week before-
(On the way to London - this included finding lines 100+ metres long - NOT normal for Zurich Airport! I had to beg, borrow and bribe my way through to the front of each line - I have NO jewelery left now, and then running for my life all the way to the gate which happened to be (of course) on the other side of the airport)

...I allowed plenty of time. I was maxed out on luggage allowance and would not-could not, be running anywhere.

After a brief sprint through the Frankfurt Airport, I was drooled on by a Chinese man most of the way to Beijing. I should have seen this as a foretaste of what was to come.

Beijing: Probably one of the craziest experiences of my life. In my whole week in China I probably saw only 20 other "white" people. Which meant that I was a walking sideshow freak attraction to all the Chinese.

Stared at?
Spat on?
Sat on?
Sneered at?
Shocked by?
Sized up?

Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes, and yes.

It was like going back to the beginning again. I couldn't read anything or understand anyone.

But after a good sleep, I felt like I might be able to cope and had an amazing trip. I got a wonderful glance of the Great Wall and finally was able to beg my way into buying a train ticket (an experience all of it's own) to visit my friend Aimee up in northern China.

I took a Night Train (they would only sell me 1st class-and I had to pay for the privilege) and arrived in Harbin. Here, I finally got to eat some real, good, Chinese food, explore miles and miles of underground shops/markets, take a million taxis, and even practice some Chinese on said taxi drivers.
It was very fun to see Aimee again (I actually caught up with her last when I was passing through Singapore on my way to Switz) and to tag along on some of her classes (she's teaching English).

The night train back was, ah, different, as I managed to buy a cheaper 2nd class ticket. Let's just say that the people who designed the bed size were very skinny.

But, actually, I really liked China. It couldn't have been any different from Europe. It's probably been a good transition spot for coming home. At least, home couldn't be any stranger than China.

A Swiss Story By Kylie: THE END

2010-05-27T14:03:00.002+02:00

It's a strange thing to move from your country of residence.

Ciao Ciao Switzerland. Thanks for having me.

China, I'm coming. Please be nice. I don't speak your language.

Australia, see you in a week.

A Swiss Story By Kylie: The End.

(There might be an epilogue somewhere down the track)

Pick A Hand

2010-05-26T01:22:00.003+02:00

I got off the plane tonight and had the option of 3 Exit Doors.
It's like picking a hand - except imagine that there are 3 hands.
In the 3 hands are France, Germany & Switzerland.

And tonight, for the last time, I chose Switzerland.

The irony of it all, was that when I entered and then subsequently exited Gatwick Airport this morning, due to a glitch in their system, I could have stayed in the EU indefinitely. Somehow, because I was a non-EU citizen, had no baggage to claim, entered through the South Terminal, but needed to depart through the North AND had a lengthy transit - I somehow managed to end up in a black hole where I could have disappeared and stayed here for longer.

If you have listened to me complain about being unable to stay longer over here in Europe at any time, you will understand why this is so ironic.

But now, after a very long day with delayed flights, beginning in Dublin this morning and ending up in Zurich tonight (actually, it's tomorrow morning already), I'm back in Switz for 2 days. I'm sad. I'm happy.

On the agenda? Unpack. Pack. Say Ciao. Eat as much bread and yoghurt as I can. Close my Swiss bank account. Track down 2 parcels I've just realized are missing in transit. Figure out why my credit card declined me today (expensive European holidays, I don't know). Learn magic so that I can somehow magically fit my belongings into my single 20kg suitcase (I'm kidding myself).

But now - time for bed. Which I'm pretty happy about. Especially since the last few weeks of hostels sometimes included plastic sheets. Yuck.

(I'm thinking about writing a book called The Princess and the Plastic Sheet.)

40 more hours in Switzerland. I love you Switzerland.

Have Your Castle - And Eat It Too

2010-05-24T00:43:00.003+02:00

Would you believe that we've had the most beautiful run of weather here in Ireland? Everyone warned me of horrible nasty weather and I came prepared mentally - and with plenty of winter clothes.

So far, we've had nothing but sunshine.

I love it.

Have hired a car for the last 4 days and we're back in Dublin tonight after seeing too much beauty.

Cliffs and rolling hills and millions of Pubs and castles, castles and more castles.

Today I waded my way into the Blarney Castle.*** It was SOOO expensive to get it, so I decided not to kiss that Blarney stone (ewww! a gazillion germs!) - but when I realized I could take a little swim in the river and end up at the castle for FREE, well, who am I to say no to a swim eh? (Still wiping those germs off, though)

Then I got a ride in a police car. But that was because, um, we ran out of fuel, and the very nice police man gave us a lift.

I want to live in sunny Ireland. The Police men are so friendly :)

** My Mother would like to be noted that she did not bring me up to wade my way into castles....

LONDON BABY!

2010-05-18T00:48:00.002+02:00

LONDON TOWN

Have spent the last few days wondering (most likely looking like lost tourists) with Nat, catching numerous buses and tubes, hunting down markets and good food, trying not to get rained on, and generally feeling like I'm in the middle of a monopoly board. I kid you not. But I'm still looking for GO so that I can pass it and collect $200. Not successful so far.
Also haven't seen the Queen yet.
But did see 2 wonderful Broadway shows :) :)
There's Karaoke going on downstairs in our hostel, but we have to get up early tomorrow morning to catch the bus to Oxford, so I'm off to bed.

Crazy town, there's meat pies here!!!!! and I've also eated Indian, Portuguese (more custard tarts!) and Thai...and most likely more I can't remember....

Night.

Part 4: Madrid

2010-05-10T22:53:00.000+02:00

Mad about Madrid...

We went in search of free tapas as soon as we reached Madrid... along with everyone else with the city. "El Tigre" was what was suggested - and boy, was it a popular place!

We managed to fit in visits to both the Museo Nacional del Prado and Museo de Reina Sofia (FOR FREE!!!) and saw lots of good stuff by Picasso, Dalí, Velázquez, Rembrant and Miro.

Went on yet another free walking tour of the city (NOT actually for free).

We dabbled in chocolate churro heaven and tasted true Spanish paella.

We were squashed like sardines a few too many times in the metro but met so many friendly people. We also found out that Pei Wen is super awesome at networking and may (or may not) have used "Can you get me a job?" as the second sentence in a conversation with a complete stranger... after starting with "So, what do you do?"

Part 3: Lisboa

2010-05-10T22:51:00.001+02:00

Recap of Portugal, in and around Lisboa

We saw so many magnificent and beautiful places in Portugal - although it was ironic that we spent very little time exploring the capital, Lisboa.

We give our hostel was a 4 (out of ten) for cleanliness (the bad odors and mouse we saw scurrying across the kitchen floor directly contributed to its low score) and a 2 for security. The hostel staff seemed to open the door for just about everyone... our fabricated passwords for entry became more ludicrous as the days went by.

The award for most beautiful place (that we visited) goes to
Obidos (PW's pick) and Cabo de Roca (Kylie's pick).

Most interesting: the real time 360 degree periscope/camera thing at Castelo de São Jorge (PW-we also got 50% off the admission price thanks to my ISIC like type discount card) and the tram 28 ride in Lisbon (Kylie).

One of the funniest moments was using PINEAPPLE as the secret password to get into our hostel.

PW's favourite activity was bike riding along the coast in Cascais. Kylie also liked the bike riding, but she enjoyed eating several dozen Portuguese custard tarts a tiny bit more. Kylie wanted to have a tie for this (she needed one to compensate for the other...oops!)

Part Two: Porto, Portugal

2010-05-01T01:25:00.001+02:00

Porto, Portugal
Things we have learned so far, after spending just 20 hours in beautiful Porto:
- The Black and White Hostel is pretty nice (in case you ever decide to visit Porto)
- The power bars will most likely blow the ipod charger you purchased in a cheap dodgy place in Greece (now PW needs to be careful with the constant WIFI searches around the city)
-it's quite possible, even highly likely that the Metro doors will close with Kylie on one side and PW on the other. Kylie will then lift a helpless forlorn hand and wave to PW. (We now have a plan of action should the Metro doors decide to separate us again)
- Custard Tarts can be found here and they are every bit as good as your imagination. No. Better.
- Do not tell your traveling buddy "mmm what's that wonderful smell?" while she is walking next to a garbage can... because a giant sniff is inevitable
- Going on a wine tasting tour? Adds 30 years to your life when your twenty-something.

The Fun And Fabulous (Frivolity Included) (f)Adventures of PW and Kylie! Part 1: Barcelona

2010-04-30T01:05:00.005+02:00

....so perhaps I'll update you another time on the passport misadventures (it arrived (miraculously?) on the morning of my flight...

But for now, let me introduce The Fun And Fabulous (Frivolity Included) (f)Adventures of PW and Kylie!

Part 1: Barcelona

We are sitting in the bus en route to Girona from Barcelona and have decided to utilize the time productively by updating our blogs with what has happened so far on the trip. For those of you new to our lives, Kylie (chaupair.blogspot.com) and PW (paywhen@blogspot.com) will be typing away furiously every free moment we have to bring you the details of this Spain/Portugal trip.

PW: Barcelona was every bit as beautiful as everyone claimed it to be... we saw beautiful beaches, the Gaudi buildings, met friendly people and had great weather.

Kylie: I will remember Barcelona as a time of clutching my bag and looking suspiciously at everyone. This follows many warnings of the people we met...because "everyone they knew" had been robbed in Barcelona.
I can't tell you how many happy feelings I had bike riding in the sunshine along the beach path. Somewhat marred by unwanted viewings of people who should have been wearing swimming suits.

PW: I had a new found appreciation for my Mandarin "skillz"... everywhere we went there were Chinese people - most of them clothing or food shop owners/workers. The first night I was able to order some lemon chicken and rice for us in Mandarin (although I failed to secure a reduction on the cost of our meal). Then there were the other times I was useful for communication purposes: finding out how much the sushi/wok place cost, translating prices and descriptions of goods for Kylie and delivering the bad news that the dress she wanted (which was marked 6.50) was actually 12 euros for her, since we did not look Spanish enough to get the lower price.

Kylie: Its true. She actually said the double price was for tourists. Sheesh.
It's been a while since I've been in a country that I have absolutely no language skills.
(Well I can say please and thank you. I do have lovely manners. See, Mum? I told you I'd grow up ok.)
But other than that? It's been fun playing a giant game of charades.
Favourite part of Barcelona? Definitely being too cheap to pay to go up to the roof of a Gaudi house. And instead somehow finding our way up to the rooftop of the neighbouring hotel. A much better view AND it involved a game of hide and seek with hotel workers and cleaners.
I love games.

PW: WHAT?!?! Kylie totally stole MY favourite moment... It's true, we were too cheap to pay entry to the attractions so had to come up with creative ways to see everything. However, I'm required to recount the event Kylie has mentioned in a more accurate manner (her memory is not what it used to be). Firstly, we were at Palau Güell, which is under re-construction, so NO ONE could see the whismical rooftop chimneys on the roof. Being able-bodied, curious and cheap, Kylie and I snuck stealthily (is that even a word?) into a nearby casino/hotel and headed straight for the rooftop. There, we scoured the premises and realized we could see directly onto the top of Gaudi's first masterpiece mansion from a certain vantage point on the roof of this hotel. The problem was that 3-4 workers were on the roof as well - we had to 007 our way over scattered pieces of building materials on the ground, get onto the terrace and take the photo without getting caught. We felt quite accomplished after successfully capturing the photo. My other favourite things: saving a cat stuck in the tree in the beautiful Jewish gardens; sneaking into the gas station to use the w/c, then trying to justify the toilet use by buying a 0.30 euro pack of cookies; seeing the street performers on La Rambla.

Kylie: Her 30 cent cookie purchase was made all the better when she tried to pay with a 50 Euro note. Needless to say, we were not their favourite sneaky toilet users of the night.
And seriously--cats do not, can not, and will not get stuck up in trees. And if they do-it's their own fault. It's just part of their evil plan to rule the world. If we had the baggage room PW would be carrying bags of cat food with her. She wants to make sure she is remembered among them if they succeed in world domination.

All in all, we enjoyed Barcelona! Especially the 1 euro McDonalds menu!!! See you next in Portugal!

I don't like Iceland Anymore

2010-04-23T00:06:00.003+02:00

Dear Passport. I know you are lost. Lost and scared and alone. And you don't know where you are. I don't know where you are either. Somewhere between Australia and Switzerland.

Dear Volcano. I know you ate my passport. Or you scared away all the planes with the mail in them. Give me back my passport. I need it.
(Please, please, please come in the mail tomorrow.)

Dear Spain and Portugal. I really want to see you. Why do you always need to see my passport? I don't have mine. The Volcano ate it. Eyjafjallajökull. [Ay-yah-FYAH'-plah-yer-kuh-duhl] (just in case you were wondering)

With much love (for the passport & next week's countries), threats and bribes (for the volcano),
Kylie

Next up: Another visit to Mamma Mia and Many many many mysterious blue boxes floating around Zurich City.

Pink Hair, A Red Convertible & An Icelandic Volcano

2010-04-20T15:48:00.004+02:00

This week I took to heart Climb Every Mountain and climbed a giant giant mountain.
Bigger than any I've climbed before.
It took a sturdy pair of snow shoes, some pulling from a good friend (Thanks Aline!) and 7 1/2 hours.
Yeah - I'm pretty happy.

Spring is really coming. We even had Sechseläuten yesterday.
After spending the last week up in the mountains, I am amazed at the colour everywhere. It even smells like Spring.
I went for a walk yesterday and ended up having a little nap in the garden at a Church nearby with a beautiful view.
There's something a little different about waking up from a sleep and realizing you're sleeping amongst 100-year old graves. At least I woke up - more than I can say from those sleeping next to me.

2 more sleeps until Mamma Mia! What? You think I've seen it enough times?! Pfssht!

Next week it's off to Spain. I'm pretty excited about this because 1.) the beach, and 2.) after Spain we are going to Portugal and here I can eat Portuguese Custard Tarts. This will be the fulfillment of a lifelong (well at least 3-year-long) dream.

That is, if this Icelandic volcano decides to sit still for a while. Please, Eyjafjallajökull, don't ruin my plans. It's ironic that it has caused so much havoc, and we really can't see a thing from down here below.
I think I have 12 flights planned for the next few weeks so I'm quite at the mercy of a Volcano whose name I can't even pronounce!

In other unfortunate news, I have pink hair. Actually somehow a mix between red, pink, and purple. I was trying for dark brown with a slight auburn tinge. How did I end up with pink?!

And, in other cool news, I got to be driven around the Swiss Alps in a red convertible on the weekend (Thanks Sandro & Pam!) How.Very.Cool.

"Please Don't Steal Me" - The Desperate Plea of a Pink Bike

2010-04-14T16:16:00.003+02:00

I know many of you are waiting with baited breath for news of the PB (Pink Bike).

After first trying to get it onto a bus 1. without the driver seeing it (not easy, pretty much impossible) REFUSED and 2. casually pretending there wasn't a problem REFUSED, I stashed it behind a church. Sacred ground and all that. Please don't get stolen.

The girls and I went home, we had dinner and I put them to bed. Still not sure how I was going to retrieve the PB. I had visions of walking into town and then riding back (a feat that would have taken all night - SO NOT happening!) So I called the lovely neighbours, and with my desperate pleading they agreed to drive me into town and pick up the PB.

I felt like a thief, creeping around the church grounds in the dark and putting a random bike in the back of the car.

The black clothing and balaclava I was wearing probably only fueled people's suspicions. Hey, I was cold.

PB is now home safe and sound. It had better be used, pinkness and all!

Eau-La-La!

2010-04-11T15:42:00.002+02:00

I'm staying at the moment in a beautiful Alpine village about 15 minutes from a popular Ski Village and we're tucked away up in the mountains.

NickNat have gone to Venice for a few days and TayAbs&George and I are hanging out at home.

Saturday the 11th April. I've promised the girls a visit to the Pool

The girls are I make a crazy run for the bus. It only goes once an hour so we really want to make this one.
We have to change buses and then get off at the Supermarket to buy lunch and copious amounts of Easter chocolate. Yes, yes, Easter was last weekend, but who can say no to half-price chocolate!?

We get back on the bus and ride it til the end. Our mission? To buy a bike at the one-day bike sale for Nat. I'm dubious. I know nothing about bikes, and I don't even own a bike at this stage of my life (due to selling it to my Dad several years ago when I needed money).

Apparently everyone in Switzerland also wants to attend this bike sale. We join the long line to enter the shed.

When the doors open, we are pushed along in the throng of the crowd to rows of shiny bikes. It's doubtful that there's enough bikes for all buyers and so the race is on.

I fight off a few people with my handbag and use my Swiss angry words to warn off potential interest in the bikes I'm interested in. But then I turn into an angel as I help a fallen victim who was trying out her new bike.

I lose the girls several times but together we find a [hopefully] good buy. It's unfortunately pink but otherwise we agree.

After finally making it through the purchase line we step outside and start to walk toward bus stop. It's time to go to the promised pool but first, the bus. I'm rejected on the bus with the bike and so the girls go without me and I use some pedal power.

Upon arriving at the pool [wittily and appropriately called Eau-La-La - although the pool people probably should be informed that we are in the German part of Switzerland, and not the French part], I am faced with what to do with the bike. Since I cannot take it swimming with us, I hesitantly leave it outside, unlocked. Eeeek.

The pool is wonderful. There's something amazing about swimming outside in a heated pool, in cool weather, with snowy mountains all around. I selfishly plant myself at the water massage section and settle in for the long haul. Life is tough.

The girls come and go [it's hard for them to choose whether to use the water slide or the massaging jets] and a little British girl hears us speaking English. When she finds out we are Australian, she proudly shouts to her Mum that she can understand Australian.

I am strangely watched constantly by an older woman who is wearing so much gold jewelry in the pool I wonder she doesn't sink. Her carefully made-up face and string of pearls stick out amongst us normal people, who don't wear enough jewelry in the pool to start a shop.

I am relieved to find the bike still there when we leave. We are on a race against time to 1. get to the grocery shop before it closes and 2. get the last bus back to our village.

I am rejected again on the bus with the bike and so decide to hide it behind the church so conveniently placed near the bus stop. Please don't get stolen, I plead with it. I've invested too much of my day with you.

The girls are I make the made dash around the shop and then jump on our first bus just in time. We're lugging bags of groceries, swimwear and also the copious amounts of chocolate. Which, I'm positive will be in tiny pieces by the time we get home.

We arrive home, 7 buses later and minus a bike.

Mission somewhat accomplished.

Me Me Me

2010-04-08T22:12:00.003+02:00

I am drinking tea.
I am applying for uni.
I am thinking about A Million Miles in a Thousand Years by Donald Miller. SO GOOD.
I have so many wonderful friends.
I am so excited about up-coming trips.
I have too many flights booked here, there and everywhere, to count.
I am alone in the mountains...with 4 little girls. Well, in a nice house in the mountains.
I am currently loving lattes, fresh peppermint tea, and kirsch liquor filled chocolates.
I am anticipating spring so much, and enjoying the glimpses given.
I am thankful for so many things.

I found my pros and cons list of Options for 2009. I had to laugh in disbelief when I read the Cons for Au Pairing/Living OS:
Lonely? Boring? No Friends?
I don't think I've felt any of those things this year. At all. I'm so glad I didn't listen to my negative possibilities.
I laugh in the face of my 2008 self. :)
When I'm reminded of the fears of the unknown I've had before, it gives me so much confidence for the future unknown.

Which brings me to a quote from A Million Miles [Donald Miller] (it's really worth the read! - and I'll probably quote from it more than a time or two!)

Before I realized we were supposed to fight fear, I thought of fear as a subtle suggestion in our subconscious designed to keep us safe, or more important, keep us from getting humiliated. And I guess it serves that purpose.
But fear isn’t only a guide to keep us safe; it’s also a manipulative emotion that can trick us into living a boring life.

I am drinking tea. And I am thankful.

Kissing BigFoot

2010-03-27T22:48:00.003+01:00

So today I went skiing.

I know, I know. I dislike skiing and all that, but we had the most fabulous snowfall last night and the season is nearly finished, and the sun was so sunny when I woke up this morning, that I kind of got emotionally tricked into it.

I'd been wanting to try out a set of skis, called BigFoot. Let's just say they were created around '90 and, well, never really took off. But they're about half the size of normal skis, with toes on the end! and I thought perhaps I could pretend I was rollerblading down some Alps. You know, as you do.

I took regular skis up the gondola as well, to keep at the top, in case BigFoot and I didn't get on so well. And slowly, but surely, I made it down. I didn't love them, especially when I realized you can fall flat on your face with them (kind of impossible with normal skis).
But, we will remain acquaintances. At the very least, I made myself laugh all day with my BigFoots and my 80's ski jacket. Watch out people, here comes a blast from the past.

At 4:30PM I remembered about those skis I'd left up the top. And, as they weren't coming down by themselves, I headed toward the Gondola.
I was *um* using somebody else's ticket to go back up. Somebody else's with their photo ID, but, hey, I was just quickly going up and back and they never check the tickets.

I nervously got on the first gondola, wearing dark glasses and trying to act cool.
I got halfway, where you have to change gondolas, and the second gondola didn't seem to be running. I hung around the entrance, looking for another option besides walking all the way to the top and a man offered to let me in through another entrance (main one was closed) and I was very thankful.

I was the only passenger and feeling a little nervous (remember, NOT my photo on the ID) and so I made some conversation with the operators, a couple of young-ish guys. English with an Australian accent in Switzerland - always a plus. BUT they wanted to check my ticket. Thankful for my dark glasses, I cooly gave them the photo ID ticket with someone else's photo.

It was a long moment: look at me, look at the photo, back at me and back at the photo. But I think my Australian accent distracted well, and I was let aboard, the only passenger.

Up we went. Me and my private gondola operator. Knowing I spoke English, he chatted and asked to sit next to me. I couldn't say no, I was sitting on the only seat.

After a couple of minutes , he asked my name, and I introduced myself as Kylie.

I immediately wanted to stuff the name back into my mouth. Kylie? My ticket said Natalie!

I am NOT good at this someone else's ID thing. I've had too much practice introducing myself as Kylie.

He held out his hand to shake mine and introduce himself and then leaned in for the introductory kiss on the cheek. Uh, I thought to myself. This is the downside to living in Europe. So much kissing people you don't know.

I pulled away but he held tight to my hand and reminded me that this was Switzerland.

Damn you Switzerland. You with your THREE kisses. And YOU, sleazy operator guy. Learn the difference between cheek and almost my mouth. Ew.

After the third very deliberate kiss, I pulled away and slid along to the edge edge edge of my side of the seat. Who makes these things so small!? My nervousness about the ID kept me chatting (shut up, will you!) and I chatted my way out of the gondola to avoid further physical contact with Mr Sleaze.

Switzerland protocol or not, I was not kissing him goodbye three times.

Dear Swiss, I Will Miss...

2010-03-26T20:19:00.003+01:00

Dear Swiss,
I will miss you.

I will miss you sweeping the road with a dustpan and brush. Yessir, that would be cleaning your bitumen roads with a dustpan and brush.

I will miss your children going on and on in Swiss German to me as I smile and nod.

I will miss getting a foot of snow in about 3 hours [today], and you coming along in the minutes afterward with your snow plow.

I will miss your whole Kindergarten class coming to your house to pick you up on your birthday. All coming up the road with their stick horses and Pringle cans aka drums. Singing.

I will miss eating the most amazing Zopf breads in the world.

I will miss the wide and luxurious chocolate choices I have at my fingertips...in my mouth...right now. Ah.

Love Kylie, who had all these Swiss things happen today.

Gum Anyone? Fresh Yeast?

2010-03-24T17:48:00.002+01:00

I'm on the train and I'm lugging around a giant handbag. Full of stuff.
At least I'm prepared...with:

3 books
4 blocks of chocolate
1 pair of gloves
2 bottles of deodorant (this does NOT mean anything)
1 hairbrush
1 comb
1 journal
1 phone book
2 wallets
1 new tube of toothpaste
1 pill bottle (good rhythm for when i walk)
1 cube of fresh yeast (yes, indeed. don't ask)
2 pens
1 million pieces of scrap paper
1 pair of sunglasses, broken (is it any wonder, being shaken and squashed in this thing!?)
1 packet of throat lozenges
1 iPod
1 bottle of moisturizer
2 packets of chewing gum
1 set of broadway tickets, used (unfortunately)
1 NYC map
55 cents

No joke, I am prepared to: walk NYC with music in my ears, sporting cracked sunglasses, chewing an awful lot of gum whilst simultaneously sucking throat lozenges and scoffing chocolate, brushing my hair and applying, yes, an awful lot of deodorant, and baking some fresh bread. I can also read a book, whilst journalling about this experience. I'll have to think about what to do with my 55cents...

What I Would Do If I Had No Money

2010-03-18T21:02:00.003+01:00

This Blog is Entitled: What I Would Do If I Had No Money.

Wait - I don't have any money.

In that case, I want to tell you what I've done with no money. A little over one year ago, I arrived in Switzerland with, well, about $500. I'd bought a plane ticket and signed up for a new family.

(Nothing wrong with the old one, by the way. Hey, guys!)

I've since spent that $500 - most likely all on Swiss chocolate (Hey, Lindt!) and a number of other monetary chunks that arrived in my bank account courtesy of the Swiss family (Hey, Swiss fam! - wait, I hope you are NOT reading this).

Now, I want to make it clear that I did work for the money. Some people have mistakenly assumed that I've been on holidays for the last year (Hey guys! Nope!)

But, one vacuum fades into the next and I can make beds in my sleep now (1.3 seconds) and I'm now at the end of a year that I only started with $500.

$500 + Bed-making + Vacuuming + a whole bunch of other work =

The most amazing year in Switzerland. And a whole lot of other places. Travel & Adventure & Having to step outside of myself to be able to see everything a bit clearer. New friends & the chance to be a part of this whole other world.

And 7,000 photos. I am NEVER going to be able to sort through all of that.

Pretty sweet deal eh? All of that on $500+...

Perhaps I should title this blog: How I survived in Switzerland (home of the most expensive Big Mac in the world) on $500.

Priceless

2010-03-14T22:31:00.007+01:00

Spring is taking it's time.

I know, I can't complain: I've only recently been swimming in the warm Caribbean...but I can dream.

Have been walking the most beautiful snowy tracks here the last few days. I'm staying far up in the mountains, there are very few people around. Everything is white and sparkling and fresh.
This white and sparkling and fresh snow is also still very deep.
I know.
I know because one walk involved sinking down every step to my waist.
This same walk also involved searching for lost shoes and feet and thus losing my hands somewhere deep beneath me in the snow.
It also involved frozen gloves, pants and hair. It's really fun walking with frozen pants.
Not.

But there was no other way home. Only way out is forward, kind of like a sinking-down forward, you get my point.

After losing my feet one time too many, I found a piece of cardboard in an Alphütte and thought perhaps I could slide through this deep snow on my behind. You know, spread some of the weight out so I didn't completely sink every single step.

Not the greatest idea I've ever had. I'm sure you don't much help picturing somebody almost completely sunken in snow, technically still sitting on a stupid piece of cardboard.

We did make it out alive though.
And in the end the piece of cardboard was put to very good use for the end of the trek where the snow wasn't 4ft deep.
Sledding down a snowy track on pieces of cardboard towards the setting sun, watching deer run across our path, and with our pants frozen stiff?

Priceless.

[Other] Priceless [Moments]:

Making the best Snow Angel I have ever made. Throwing myself down onto assumed soft bouncy snow to find it's hard with no bounce. Ouch. I am, however, still very proud of my Angel.

Tobogganing again. (With the real deal, none of this cardboard stuff.)

Cheese Fondue. Glühwein. Access again to Swiss Chocolate.

(In case you didn't know:)

I'm back in Switzerland for the next 2+ months.
Am currently camping out (not literally) at some rather-nice-very-good friend's house up in the mountains. (They, somewhat ironically, have 3 girls the same age as MLF 1, 2 & 3.)
When they kick me out, I also am staying at some-other-rather-nice-very-good friend's house in Zurich.
Am currently thinking about and researching lots of options for uni when I get back to Australia.
I'm trying to plan trips to Spain & Portugal (& Morocco?) & the UK. If anybody has any free houses we can stay in, Priceless!

100 Places To Visit Before You Die

2010-03-10T15:37:00.004+01:00

Dear Mum, this is not me.
Love Kylie

Now, the following list is merely a guide. It is not all-inclusive, nor does it take into account sinking cities.

For example it does not mention my current view whilst writing this blog. But it does mention Venice: Folks, it's sinking an inch every decade! Hurry!

A friend sent this list to me this week, and I'm enjoying dreaming about all these places. It does however, give me itchy feet. I already had itchy feet so now I think I've got a bad case of the hives.

The List:

Pyramids of Egypt
Chichen Itza
Pompeii
Mont St Michel*
Great Wall of China
Petra
Kashmir Valley
Topkapi Palace
Taj Mahal
Nile River Cruise
Prague Old Town*
Carnival in Rio
Serengeti Migration
Easter Island
Golden Temple
Stonehenge
Galapagos Islands
Cappadocia
Amalfi Drive
Angel Falls
Grand Canyon
Colosseum of Rome*
Meenakshi
Yellowstone NP
Machu Picchu
Fjords of Norway
Chartres Cathedral
Santorini
Antarctica Cruise
St Peter's Basilica*
Mezquita Cordoba
Matterhorn*
Iguazu Falls
Egyptian Museum
Damascus Old City
New York Skyline*
Bali
Borobudur
Dubrovnik
Marrakesh
Amazon Rain Forest
Valley of the Kings
Uffizi Gallery
Eiffel Tower*
Ngorongoro Crater
Hong Kong
Rio Panoramic View
Ladakh
Great Barrier Reef
Sistine Chapel*
Golden Pavilion
Niagara Falls
Angkor Wat
Burj Khalifa
Delphi
British Museum
Victoria Falls
Alhambra
St. Basils Cathedral
Burj al Arab
Forbidden City
Louvre Museum*
Abu Simbel
Yangtze Riv. Cruise
Bagan
Canals of Venice*
St Mark's Basilica*
Yosemite
Karnak
Versailles*
Florence Cityscape*
Ayers Rock*
Teotihuacan
Carlsbad Caverns
Kremlin
Hermitage Museum
Banaue Rice Terr.
Mecca
Varanasi/Ganges
Chambord Chateau
Bora Bora
Kathmandu Valley
Li River Cruise
Lijiang/Shangri La
Acropolis*
Metropolitan Museum of Art
Shwedagon Stupa
Neuschwanstein*
Potala Palace
Mt Everest
Sahara Desert
Banff NP
Jerusalem Old City
Temple Em. Buddha
Leaning Tower Pisa*
San Francisco
TerraCotta Warriors
Hagia Sofia
Baalbek
Portofin

* = Kylie Waz 'Ere

Better get moving. Places to go, people to meet. Swiss winters to hide from.
Would love to know what places YOU think should be on the list??

Seinfeld on Swiss

2010-03-09T22:33:00.001+01:00

"The Swiss have an interesting army. Five hundred years without a war. Pretty impressive. Also pretty lucky for them. Ever seen that little Swiss Army knife they have to fight with? Not much of a weapon there. Corkscrews. Bottle openers. ‘Come on, buddy, let’s go. You get past me, the guy in the back of me, he’s got a spoon. Back off, I’ve got the toe clippers right here."

-Jerry Seinfeld

How Do You Like That BIG Apple?!

2010-03-05T08:33:00.006+01:00

I stepped out of the bus and arrived a few blocks from our Hotel Hostel. Stepped out with my giant bag into mountains of slushy snow.
The bus driver greeted me with a humourless 'Welcome to New York.' I think he was glad to see me. Probably. The city had been shut down the past few days due to to humongous amounts of snow.
And have now spent the last several days traipsing around the Big Apple. I think I've worn an inch of my height. It's huge.

Memorable bites of the Big Apple in no particular order:

Broadway: Was VERY lucky to see The Phantom of the Opera AND Billy Elliot. I love musicals so much. I could watch them all day. Sometimes I even randomly break into song and dance to be in my own musical. LG Life's Good.

Times Square: This place has so many lit and electric advertisements that it looks like day even at midnight. No kidding. It's amazing. After standing with my mouth open for a good few minutes, I realized this made me look too much like a tourist and tried to keep the mouth closed.

Hailing a Cab: I hailed a yellow NYC cab (very proud - although it did take a few tries....they'll speed right past you unless you throw yourself in front of them. I'm a bit bruised.)

Being sat on: Yes indeed. It's official. I'm invisible.

Crossing the Brooklyn Bridge. And then being able to use my awesome Brooklyn accent once I reached the other side. They're from another country over there.

Visiting JAO Schwartz: Remember the Giant Toy Store from Home Alone? It was based on this store. So.Many.Toys.

Chinatown!: Coming up out of the Subway, having boarded in New York and then arriving in China Town? It's bizarre. Like arriving in another country....like China!

Mulberry St: Dr Suess, eat your heart out!

Lady Liberty: Alas, I only saw her from afar. She acted kind of distant.

Seinfeld: Remember the Restaurant from Sienfield? I met the gang there for breakfast this week. Well, actually they couldn't make it, but I sure enjoyed their food and restaurant.

Walking on Thin Ice: Central Park. Yeah Baby!

Zurich Friends: Who would have thought I'd be able to meet up with 5 of my Zurich au pair friends in New York?! Against all weather odds, we all managed to get there for the same long weekend. So crazy and it couldn't have been any better! Thanks guys for making the trip! See you next time! Wherever that is!

A Hairy Cut

2010-02-27T05:15:00.003+01:00

I dread trips to the hairdresser.

It may have something to do with the money they want from me (USA - MUCH cheaper than Switz!) or perhaps from the disapproving looks I receive when they see the state of my [very] unkempt hair.

All this happened today. That, and the Southern hairdresser trying to give me as big of a head of hair as hers.

Then, when I sweeetly explained what I wished for my hair, she stabbed me with her treacherously long fingernail.

And, due to the fact that I asked for it thinned (thin-haired people have no idea about what we thick-haired people go through!) she gave me up for lost.

And when I got home I found a rather large chunk of my hair missing. Up top.
Spite. Pure spite.

Other than that, I'm loving my thin and much-healthier, albeit 3 inches shorter, looking hair.
Thanks, Southern hairdresser-lady with lots of hair!

Sweet Home ALABAMA

2010-02-22T00:19:00.008+01:00

So, about 2 weeks ago, I was in the Carib. Sweating. I melted, it was so hot.
Now?
I'm in the deep south of Alabama. It's cold. I am not melting.

Since I quit my day job:

I've been shopping. I blame this largely on Katie and her influence. I bought a new bag. Again, it's not my fault.
We went "just for a look" in this giant bag store. The bag I desperately wanted was on the topmost highest shelf.

6 Steps taken to obtain ~~happiness~~ bag:
1.) Jumping.
2.) Jumping again. Higher.
3.) Attempt with ladder. Ladder too heavy. Ditch ladder.
4.) Me on all fours. Katie on my back.
5.) Katie jumping. Ouch.
6.) Me making a ladder with my hands and other body parts. Katie climbing up to the topmost highest shelf.

Success.

I've started eating. You may have thought I'd been eating before. You probably were wrong. We've been making good use of the local drive-through fast drink place (they bring your order out on ROLLER SKATES!) and eating plenty of Mexican (with plans for more tomorrow!).
But, of course, the best. Food at home. Cakes, Cookies, Breads, Chillis, Ice Cream, Roasts, Muffins, BBQ, Biscuits & Gravy, Soups & Marshmallows. So.Much.Good.Food.

I saw my first 3D movie (Correction: I'm sure I've seen one before, but have no recollection. Thus, my first memory of a 3D movie...).

This was accompanied by a visit to a few fish friends (Fish are friends, not food) at a HUGE Aquarium. It was here the Aquarium Staff tried to lock us in a diving cage. We may look happy in the photo, but we were NOT.

Side note: This same cage was the inspiration for Jaws...

I used the Men's bathroom. It's just not fair. Girls always have to wait so long for the loo and the men's bathroom is always empty. So, this week I decided to be brave and enter the unknown depths of an empty bathroom.
Of course, just after I decided to use it, a million men did too. I lost count of the knocks on the door as they waited. I thought for sure an army had lined up. I tried to use my best southern men's drawl to answer "Just a minute!" and "Won't be a second." I think I fooled them.
And when I left the bathroom and had to walk past the one lone impatient knocker, I used that deep southern drawl for a "Mornin'."

I've thought about becoming a Troglodyte. I talked Katie into it too.
And so we went caving.
To an amazing, awesome fantastic cave. I've never seen such a cave. I want to live there. Maybe not. But I want to visit again. I think Dr. Suess got his inspiration from such a cave. The visit was such a treat, so much beauty hidden away underground.

(A pair of wanna-be Troglodytes)

I've been given private tours all over this part of Alabama. By the lovely Katie herself. And her little blue car. We've been everywhere, man.

Today we visited a little Soda Fountain. That's been around since sometime in the 1800's. And mostly still decked out in a lot of original decor.
We were served real Alabama style. Well, real something style. Our waitress kept calling at her husband to come over here and serve us, 'cos she was so busy. With her other customer. But she was kind and gave me a double milkshake.
While we were eating, an elderly gentleman came in and sat down on the bar stools. And we listened as he told the waitress about how he had come to this Soda Fountain for his 10th birthday. And how he'd sat at the same stools and eaten ice-cream.
And I loved visiting a place that had so much history. Maybe I'll come back and eat here when I'm 70.

Alabama is almost finished with me. Has been the most wonderful visit with the Allisons and great to see so much of the countryside where they live.
Will post a few more pics soon.

Next Stop: NYC.
Then it's back to Swissville for wee bit longer...

See you in New York!

An Average Day On Your Average Sailing Boat

2010-02-21T22:22:00.006+01:00

When your average day on your average sailing boat is spent being the average au pair to your average swiss children, it might look something like this:

6:45 AM - I wake up having been awake most of the night dreaming the craziest dreams you can imagine. This is most likely due to 1.) my new and different enviroment, and 2.) movement of the boat during the night.
Spend 5 minutes trying to clear head working out the true and the false of the previous night. Make mental note to warn 4th cousin's husband's aunt of her impending doom and to cancel dinner tonight with the Prime Minister.

6:50 - I was blessed by a friend with a silver box containing cards for every day reminding me of Jesus. She'd also talked about starting the day with 1song+1prayer, a project I'm currently working on. And she'd included a Lindt chocolate for each day, which made this time actually 1song+1prayer+1card+1chocolate. I'm really glad for this time I had to start each day fresh and new and grounded, regardless of where I was actually waking up.

7:10 - Straighten my bed - which included positioning the bike, bag and strange unidentified sail like thing that lived on the other half of my bed. Funny, I spent approx 315 hours lying next to this thing and I really have no idea what it looked like or what it did.
Straighten myself. This did NOT include showering, unless it was one of the 2 out of 35 days I showered. Don't despise me.

7:15 - Prepare breakfast. This included first cleaning the table of the inch of salty goodness it had acquired throughout the night. This also included toting a whole bunch of cereals and spreads to the table that we didn't ever seem to consume.
See, I told you I worked.

7:59 - Hurridly try to clean up all breakfast dishes before school starts promptly at 8. This involved washing in salt water and then rinsing in a centimer of fresh water. This is a lot more fun than it sounds. After a few days of so much salt water, your fingers actually start to literally disappear. Layer by layer.

8:00 - I am really fast at washing up. MLF2 and I start an hour of English. Over the course of my time there we learnt about food pyramids, the journey of milk, and how to make pancakes. Also about the difference between earphones/headphones and rollerskating/rollerblading. All very important stuff. Her English improved so dramatically over the boat time. I think it was the study content. She loves pancakes.

9:00 - Another hour of English Power. We read through The Enchanted Wood by Enid Blyton and Romona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary while I was there. I selfishly chose some of my favourite stories and I can't express how much they loved them. And we learnt 99 new English vocabularly words whilst learning about pixies and brownies and magical trees.

10:00 - Time for a quick swim to insert some more salt into the hair before MLF1's turn for her hour of English. Her English also wonderfully improved during the boat time. We studied amazing animals, volcanoes and learnt how to organize and run a Sports Day. She wanted to include a competition of holding your breath underwater. Little did she know I am the world champion of this.

11:20 - Last but not least, MLF3's turn to shine. I tried to think of arty and crafty things for this time, and so we ended up painting and drawing and sewing. She is master of embroidery and I am the master of Butterfly Blot paintings. So.Much.Respect.

12:30 PM - We ate. The French Skipper would usually make lunch for us and our menu was good and new and varied after a year of Kylie's cooking. So.Much.Fish.

13:30 - The afternoons varied. Sometimes we would go into the town, or sail to a new one.
If I was lucky, they might decide to take a nap and I would be most obliging and take one too.
Or perhaps we would go snorkelling or explore a tiny island. Or perhaps a big one.
We might go on a hike or take a tour with some rather-focused bird watchers.
Swimming was also a popular choice and most afternoons I lived in my swimmers. FYI, I am a master of all things sandcastle.
The afternoon might also include grocery shopping, swimming with turtles or make bread. Or perhaps cake. Cake is better.

Sometimes it was good. Sometimes it was hard. Sometimes it was hard but good. It was a different dynamic because, although I'd lived with them for a year, I'd had my own space, my own time and then, for this trip, a lot of that disappeared. Which wasn't altogether a bad thing, just different. After all, we were sharing Caribbean space.

17:30 - Time to start dinner. Sometimes it was me, sometimes the French Skipper, sometimes M or P. It's a good thing to make dinner watching the sun set over the ocean.
I've had my food options expanded to include a lot of then-rather strange vegetables and unknown fish. I didn't die from any of them though. And I even half-like fish lasagne. And fish pasta. And baked fish with fish patties. Even fish nuggets and fish salad. And of course bbq'd fish.

19:00 - Eat fish.

20:00 - Of course no meal would be complete without the washing up. My fingers are now half their size due to the fact that skin does a funny thing when met with a lot of salt water.

21:00 - We tidy up the boat and the girls go to bed, followed closely by me. I found it sometimes rather tiring being your average au pair to your average swiss children on your average sailing boat. Why, you ask?
Persistant boat-salesmen, French/German-speaking children, mountain guides who ran expecting me to follow, angry fish, snorkeling through strong currents, flesh-eating salt water... Sheesh. It just plain wears you out!

And so, time for bed.
Ah, hello strange unidentified sail-like thing. How I've missed you.

PS: MLF1, 2, 3? M & P? I miss you!

A 3,000-Word Blog

2010-02-21T02:36:00.005+01:00

It's a bit hard to finalize, wrap-up, and square away the Caribbean trip. It's also the end of my time with the Swiss Family, who have been a rather large part of life for the last 12 months. I love those girls very much and I miss them.

But I'm not home yet and I think some obstinate part of my brain thinks I'm going back to Switzerland to continue au-pairing. I'm not, and I wish my head would get with the program.

A wise man (or woman? probably a woman) said that a picture is worth a thousand words, so here's a photo of the girls and I somewhere in the Grenadines.

We're pretty happy: MLF2, MLF3, MLF1 & Me!

And you thought I'd dropped off the Face of the Earth...

2010-02-14T04:32:00.005+01:00

So, in case you have had your head under a rock for the last few weeks, or been away from civilization on a sailing boat, I just wanted to share a few of my highlights from the last 5 weeks...

Important facts you should know before you read any further:

I've been on a sailing boat with the Swiss Family.
I survived.
I went to Trinidad & Tobago, Grenada, St Vincent & the Grenadines, St Lucia, and Martinique.
Everyday I pretended to be a school teacher and taught the little 'uns some English lessons.
It was HOT.
I love chocolate.
I am all finished with my profession as an Au Pair (but the story is not quite finished, yet).

9 Things I Want To Remember (or perhaps Forget):

1.) On about Day 2, we caught two very large fish: a Tuna & a Wahoo. The Wahoo was VERY big and repaid our evil act of killing it by being so large that we had to eat nothing else for about 5 days. I am deeply sorrowful for my actions. I now know that the size of the fish is directly proportional to the crazier the meal ideas. It was about day 3: Fish Lasagne, that this equation cleared itself in my mind.

2.) My Cabin. I was indeed very lucky to have my own closet aka my cabin on the boat. Actually, it wasn't too bad. I only had to share my bed with a very large sailing bag (still not quite sure what was in it, some sort of sail perhaps???), my own suitcase, and a foldable bike. I got half, and my bed mates got the other.
I also had my own bathroom. This was a very special bathroom. When you used the toilet you were also sitting in the shower. You also could use the sink and do your hair in the mirror at the same time. Very practical. But - the best (or worst part, depending on your disposition) about this bathroom was the window...right above...always open, when I am on. People walking over, looking in, my little round bathroom window in the roof....oh how I won't miss you...

3.) On the first day we washed the boat. I got to practice the commands I learnt in Primary School: Captains Coming, Scrub the Deck etc. However, unfortunately, when we were scrubbing the said deck, some said water leaked onto my said bed. Hours later, I could be found with a tiny 12 volt hairdryer trying to dry my said sheets.
Mission Impossible.
Mission Unaccomplished.

4.) During the course of the trip, we were visited many times by locals trying to sell their wares via their boat. From the useful: Fruits, Vegetables, Bread, to the unwanted: Fish, T-shirts (they read: Live to Sail, Forced to Work), to the ridiculous: Dolphin Cruises, Water Taxis, Special Deals *wink wink*, we had many offers. No, I do not want to buy a cruise...I'm living on a boat!

5.) I had serious fears my hair would never be the same. It was about the second day that I gave up on it. Salt water....everyday....no brushing, no combing, no showering...I did suspect I'd be visiting a Barber by the end of it all...however, good news, I think I saved it just in time.

6.) Upon arrival in St Lucia, we were informed with many a shaking of heads and clucks that I, the evil Australian, would need a VISA. I knew this, and had tried to pre-organize it, but had been told to 'look after it once I got there.' The police at Customs and Immigration were not so impressed but did take advantage of the opportunity to escort me with not one, but two policemen to the airport, a good hour's drive away. I am quite a robust, scary looking girl, thus the need for two law enforcement officers. I have my suspicions that they just wanted a few paid hours to catch up on their gossip.
However, it was all sorted out and I did get to have a lovely drive through the country. And, of course, a VISA that is valid for the next three months. St Lucia, anybody?
We discovered, upon return to our sailing vessel that one of the police officers worked part time as a taxi driver and would thus be charging us for the trip...2+ hours of a Taxi?! Glad my employers covered that one! 'Twas a work expense, after all.

7.) It was in the Grenadines that I experienced one of the most stressful experiences of my life. Let me explain the situation:
We entered a market. It was a Monday. Slow Day.
Upon entering the Market, we were surrounded by vultures, nipping at our heels and trying to climb into our bags. Toothless faces, drew close and used the phrase 'My Friend' no less than 1,000 times a minute.
Host Mum and I were on a mission: to get the Fruits and Vegetables for the next few days. The Fruit and Vegetable People were also on a mission: to sell as much as they could to us at the highest price they could possibly get away for. And, if they couldn't sell it to us, would put it into our bags and then try and charge us for it. Finally, if that didn't work, give it to us as a gift and then charge us for it.
Trying to combat all this, along with understanding their accented English, along with protecting the girls from a few very strange characters, along with trying to share our business with as many of the sellers as possible, and trying to escape a marriage proposal *wink wink*, proved very difficult. And we still ended up paying $10 for a small, and old pineapple.
There's definately an art to healthy living.

8.) During my last week, we came across a few REALLY big mountains. Pitons, actually. I now know these are the pride and joy of St Lucia. And, I now know that small girls will run up these mountains leaving you panting and puffing behind, wanting to die. 771 metres later (yes, I made it all the way to the top!), those same girls are ready to skip back down, and I'm promising myself unlimited, but very much unavailable cokes, chocolate, bath soaks and massages ,if I will at least stand up and look 10% alive.

9.) Also in the land of St Lucia, we moved the boat to a different location and enjoyed another side of life there. We had organized and hired a driver for a tour of the island, and got instead a strange man with a van that needed a push start every time. This may have been due to the VERY large speaker somehow inserted into the back seat. I'm not talking about any large speaker, I'm talking about the largest speaker you can ever imagine fitting into a car. I foolishly decided to sit in the seat in front of it. I still can't hear out of one ear.
Our *cough* tour guide took us to some sites, apparently the big ones: the oil refinery and the closed fish market (still smells, fish or not) and then took us to his favourite place, an empty market place and a bar filled with the ever-endearing sound of Karaoke. I will never forget the screeching I heard in this place, but I hope one day I will able to sleep at night again.

It's been such a wonderful adventure. I can't believe the places I've been. I only wish I'd beat Dr Suess to the writing of 'Oh the Places You'll Go.'
And, the Au Pair adventure is over...I survived the year.
I'm not home yet...am currently visiting some wonderful friends in the States and will return to Switzerland for a last Hurrah in a few weeks for a couple of months.
And then...home? I think I've decided to go to Uni.

**I have much more to write, and many many photos to post as well....but thought it best to start with something....so that I can start to share current events. (Little bit obsessive compulsive, I know...this need to have everything in the right order....)**

And so, from the deep South, somewhere in Alabama, hidden under at least an inch of snow - Fare Thee Well.

Australia Day, 2010

2010-01-26T11:53:00.000+01:00

Who would have thought on Australia Day 2010, I'd be here. Union Island, St Vincent.

We woke up in Clifton this morning and tonight we're going to sleep at Chatam Bay - perhaps one of the most perfect bays yet.

And, in between, we managed to do some school, sail, swim, go on a wonderful hike and eat a Caribbean BBQ. (I even had a lovely little nap this afternoon - very much an Aussie tradition!)

The view during the hike was magnificent. I'm thinking it would be quite easy to look at this every day. Building a house on this hill is being added to my list of future aspirations.

After the hike, we waited on the beach for the BBQ to be cooked. The chef tonight went by the name 'Shark Attack.' Not sure of any connotations.

To celebrate Australia Day, of course, there were beers on the beach and a game or two of Tag with the girls. No cricket, though. I can't play a one-man, one-team game, and, as the only Australian, this was looking to be the likely scenario.

Finally, after quite a few, "Only a few more minutes,' 'In a little Whiles,' and 'Not too much longers,' we had a BBQ feast of Tuna and Lobster. Well done, Shark Attack.
(Yes Dad, I'm quite enjoying Lobster - you should be proud).

But, the best was yet to come. After dinner came a heartfelt song from the Swiss fam in support of Australia and her birthday today. "Kookaburra sits in the Old Gum Tree.'
I'm thinking of writing to the Australian Government to ask them to change our National Anthem.

So, here's to a wonderful Australia Day - spent at the beach with a BBQ - just as it should have been. Except, I also got to add some non-Australians - an adventurous Swiss family and French skipper (who was introduced to the Kookaburra Song tonight) and some Caribbean sunshine and the boat, Libellule.

Cheers!

Hello, Sunshine!

2010-01-20T03:37:00.004+01:00

A brief hello from Grenada!
The country still living somewhere back in the 60's or 70's and I'm loving it.

I'm currently blogging in my secret black real-notebook-not-online but wanted to post a few photos anyway.

I'm currently somewhere under here:

I can watch children, and swim/lie in the sun at the same time. See, I can multi-task!

And, then, when the watching/swimming/lying is done, we take this boat back "home."

The Last Chapter on Dry Land

2010-01-04T22:03:00.005+01:00

It's almost time to leave.
A million Thoughts are running around in my head. And the Thoughts are leaving their toys and books everywhere. Such a mess.
We leave in approx 36 hours. 2 sleeps. A day and a half.
Then many hours on a plane. And many many more on a boat.
Yikes.
I hope I don't get seasick. I probably should have bought medicine for that.
My room is the cleanest it's ever been. Too bad I'm moving out tomorrow.
Funny how you can spend days scrubbing the toilet for the inspection and then it not even be inspected during the inspection.
Actually, it's not funny. It's horrible. Inspect my toilet!!

I'm missing 2 parcels in the mail.
-----------> United States Postal Service, I don't have time to wait on hold for 45 minutes. I ended up giving up anyway and I didn't even get to speak to a real person. And I had to fake an American accent to get your voice recognition service to understand the number I was giving you. And, please stop insisting for a 5 digit postal code. The rest of the world doesn't use 5 digit postal codes!
And I'm no closer to tracking down my missing parcels!

I had a wonderful break over Christmas. I felt especially lucky because it was actually my 6th and 7th weeks of holidays in a year where I was only supposed to get 4. I got to eat Chinese Fondue 3 times in a week and Cheese Fondue once. Something strange has happened: I love Cheese Fondue. Where did that come from?

I went tobogganing twice. Also known as sledging here. And skiing once. I totally lost any scrap of dignity as foretold in previous post. I even took down an elderly gentleman. He was okay. But I couldn't apologize properly in French. (I told you, I've been learning the wrong language).

Tobogganing was awesome. The first time I went, I got through. I was too scared to enjoy it properly. It was a mean track and I feared for my life. And, as a result I was tense and mostly nervous the whole time. Fun, but fearful fun.
The second time was ah.mazing. The track was just as mean, 3.5 kms long and sometimes on the edge of really steep drops. I was scared. I'd bought a day ticket, which was the same price as 5 lift rides. So I had to ride at least 5 times to make it worth it. (I nearly died when I did that mental calculation).
After the first ride I was wiped. Ready to finish and soak my aches and pains in a hot tub. Did I mention it's 3.5 kms on a crazy track? Where you're sitting on a flimsy plastic thing with steel runners?
But - I had to make the ticket worthwhile (stupid mental calculations). And so we continued. And it got better. So much better. Something about letting fears and inhibitions go and just trying to go as fast as I could and keeping up with the boys. (Boys: always faster on the tobogganing track).
By the end of 5 rides I was soaked through my many many (waterproof: pfft!) layers but I was so satisfied. All tobogganing I'd done before: summer tracks, water tubing - paled in comparison. 17.5 kms going full speed with only a few inches between my behind and a whole lot of sludgy snow - did I mention I couldn't move the next day?

I could go on - but I need to sleep. New Year's Eve was a wonderful time spent with wonderful friends. Friends who feel like a gift.
We danced to juke boxes and set off our own fireworks. And I got to play a white grand piano.

My anniversary buddy left me for home this week and I feel sad about this. But - here's to 10 months and 10 days Nicole. Cheers!

I wish my IPod was bigger. I am loving far too many songs at the moment.

I've got one more day of being an au pair on dry land. One day. Of the routine that's been mine for the last 10 months and 10 days.
MLF3 laughed her head off today when she realized the pair from au pair sounded the same as the fruit pear. Most likely visions of me as a pear.

I must go - I need to finish packing and to sleep. It's so cold here....but I console myself with the fact that in only a few days I'll be sitting in sunshine. Probably getting burnt.

I don't think I'll have much internet for the next 5-6 weeks, so I shall see you then. I'm going to try keep a non-virtual blog (a la notebook) instead.

Trinidad, Grenada, St Lucia, St Vincent & Martinique - here I come! Please be kind. Rewind.

Ps. You wouldn't believe how many cheeseburgers I've eaten in the last week or two.
Pps. Happy New Year! Joyeux Anni!

Ciao, Dignity.

2009-12-23T21:34:00.004+01:00

A quick update on my quest for a white Christmas.
I left home 10 months ago today.
10 months later I'm about to have a very very white Christmas in the Swiss Alps.

Today I made a snowman for the first time.
Correction: I helped with 3 snowmen, 1 cat and 1 dog.
There were several casualties including a couple of ears and a head and I've just remembered that we didn't put scarves or hats on our snow people. I hope they survive the elements.

I thought perhaps if I moved around enough over the holiday period (a few days with my Swiss fam, a few days with NickNatTayaAbbyGeorgia, and a few days with friends) then I could accidentally miss having to ski. It would be a pity and all but at least I would escape with my dignity this season.
It was a good plan.
Not good enough.
Until there is a major blizzard tomorrow, I will ski. I somehow agreed. What was I thinking? I can see my dignity flash before my eyes.

Two weeks today til we fly out of Zurich to Miami.

2 days til Christmas.

12 hours til I lose any remaining scraps of dignity. MLF3 did tell me she might "sometimes wait for me on the pistes."

Merry Christmas all. I leave you with a photo of my fellow slope buddies. This one was taken in our village.

Anyone know a blizzard dance?

Kylie's Top10 Most Awesome Things from The Week That Was

2009-12-17T21:58:00.004+01:00

So, in case you didn't know - being a part of a family who are packing up their house for a year to go traveling is hard work.
I'm not having the best week. Have worked a lot of extra hours this week, and I'm still hanging tightly to a head cold....plus Christmas songs have taken over the Radio. But, despite this atrocity (yes, yes I know, worse things have happened) I have a Top10 from the last week.

Kylie's Top10 Most Awesome Things from The Week That Was.

Shall we count down? - but in no particular order....

10.) Jill gave me an awesome present of Nutella, Carambars and A Physical Blog (also known as a blank notebook) for whilst I am away on the boat with no internet.

9.) I found 85 cents whilst cleaning the Laundry.

8.) I told the girls the story of the boy who licked a metal pole during winter. I explained a metal pole by pointing to the stand of MLF2's desk chair. MLF3 promptly went and licked it to "see what would happen."

7.) I got to finally see nicknattayaabbygeorge in their new home here in der Schweiz. It's amazingly beautiful. I get to live here for a little while when I come back from the States!

6.) I got a BIG (not gigantic or anything, but medium sized) box in the mail for Christmas. Tonight I opened it, just to see what was inside. I shook one of the boxes and I'm betting on a box of BBQ Shapes and I'm so excited. (Don't judge me - BBQ Shapes and I have been parted for a long time!)

5.) My sister Kaity had her 21st (Hip Hip Hooray!) and I called during her party and totally used and abused the situation by catching up with all her/my friends. 3 cheers for Skype. And for Kaity, since it was her birthday...

4.) The discovery of an AWESOME gift game. I love gifts and I love games so this was the best time ever. I've been meeting pretty regularly this year with an awesome group of people to discuss what it means to make Jesus a reality. And this week we had a Christmas party and I won a packet of popcorn.
I'd like to dedicate this packet of popcorn to my sister Kaity, because she loves popcorn the most in the whole world. And also because I stole many of her party guests away from her party to talk to me the other night.

3.) Cake. Birthday Cake. It was MLF1's birthday yesterday and this equals cake. Cake for days. Happy Birthday MLF1!! Thanks for choosing my Banana Cake as your PRIMARY birthday cake. I feel awesome and affirmed.

2.) Tomorrow morning all the kids from the Primary School start at 7AM and walk through the Village shaking and hitting and clanging the noisiest things they can find. What an awesome tradition for the last day of school for the year. I made MLF3 a bottle with rice in it. She thinks I am so clever. Such admiration in her eyes. I have reached the highest point of my Au Pair career. You think I'm joking. I'm not.

1.) And last, but not least: Singing Christmas Trees. They're pretty much awesome.

I AM 1 Brother and 4 Sisters

2009-12-13T23:49:00.003+01:00

So tonight I had my first really long conversation in German.
All German.
And it was pretty long.

I think I pretty much stepped on all and any German grammer rules - not really applicable since there are too many anyway - but! I was understood - and! it.was.in.german.
I may have told her I am 1 brother and 4 sisters, but hey, nobody's perfect.

This is my 100th post. I'm pretty excited about this also. Because a couple of years ago I realized something about myself:
I don't like starting something that I may not be able to finish.

Now, I can't finish a blog, but I was terrified of starting it and then never writing in it. I wanted to write a blog, and to actually write in it. To have memories and thoughts and anecdotes written down.
And my goal in a year was 100 posts. I thought approximately 2 a week was achievable.

So, hip hip hooray! On my 100th post I had a full adult conversation in German.
I may have been 5 of those adults (1 brother and 4 sisters), but hey - at least we spoke in German.

Pregnant Much?

2009-12-12T01:10:00.003+01:00

So, a couple of weeks ago, I got asked if I was pregnant.
I didn't think much of it.

Yesterday, when I was taking some medication, I was asked again. Are you very sure you're not pregnant?
I know, I know. They have to ask this. To be safe. So I didn't think too much of it.

But today. Today I was handed some clothing and asked, Do you want this? It might fit you. It's too big for me now, I wore it when I was pregnant.

!!!

Thanks, but no thanks!

Actually, I took it.
Who says no to Free Stuff?!

A Million Mandarins & A Suppository Deposit

2009-12-09T22:33:00.005+01:00

Dear Blog.
I'm sorry I have not paid you any attention over the last few weeks. But you don't call or remind me that you exist. I forgot about you.
Here's an update...
I de-registered today. I have officially told this country that I plan to leave in less than a month!
This makes me sad. I don't want to leave.
Hooray for return tickets in March!

The lady at the Gemeinde Office (Community Centre? Where they keep track of all their obedient Swiss citizens?) seemed unsure about the whole process. My residency card stated a date that I was required to leave that did not match up with my VISA. When I questioned her about this, her only answer was, We can neither understand or fathom the ways and thoughts of the Foreign Police, or something to this effect.
Yeah right, just admit a typo!

I feel sad. I should be packing. Somehow I've accumulated far far far too much stuff. How did I come here with only 20kg?!
I technically leave Zurich in a week and a half - how did this happen?

I console myself with thoughts of sunshine and white beaches. Are the beaches white? No idea. I realized that many of the luxuries that I enjoy here: Internet, copious amounts of chocolate, TV, my own space, the ability to go for a walk whenever I want in my free time...
I will not have these on this sailing trip. No internet, no constant and available supply of chocolate, no TV, no space??! And definitely no random walks....unless I suddenly learn to walk on water...hmmm....

For 5+ weeks....eek.

However, instead I am swapping these for visits to Trinidad, St Lucia, Grenada, St Vincent & Martinique. (It's ok if you want to google these, I had to!)
So it's a swap I'm prepared to make. I think.
And....I get to visit my ever beautiful friend Katie and her lovely family in the States for a few weeks after the Caribbean trip and before returning to Switzerland! How wonderful is that!?

And in other news, my Swiss family is a bit sick at the moment and I seem to have fallen down as well. I don't know how, I am eating millions of mandarins! Isn't there Vitamin C in them?

This week I learnt about Suppositories. I think they are much more common over here than at home? I've certainly never had to deal with them at home?
I won't tell you the whole story, but let's just say that this week I've had to google Giving Suppositories to Children.
I never thought about this aspect when I decided to be an Au Pair (the things they don't tell you!)
I tried to convince her to take a normal pill. I assured her she was capable of swallowing it. That perhaps she could just try, and if she couldn't, that would be ok, but please please please could she just try.
She couldn't.
She wouldn't.
And so I learnt about Suppositories.
But I later found out she thought I was going to try and make her swallow a Suppository.
The language barrier.
Sometimes it's bigger than you think.

A Story About Vomit (Not for the Faint-Hearted)

2009-11-23T15:08:00.005+01:00

I'm not a fan of telling stories that, um, reflect no-so-well on me. So, for that purpose, today I've got a story about Pippi.
Pippi Longstocking.

Pippi was so glad it was Friday night. It had been long week and she was looking forward to the weekend - she had plans to visit the tallest mountain in all of Europe.
But first - a costume party!

She was going to go as, uh, Pippi Longstocking, and despite feeling slightly unwell, dressed up as, ahem, herself. A friend of hers dropped by on her way to same party and also became Pippi Longstocking.
And off they went - catching the train to the city where they would dazzle everyone with their - ah, long stockings.

Until Kylie, I mean Pippi, continued to feel more and more unwell. Quite nauseous and capable of projectile vomit.
The pair of Pippi's arrived at their destination, and after taking a small walk in the hope of giving Pippi#1 some fresh air, decided that they really should head back home.

On a side note, you would be very surprised how many people will stare at you when you are dressed up as Pippi Longstocking. Pippi#1 was so glad that she had been unable to make bendy wire stick in the long plaits.
Oh so glad.

They sat down to wait for their train and spent their time discussing where it would be best, should be the need arise, to throw up. On the train tracks? Or in the rubbish bin? The Pippi's were divided on this issue.
Finally their train came and they boarded and sought seats near the toilet. Just in case. Although, by this time, you should know that it was highly likely.
There were none and so Pippi collapsed on the steps of the train.

*Side note: Ticket-checkers will NOT check your ticket if you look white or green. Or perhaps if you are dressed up as Pippi Longstockings with your head between your knees.

Pippi would like you to know that there is nothing quite so undignified as throwing up into the toilet of a moving train dressed up as Pippi Longstockings.
Nothing.
Or as the Ticket Inspectors asking if you were pregnant. Me? said Pippi. I'm just a kid!

Unfortunately Pippi was unable to visit the highest mountain in all of Europe that weekend but hopes to in the future. Instead, she spent her weekend studying the causes and statistics of why she is far more likely to get sick on the weekend when she doesn't have to work.
She promises to publish any future findings.

A Story About Chocolate

2009-11-21T21:45:00.004+01:00

I was making MLF2's bed this week and I came across this:

Well, actually, it looked more like this:

They were somewhere in there with the sheets, very over-sized bear (which takes up more of the bed than she does!), pillows and the worn-out but much-loved duck. I think it's a duck.

How to discuss this? How can I, who can easily consume large quantities of chocolate in my bed during a book or movie, tell an 8-year old that she really shouldn't be eating small caramel lollies in bed after the brushing of teeth.

They may be small, but my friend Jill thinks they are better than Nutella! Sacrilege.

And so that night I broached the problem.
MLF2? (I don't really call her this, in real life I use her name) I think there's a little problem.

Yeah?

Well, I found Carambar wrappers in your bed. I think your bear has been doing something a bit naughty. I think Teddy has been eating them at night when you are asleep and I don't think they are good for him.

Her face was hilarious when I told her this. At first, she looked really worried, as though she knew she'd been caught out. Then, as I blamed the bear, she looked relieved. She even smiled.

Perhaps you could tell Teddy not to eat them in bed anymore. They are not good for your, I mean, his, teeth.

We reached an agreement. She'd let the, ahem, bear know, and Carambars would no longer be consumed in bed.

Now, where's my jar of Nutella?

Reflections During My 35th Week

2009-11-17T20:51:00.004+01:00

I was driving home with the girls tonight from horse riding lessons. It was dark and and all the lights over the Lake were just beautiful. We had the music turned up, singing, and for once, I wasn't lost and I knew where I was going.
And I just felt overwhelmingly blessed.

I still wake up every morning and can't believe I'm living in Switzerland.
This thought comes after, Humph Grumph What's that incessant ringing Oh it's my alarm How do I shut that thing off Can I sleep a little bit longer.
But still. I'm pretty sure I'm in the top 100 Luckiest People in the World.

I've been going to School with the girls this week and sitting in on their classes. I like this because:

I get to practice my German with the unsuspecting Kindergartners from MLF3's class. I got to have a whole conversation today with a little boy. Granted, it was about a toy helicopter - but still, I don't think he picked up on the fact that I speak English. A lot of the conversation was filled up on my behalf with words like Super and Megacool - but at least I sound hip.
I got to actually understand the lessons in MLF2's class - they were English lessons, but whatever.
I beat kids at a French counting game in MLF1's class. Yes, Mum, your efforts teaching me to count to 10 in French have finally paid off. Madame (What's her name - your French teacher??) would be so proud.

I've been especially aware this last week that I am here. It's not that I forget, but this week I've remembered. Some days it's hard and I feel tired and far away from home. And if I have to look at that Vacuum Cleaner again, I'm going to throw it from the top floor
(Of course, that would involve lugging it all the way up there, so I would think twice).
But all days I love being here and am overwhelmingly glad I came. My experience has far exceeded any expectations. I just love it.

Alas - time is slipping away. I keep thinking, It's only November, but tonight MLF1 came to me with some important calculations.
Only 48 days until we leave.
Huh? That's so....[gulp] soon.

Did I mention that I'm leaving a little early? Before a full 12 months? I'm leaving with my Swiss family on a sailing trip. On a boat. In the water. Somewhere a little south of the Caribbean.
Not sure how long. A month? Two? But then I am coming back to Switzerland. I hope. For 3 months. I plan to milk that Tourist Visa for all it's worth.

So these are few thoughts that are swimming around in my head. Along with questions of next year and what I should do with the rest of my life. But you know, no need to sweat the small stuff.
I got to fulfill a lifelong dream on Saturday. I licked Liechtenstein. Also discovered the ruins of a Wild Castle and very much enjoyed forests full of Autumn.
LG. Life's Good.

A Guided Tour Gone Wrong

2009-11-09T15:38:00.005+01:00

Dear Tourist Guide Registration Office,

I would like your suitability checklist reviewed.
Or perhaps you just let one slip through the crack.

Recently, I was in Germany, in an unidentified city, which will remain nameless until I blog about in the future.
I went on a tour.
The tour was fine. The city is beautiful.

Unfortunately a droning irritating voice followed me throughout the whole tour.
Or perhaps I followed it. Yet to be confirmed as the tour guide.
I seemed to be attached to it by an invisible thread, also known as a tour.
Do not be alarmed, I was not alone. I was fully surrounded by others attached by an invisible thread, also known as a tour group. We held each other up for support.

I tried to follow along at the safest distance possible - ie 1 km, but then he would just shout at me to hurry. To be honest, I was embarrassed to be seen with him in broad daylight. Nighttime, perhaps. With the cover of darkness.

I knew things were a bit strange from the beginning, at the first attraction. Here, he spent no less than 5 minutes laughing at the people around us taking photos of the aforementioned attraction. Whilst instructing us, his obedient tour group, to NOT take photos. He loudly proclaimed that this was perhaps the most disappointing tourist attraction in Europe.
I liked it?

Now, I like jokes. I make too many of them. Funniness is funny. I like to laugh. BUT IF I'M NOT LAUGHING, STOP TELLING YOUR JOKES. Curiosity definitely killed the cat and your jokes killed your entire tour group.

The guide behind the droning voice with the unfunny jokes hissed at me. Seriously, it was a hiss. He also told the girl beside me that he didn't like her. Twice. Tour guides have to at least pretend they like the people in their group, don't they?

And he kept lamenting to us, NOT his friends or even sympathetic listeners, about his relationship issues. Over and over again. I think I unfortunately know more about his past love lives that I do of the city of M*****.

And he kept mentioning his tips. Every time I heard him mention his tips, I mentally deducted 1€ from my tip. 10€ - 100 x his unsubtle tip remarks = you do the maths. I'll keep the end result to myself, but let's just say he now owes me money.
I wanted to hand him a piece of paper, on which I'd written, Don't give up your day job, because that would be a tip he could use, but I think this is his day job!

The tour was fine. The city is beautiful. But there's a heartbroken, unfunny, hissing tour guide out there. And he owes me money.

Much love,
Kylie

Goodbye Autumn?

2009-11-06T17:17:00.005+01:00

Autumn is fast giving way to Winter, so when I took a walk around our Village this afternoon I took my camera. It's so beautiful here at the moment, and, like I resented Autumn for taking over Summer, I'm also resenting Winter for stealing Autumn.

Perhaps too much resentment? If the seasons could just slow down a little bit, please. Thank you.

I'm off in the morning for Munich, or München, for the weekend. Hopefully there'll still be some leaves left on the trees there! I'll let you know...

17 Toothbrushes, And Counting...

2009-11-03T21:13:00.004+01:00

I probably really should have called this blog, All About Me, By MLF3 (it even rhymes) but I didn't. It's not supposed to be all about her.
However, I find myself writing yet another blog entry about her. I sort of apologize. But - it's my blog and she makes me laugh so much. So therefore:

She turned 5 last week and her birthday party was today.
We were brushing teeth after lunch (side note: there are 17 toothbrushes in this house! - not including mine!) and she wanted to use MLF2's toothpaste, Junior.

You see, it clearly states on MLF3's toothpaste, Kinder, that it is for until you are 5.
In the past, she would never ever use MLF2's toothpaste because it was too hot. Not even under threat of death.
But today - she was ready, and insisted upon it.
I tried to insinuate that we had 2 tubes of Kinder to use up before she could give up forever, but she didn't take the hint.

2 seconds into brushing she started to give me the eyes.
Bobbing up and down.
Waving her hands around.
Wild hand movements.
Strange vowel sounds coming out of a frothy bubbling mouth.
I listen closely - what is she saying.
Bleh Blah Bleh Blah ..hell.
What? I think. Something about hell?
She repeats: Blah Blah Bleh Blah ...hell.

In German, hell means bright in English. And I don't think she understands hell in English.
After several more attempts (whilst brushing) I understand.
Bleh Blah Bleh Bleh SCHNELL.

Bit hot for you, MLF3? Want to use the Kinder toothpaste tonight?
And tonight: She wisely chose the Kinder toothpaste.
After all, there are still 2 more tubes to use up.

WBSD: Burn, Böögg, Burn!

2009-10-30T23:46:00.004+01:00

Wilkommen! Today I'm blogging as part of a World Blog Surf Day - a giant circle of crazy expats who choose to release their blogging powers into cyber space and allow some serious armchair travel.

More details at the end of the blog!

I want to share with you a celebration that is now very near and dear.

A year ago? Wasn't even on my radar. Now, I am hoping and wishing and praying and pleading that I will be around next year to experience it again.

The Burning of the Böögg. (Also known as Sechseläuten)

I don't care too much for the Böögg, so it's ok if he gets burnt.

Let me explain.

Somewhere back in April I had to come via the Zurich City on my way to a weekend away in the mountains. I was meeting friends briefly and I'd heard rumours of a giant snowman being burnt? What was that all about, anyway? But when I got off a very full train, I found myself in a crushing crowd of people.

I hate crowds of people.

Detest. Loathe. Abhor. Despise. Etc.

I couldn't understand the attraction. A big bonfire? A strange looking snowman thing made of wood and not snow?

Why were all these people here and where had they come from? There was so many.

The idea of the tradition if that they'll burn the snowman (false advertising - he is NOT made of snow), correctly know as the Böögg and depending on how long it takes for him to burn, depends on how good the summer will be.

I was skeptical.

At best.

It's just an opportunity to get out, party, and to eat and drink and be merry. Around a (albeit rather large) bonfire with NO marshmallows.

Go home, and let me through this crazy crowd.

Fast forward 6+ months.

I think I've been talked 'round. I've had a summer in Switzerland.

And it's been the most glorious, amazing, beautiful, glorious, spectacular, delightful, marvelous, splendiferous, and did I mention glorious, summer I have ever been a part of.

There is nothing like a sunny summer's day here in Switzerland - thousands of meters up, high on an Alp or two and being a part of such gloriousness.

Now I understand why everyone made such a fuss about Summer coming.

The Burning of the Böögg is now my absolute favourite holiday.

And next year? I will front of the crowd, throwing matches, and begging the Böögg to burn fast.

Oh Summer. How I loved thee. Who loved Summer? Hands up!

Thanks for being a part of the World Blogger Surf Day.

Next on the list is the World Wide Westfields and They too will be blogging on their favourite holiday/celebration.

But don't forget that the Burning of the Böögg is really the best :)

And the WBSD's events will be reported throughout the day on Twitter, by Karen of Empty Nest Expat - Karen is an American expat blogger last seen in Prague. The Wall Street Journal said, "Her blog makes a fun read for anyone looking for reassurance that change can be a wonderful thing--and also for anyone interested in visiting the Czech Republic."

Secret Plan: Plan A

2009-10-28T23:01:00.004+01:00

MLF3: (who turned 5 this week and is now old and wise. Happy Birthday MLF3!)

I like you so much.

You should not go back to Australia. You should stay here with us.

ME, Au Pair1:

I would like to. But my Papi said I must come home. And my Mami would miss me. (Correction: My Papi said not to marry over here and your Country will kick me out for overstaying my VISA.)

But! You can come back with me to Australia and live there.

MLF3: No. My Pap said I said must stay here and my Mami would miss me.

She was delighted that she could repeat my words and for them to make sense in her context. It dawned on me in this moment that she has been mimicking me and using sarcasm now. Uh oh. She has learnt that from me. Oops.

MLF3: I know! Your Mami, and your Papi and your sisters and your brother can come and live here.

ME: Here? In Switzerland?

MLF3: Yes. But ssshhhh. We shouldn't tell them.

So watch out, family for a dubious looking 5 year old who seems capable of masterminding something of a kidnapping attempt.

When you least expect it...

My Big Fat Greek Holiday (9 Things You Should Know About My 9 Days in Paradise)

2009-10-24T22:01:00.000+02:00

They said we were crazy. They said we'd never make it. A trip to Greece - outside of Season? But we came, we saw and we conquered - and had an amazing marvelous 9 days.

Zurich - Milan - Athens (will never fly cheap airline again, ugh) - Meteora (via Trikala) - Volos - Skopelos -Volos - Athens - Milan (will never fly cheap airline again, ugh) - Zurich.

I went with another aupair, Pei Wen, who has the ability to make me laugh so hard I was forever needing the loo. We spent the first day looking all around Athens, before heading to the Areopagus (Mars Hill - Paul preached from up here!) to watch the sun set over the Acropolis.

I'd heard rumours of a €2 Kebab. As in, a donor Kebab NOT skewered meat. Living in a world where I can only dream about affording a Kebab meant I rejoiced with anticipation.
And I was not disappointed. I've never seen such a work of art. It was like a bouquet - with hot chips!

At Meterora, I saw some of the most amazing man-made feats I have ever seen. Six monasteries built on these
huge
rock
pillars.

It's hard to fathom. They date back to the 14th century, when there was more than twenty monasteries.
They're just sitting at the top of these huge pillars, I'm still speechless when I think about it.
Pei Wen and I were lucky enough to have a contact, now friend - Vasilis, in a little village near the Monasteries to stay with, and even more, to be a part of his family and friend's lives for a little while.
They cooked us fantastic food and we stayed at the family home outside of the village, in an even smaller village. I also saw the biggest vat of tomato sauce I have ever seen and we got to clean to vat afterwards (yum!)

As we were leaving, Vasilis' mother gave us both a Pomegranate. Vasilis told us later in the car that it was a special gift, a symbol of fertility.

Uh, thank you?

(Many seeds, am feeling especially fertile)

I met Rebecca the Brave. Rebecca the Brave with Pepper Spray. We happened to be staying at the same place one night. She told me about keeping the Spray at the top of her bag, at the ready if she felt wary. I didn't want to scare or wake her in the night!

But who knew Pepper Spray came in such a convenient little size?!
But she also told me good things, thoughtful things about being a guest in another's home and embracing the life of those around you - wherever you are. But more than telling, she showed me what it looked like. Her gentleness and grace really touched me and I'm glad to have crossed paths.

After visiting Athens and Meteora, we decided to head to the island of Skopelos. Everyone said not to go there, that the season was over and nothing would be open.
I was in search of beautiful beaches, warm weather and no other tourists.
We hit the jackpot.
None of the touristy shops were open, but that suited us 100%. We managed to find the sole car available for hire on the island and went in search of beauty. At night I came home needing to sleep. My eyes had seen too much beauty and needed rest.
I'm serious.
Jackpot.

While we were there, might as well see the Mamma Mia film locations. I'm not one to waste an opportunity!

The best place? Agios Ioannis - (the wedding chapel used in the film). It was amazing. We got to visit many chapels on the Island but this one stood out from the rest. It's almost on it's own island, jutting out from the cliff - and there are more than 200 stairs to climb to the top.

I did this twice.

I'm a glutton for punishment.

(see that second rock jutting out? the chapel is on top of that!)

The second time we got up very early and made the trek there to watch the sunrise. It's even more difficult to climb the 200 steps in the dark!

It was more than worth it.

This is an attempt to 'time lapse' the photos I took of the sunrise into a video.

Unfortunately I got a bit sick - even the morning we climbed the steps I thought my glands might actually pop out of my neck (is this physically possible? and if not, why does it feel this way?) and so we headed the chemist. I'd heard on the grapevine that chemists here could give out antibiotics and so I went to plead my case.

Me: I think I need antibiotics. I heard that it was possible to get them from you. (I then proceeded to tell him my medical sorrows.)

Chemist: (cutting me off, glancing furtively around.) Where did you hear this?

Me: Um, just around. Can you?

Chemist: Perhaps. If you don't tell anyone. Hush hush, so to speak.

Me: Um, ok.

Chemist: But I don't know if you need antibiotics. Perhaps you should visit the doctor.

He made it sound so easy. The doctor was just around the corner and it shouldn't take too long.

I rounded the corner to the doctors and something about the long line snaking out the door told me the chemist never needed to visit the doctor, him being able to prescribe himself any medication. Not too long, indeed.

I spent some time playing charades with the other waiting patients as they wanted to discuss our ailments.

Several hours later I left. When the doctor told me I probably shouldn't leave my bed for the next couple of days, I realized that I probably shouldn't mention the 200+ stairs in the cold and wind that morning if I wanted to maintain any respect. I headed for the Chemist, armed with prescriptions that would set me back quite a few Euro.

Me: Can I please get these antibiotics.

Chemist: (glancing at my list) Oh, so you are sick. It's quite serious.

Me: Yes. Just hand over the pills and no one will get hurt.

I think this is why it cost so much. I should have been nicer.

When I fell in love with the beautiful Skopelos I increased with vigour my search for the perfect Greek man. One who would take pity on me and my obsession with beautiful beaches and stunning cliffs and make an honest woman out of me.
However, then I discovered the Pom Poms.
On the shoes.
And the silly dance with the Pom Poms on the shoes.
Nothing wrong with regular visits, me thinks.

An amazing, amazing trip. So glad we went. Happy happy Greek holidaying!

A Royal Visit & A Plastic Silver Sword

2009-10-22T22:43:00.004+02:00

I know I should be blogging about Greece. And Holland. Report of dream holiday is overdue. I know.
But I must admit the prospect of going through all those photos is daunting. And so I'm putting it off to the weekend. Somebody, make me do it on the weekend, please.
PS: Weekend, where are you? Why are you taking so long to get here?!

But in other news, I was picnic-ing at the Lindenhof (a beautiful park overlooking Zurich, and includes the oldest wall in Zurich) yesterday. Nicole and I were sitting on the wall, braving the cold weather (did I tell you it's winter here now? So rude!) and out of the corner of my eye I notice a man.
Nothing unusual.
Except that he's donning a cape/coat.
A red one with fur trim.
He's putting on a gold crown.
He's mumbling out over Zurich.
Maybe he's cold. Coat and Crown keeps you and your head warm.
He's taking out a plastic silver sword.
Holding it to the sky.
He's got a huge book. He's either got really bad eyesight and needs extra large print or he's stolen a prop from Snow White.
He's reading from the book, mumbling, waving the sword around.
The police drive by. Surely, I think, they must think this odd.
They slowly drive by, bemused looks on their faces.
Arrest him! I want to scream at them. Lock him away!
But they do nothing.
What if he's casting a spell over Zurich?
Perhaps winter will disappear. Please stay, strange kingly man. Bring summer back.
But then he closes the book and and puts it in a shopping bag.
The sword, crown and cape/coat soon follow.
Soon he is a normal man again.
A normal man surrounded by shopping bags at the oldest wall in Zurich.
I wait for winter to melt away and summer to return.
Nothing.
I give him the benefit of the doubt. These things take time.
Still, nothing.
Arrest him! I want to scream. Lock him away!
But now he's just a normal man.
A normal man with a plastic silver sword poking out the top of his shopping bag.

*I managed to take a photo of the strange kingly man. I needed it to prove my story.

To Holland, With Love

2009-10-03T15:13:00.003+02:00

Dear Holland,
Ready or not, here I come.
Dutch windmills, licorice, canals, and bikes, here I come.
Please don't rain.
Please don't let me fall off a bike into a canal.
Thanks,
Love Kylie

'Sup Girlfren?

2009-10-02T09:01:00.003+02:00

On the way to school yesterday morning, MLF3 narrowly missed stepping in some, ah, doggy doo. This is not normal - we are in Switzerland after all. It is the world's cleanest country (also home of the most expensive Big Mac in the world, but that's another story).

But then she spent the rest of the trip explaining to me how on our walks to and from school, she would look out for me, and I should look out for her, and then neither of us would step in anything.
I think she wanted to say Sisterhood, but she just didn't know it in English. Then we could say things like, 'Sup, Girlfren' to each other.

Needless to say, we didn't find any more doggy doo on our trip but as we neared school she cried, Achtung!

Whew - nearly stepped on a cigarette butt. Close call.

{Same little friend also spent 10 minutes last night trying to sound out YMCA.}

Cinderella

2009-09-22T20:17:00.004+02:00

I'm still very regularly asked for a story. MLF3 is very gracious - it can be about anything - "deine sisters or brother, Mami or Papi or Puss Puss or Tesse."

Really - the choice is mine. The problem is: I've no more stories to tell. None. I've told her every anecdote I can think of about my life and the lives of family members and pets. And then some. I'm not above embellishing a few details.

So this week I've started on Fairy Tales. She is mostly unaware of all fairy tales and the slate is clean and blank and all mine.
I began with Jack and the Beanstalk a few days ago. She loved it. But she was so scared. No kidding. I must be a better story teller than I realize.
Cinderella was today and - again, I am an awesome story teller. She loved it.
Although as I was telling the story - I identified with Cinderella a little more than I would have liked.

"The Mother did not like Cinderella. She made her do all the cleaning. She had to do all the cooking. She had to do all the vacuuming."

-"But why?"

"Because the Mother did not like her. She had to make all the beds. She had to do all the washing. Cinderella had to work very hard."

And in other news: I almost ran into my Host Mother this morning. And she nearly ran into me.
I was turning back into our street with the car and she was leaving on her Vespa and we very nearly met in the middle.
Could have been worse, could have been much much worse. Whew.

Note to self: In future times, when you read this blog - you were not feeling like Cinderella. Put your rose-coloured glasses back on.

Sometimes It's Ok To Jump Off A Cliff

2009-09-19T23:07:00.010+02:00

I'm grasping at summer straws but I'm trying to tell myself that summer is still here. That sunny warm days will still continue.
I'm probably kidding myself.

Goods and Bads from the last week. Bad news first?

Bads:

Friends are leaving to go home left, right and centre! It's weird being one of the "older" au pairs - I'm not! I just got here! Stop asking me questions, I have no idea what I'm doing!

Winter is coming. This will bring the obligation to ski. I still have nightmares from last season.

I also seem to have picked up a cold from somewhere. If someone is missing theirs, it's probably in my head. I would love to return it to you!

Goods:

I just spent a lovely day with a friend doing - well, not much. Eating. (We even ate ice cream for breakfast with crepes. Don't tell my Mum!)

Holidays in 2 weeks!! Am planning on a few days cycling in Holland and then off to Greece for 9 days to ... eat Greek food! (And perhaps pretend that I am in the Mamma Mia movie!)

I made Pumpkin Soup for dinner one night this week and MLF1 was NOT happy. Not happy at all - due to a dislike of the main ingredient.
She sat down at the table - pushed the soup away and was NOT happy.
Did I mention she was NOT happy?
But after about 10 minutes, I saw her pick up her spoon and lick it. And then, filled up the spoon and ate some more. And then, a little more.
6!!!! bowlfuls later, I think she liked the soup?

MLF3 (4 yrs) correcting MLF2 (8 yrs) on her English.

Paragliding last weekend! Absolutely amazing!!

It was a birthday gift from my host family and I just want to go again! Had about 20 minutes of flying time above the town and mountains surrounding Zermatt. And got to see the Matterhorn closer than most!

I wasn't nervous at all (birds fly all the time, right?) - until my tandem dude's words were, "Now we're going to take a few running steps toward the edge of the cliff."
How many times do you hear that in your life?

But after that all was fine.

Until we landed and my legs didn't work and it was all rather unceremonious. Him trying to pull me up, being attached by many strings, belts and clasps, him not being able to pull me up, still being attached by many strings, belts and clasps.
You get the picture.

A beautiful walk/hike near Neuchâtel. Steph and I were whisked away to a land that resembled a fairytale.

But it did play with my head when I realized the scenery I'd seen the day before compared to this day. Such a small country but it's vastly vastly different!

Day 1:

Day 2:

Day 3:

- See? I told you I worked sometimes!

I Am A Fun Au Pair

2009-09-15T22:24:00.004+02:00

I am a fun Au Pair.

I am such a fun Au Pair that I eat entire jars of Nutella by myself. (Where's the fun in sharing?!)

I am such a fun Au Pair that I gasp when I find Charlie and Lola books at the BiblioTech (Library). All the girls want to know what is so exciting and give me strange looks when I show them my find. (However, when I read it to them tonight -in German!- their response was quite positive.)

I am such a fun Au Pair that when the girls had friends over last week and I drew a giant game of Twister outside with chalk, the neighbours thought we'd been having a birthday party.

I am such a fun Au Pair that I go around singing Barbapapa tunes in my head most of the day. (This is NOT fun for me, but the girls do feel like they are listening to the cartoon all day. Selfless, I tell you. Selfless.)

I am such a fun Au Pair because we cook fun stuff. Although when 2 four-year-olds are scooping cake mixture into muffin tins I have to look away. Otherwise the obsessive compulsive side of me will attack the aforementioned four-year-olds.

I am such a fun Au Pair because I can sometimes be talked into Cereal picnics in the Lounge Room. Sometimes. (Although why they want to eat Cereal more than once a day is beyond me. It's hard enough to face once a day!)

I am a fun Au Pair.

Sometimes I just need to convince myself.

Heaven is the Face

2009-09-10T11:16:00.007+02:00

"I know it's all of this and so much more....God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door...."

I'm one of those people who get a new song and listen to it over and over again.
And again and again and again. And again.

Steven Curtis Chapman released Heaven is the Face this week and I really like it.

The Chapmans lost their daughter last year in a car accident and their journey of grief has been followed quite closely by the media. I'm sure it has been very difficult to go through it all with your every move watched, even if the watchers are well-meaning fans (myself included).

In a time like that, what does faith look like? How does it work? What is the right response to such a tragedy?

The whole family has shown so much beauty and grace. I've somewhat shamelessly followed their blogs and been overwhelmed at times by the pieces of their heart that they've chosen to share.
Their trust in the God of Heaven and their determination to stay true to what they know - their faith - has really stuck with me.

And this song is a beautiful overview of their past year or so and I'm so glad that he's chosen to share his journey this way.

I love: "I know it's all of this and so much more....God, you know, I just can't see beyond the door...."

And I know it's not the main theme of the song, but sometimes it's just a relief to be reminded that it's ok if sometimes we can't see past the issue that is at hand.

Whether it's something as tragic as losing a child or simply our own day-to-day struggles in relationships I think it's ok to admit that we just can't seem beyond what's in our face right now.

And I really like the idea of a place where HIS glory fills every empty space.

Heaven is the Face - Steven Curtis Chapman

Heaven is the face of a little girl
With dark brown eyes
That disappear when she smiles.
Heaven is the place
Where she calls my name
Says, “Daddy please come play with me for awhile.”

Chorus:

God, I know, it’s all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I’m aching for.
God, you know, I just can’t see beyond the door.
So right now...

Heaven is the sound of her breathing deep,
Lying on my chest, falling fast asleep while I sing.
And Heaven is the weight of her in my arms,
Being there to keep her safe from harm while she dreams

And God, I know, it’s all of this and so much more,
But God, You know, that this is what I’m longing for
God, you know, I just can’t see beyond the door.

Bridge:

But in my mind’s eye I can see a place
Where Your glory fills every empty space.
All the cancer is gone,
Every mouth is fed,
And there’s no one left in the orphans’ bed.
Every lonely heart finds their one true love,
And there’s no more goodbye,
And no more not enough,
And there’s no more enemy (no more).

Heaven is a sweet, maple syrup kiss
And a thousand other little things I miss with her gone.
Heaven is the place where she takes my hand
And leads me to You,
And we both run into Your arms.

Oh God, I know, it’s so much more than I can dream.
It’s far beyond anything I can conceive.
So God, You know, I’m trusting You until I see
Heaven in the face of my little girl,
Heaven in the face of my little girl.

BEWARE of Falling Crab (Tins)!

2009-09-03T20:40:00.004+02:00

7:50* - MLF1's spare backpack falls on my head as I try to get it down from the top shelf.

8:05 - The tube of Icing Sugar falls out not once, but three times in quick succession as I put other items away in the cupboard.

8:41 - MLF3's drink bottle is aiming straight for me when it falls out of the cupboard when I am putting other dishes away.

10:28 - A tin of crab tries to attack me and barely misses my head and then foot as I search the pantry for lasagne ingredients.

10:58 - The tin of crab makes a better-aimed shot at me but still I am quicker as I put the remaining lasagne pasta away.

13:40 - After a few hours of respite the Alphabet Mobile in MLF2's bedroom tries to entangle me but I will live to clean another day.

15:30 - Yet another backpack falls on me twice as I attempt to put it away. What is it with these bags. I think they are desperate to be out hiking or something.

15:33 - I think about the blog I will write detailing all the things that tried to get me today.

19:25 - Apparently all the evil items in the house have decided to leave me alone as it has been three hours of safety.

19:29 - Apparently I was wrong. MLF3 knocks over a bottle of perfume - a large portion of which spills onto me. At least it wasn't a tin of crab juice. At least I smell good. But, having just accidentally licked my finger, I DO NOT taste good!

*These times are not exact as I am not quite anal enough to keep a diary of my day's events. I do however keep a blog....

I think I'm in Love

2009-09-01T17:39:00.004+02:00

Did I tell you how much I love the moutains here? Yes?
Can I tell you again?
I love it. So much. I can't get enough.

Went for a day trip on Sunday to Appenzell but didn't stay long in the village.
(Women are only allowed to vote in local elections here since 1991! and they still vote through a public assembly by a raising of hands!)

Instead we headed for the top: Hohe Kastern.

I went with my friend Dani (another au pair) and I think all day long we were just opening and closing our mouths in astonishment. It was so beautiful.

We took a cable car up to the top of the mountain and spent quite a few hours walking down. We may have prolonged our trip just a little bit by missing the last PostBus and having to walk to the next Village but we both blame the other for that so it's ok.

The Search for the Perfect Pasta: Life's Greatest Quest. (Week 1: Italy)

2009-08-31T16:39:00.000+02:00

This is a happy picture to start off this blogging post. The people in Italy are so friendly!

If you haven't been to Venice - you should go.
And don't put it off, because the entire city is sinking.
Seriously. At a rate of 2 1/2 inches a decade.
So go.

'Twas dark by the time we arrived in Venice that fateful eve.
Actually, eventful is probably more the word.

'Twas dark by the time we arrived in Venice that eventful eve.
We felt like super sleuths for finding our hotel. I think U2's song 'Where the Streets Have No Name' is about Venice.
We felt like athletic champions when we finally reached our room after climbing many many stairs. This was the first of many times that Dad almost passed out from carrying too many bags up too many flights of stairs.
But we had an amazing view and even a singing guitar man on the street below us.

We also had banana juice drinks left in our room for breakfast. This is why we pay for a B&B, I tell you, this is why we pay. It was all for the banana juice. Breakfast in a banana juice.

I think Venice was actually one of my favourite places. Only downside was the swarms of tourists. Go home, people, go home!

It actually is this crazy bizarre city built on little islands and with water, water and more water. (I know you know this, but it's truly amazing. )

The locals just have boats outside their houses. This is because it is ridiculous to pay 100 Euros for an hour long Gondola ride. Eeek! So, instead we used public transport - the Wassertaxi!

Our addiction to Italian coffee started here. It was here that we learned you take your coffee standing up at the bar if you're a real Italian. (We are not real Italians but we like to pretend) They come in for their morning shot, swig it down and off they go.
I like it.

We caught a plane from Venice to Rome. But we almost missed it because we wanted to have pizza one more time in Venice.
We then had to run for the plane. It's yet to be confirmed but Mum may have taken her shoes off to sprint.
(It's a proven method - I do it often).

Rome was crazy. We had been warned NOT to drive there and I'm SO glad we didn't. It's dangerous enough just being a pedestrian (more running involved).

Very cool to see the Colosseum, Catacombs and the Vatican. And I really liked seeing the Sistine Chapel (although the magic is a little lost when you are squashed amongst many tourists in a room that seems smaller all the time) (Go home people, go home!)

We were in search of the perfect pasta and one such night was previously mentioned in a blog here

(This is a photo of the man we'd like to forget. If anyone wants his address I found it in my pocket the other day...)

But whilst in Rome we were mostly left with an empty feeling where pasta fulfillment should have been. (Don't worry - there is a happy ending to this story).

Dad and Mum did try to lose me after we had been through the Vatican. They could have told me they wanted some alone time but instead I felt like that little kid in the supermarket all over again.
(hmmm...has that actually ever happened to me? Or am I assuming other people's experiences?)
Several people offered to take me home but I knew my parents would need me eventually. Did they think they could find their own way home? Ha!

After Rome came Florence and Pisa. We spent a night in classy accommodation in Florence. Well, it was supposed to be classy. We came back to our room later in the evening to find liquid dripped from a spot on the roof. And the room smelt rather like...umm, urine.
We called the owner/manager and he admitted he'd been having some issues with plumbing upstairs but assured us it was only water.
We assured him it wasn't.
He assured us it was.
We assured him it wasn't.
Etc.
He then picked up the towels that were under the drip and smelt them. He paused and simply said: "Could be."

The happy ending to our pasta story came whilst we were in Florence. We had amazing pasta not once, but twice in one day. Good thing I'm going back to Florence this weekend...pasta here I come!

Pisa really is all about the Tower. However, it is a very cool tower.

With much pleading I then persuaded Mum and Dad to take a detour through Cinque Terre.

(They look like it was a hard choice for them eh?)

They are five towns built into the hillside/cliffs along the coast from La Spezia. They are colourful and bright and beautiful and amazing and I will forever love this area because this is where I first had pizza covered in pesto. Also for the forementioned reasons. Oh, and because I got to dip my toes into the Mediterranean!

And then we took a train to France. But that is another story. For another day. But I shall leave this post with a few fond memories of Italy.

Don't try and sell my a fake Prada bag. No, I don't want a fake Prada bag. Seriously, I said no. A fake Prada bag? Thanks, but no. Hmm, let me think about it.....NO!

In Rome I took my shoe off to find...a belly button ring IN my shoe. Now, it wasn't mine - as to my knowledge, my belly button is not pierced. The stories it could tell if it could talk. Who is your owner and why are you in my shoe?

What architect thought it would be a good idea to put the toilet in the shower? Seriously. It was more than one hotel room that our toilet was almost directly under the shower. Who does that?!

The engraving on the wall outside the Accademia Gallery in Florence. People wait for hours to get in here to see the Statue of David.

I Am Not Your Friend. A Tale of Friendship.

2009-08-26T23:46:00.004+02:00

Good night, my little friend (3). Have a good sleep.

I am not your friend.

What? I think we are friends.

No. You are the Au Pair and I am your kind (child).

Ok. Good night, my little kind (child). Sleep well.

No, I am not little.

Ok. Good night, my kind (child). Have a good sleep.

No! I am a big kind (child).

Ok!! Good night, my big kind (child). Go to sleep.

Good night.

MLF3's final words before bed.
Have been working on a blog of the Italy-France trip but it's taking a while, especially since Blogger deleted half of it today. (Scum!!) But it's coming....
Also, an excellent exciting birthday present was received (actually I had lots of lovely ones) but one in particular should show up in a photo or two sometime soon.

Little Blue Wax Crayon

2009-08-20T10:31:00.003+02:00

Oh Little Blue Wax Crayon.
Where did you come from? And how did you return?
It was only 2 days ago that you took wrath out on me. I discovered you in the bedroom of a little girl, hidden underneath the special woolen floor rug. You had made such a mess.
Your waxiness was everywhere - the floor, the rug and for seemingly miles around.
I scrubbed. I removed your crayon-ness to the best of my ability.
I washed. That rug will never be the same, but it is on the path to recovery.

And now, it seems you will have your revenge. For although I surely threw you into the pit of despair, the rubbish bin, you have returned. In the same place. On the same floor, and your waxiness is everywhere, yet again.
Why did you choose me? And how on earth did you get out of the pit of despair.
It does not seem fair.

I will scrub. And I will wash. I will remove every ounce of proof that you were once there.
Oh Little Blue Wax Crayon. I will survive. You will not.
I have thrown you into the pit once again and this time you shall never return.
And you have only yourself to blame. I tried to warn you.

Farewell Little Blue Wax Crayon.

You Know You've Made It When...

2009-08-17T15:55:00.003+02:00

So we're home from our Summer Adventure of Italy and France. And we survived. And had beautiful weather. And saw way too much stuff to fully take in.

And I got home to discover...

wait for it...

...

MLF3 has been including me in her pictures of the family.
Yes!!!

You know you've made it as an Aupair when...you're pencilled AND texta'd in the family portrait drawings.

This is what I've been working for. I think this is the top of the proverbial mountain. This is why I get up in the morning.

I think.

Anyone got any other 'you know you've made it when...' moments to share?

Oh - and blog of 'Kylie and Dad and Mum's Amazing Excellent Adventure soon to follow....

Esmerelda, Is That You?

2009-08-11T22:35:00.004+02:00

Just in case you didn't know...the Eifel Tower is HUGE. I never knew it was so big. It towers (no pun intended) over the rest of Paris by a mile (or something like 300 something metres). Tomorrow I have the full intention of climbing to the top!

We're staying in a crazy quirky hotel in the absolute heart of Pareee. Unfortunately they decided to use jack hammers in the absolute heart of Pareee this morning.
Dear Construction Men, please do your thang in the outskirts tomorrow morning.

We have a wonderful view of the Notre Dame from our window, from the Hotel Esmerelda. There seems to be a old lady living in the reception room of our hotel. Last night she told me she owned the hotel.
She might be right....she is there all the time, sleeping in the chair. Sometimes I feel the need to go and shake her, just to check she is still with us.
And I think she may be Esmerelda. Even though the original Esmerelda was Victor Hugo's fictional character - somewhere back in the 1830's.....there is still a chance. This lady is rather old. And everyone needs an inspiration, even Victor Hugo.

Today we joined the throng of tourists and sat aboard an open topped bus and saw some of the sights this way. I had an overwhelming urge quite a few times to spit my chewing gum on the heads of people walking along the pavement. Would this be wrong? Why do I get these thoughts? Where do they come from? I'm not a bad person. It's just...tempting.

I saw the Moulin Rouge today. And a few locations for the film Amelie....I may have even seen Amelie running down the street. Still an unconfirmed sighting though. Again, a fictional character but....

I also saw some bad guys get chased by policemen on bicycles.

Exciting stuff. Paris.

Cheers Franceso!

2009-08-04T23:14:00.002+02:00

We're in Rome.
And we just had dinner with a crazy man.
I was late. We were going out for a quick dinner.
He introduced himself and sat down with us. It was my fault, really. I caught his eye when we both clapped for the singing guitar man.
But I think he was a little crazy. He spilled Dad's Coke on his lap and threw Mum's fork at her white shirt. Or he just helped Mum and Dad do that themselves.
Not sure.
He wanted to swap addresses with us and we gave him a fake one.
He gave his compliments to Dad when he found out about the 6 children.
We also have an outstanding invitation to his house in southern Italy.
This may be taken back when he finds out about the fake address.
Not sure.
He bought us a lovely bottle of champagne though. He can't say cheers to himself.
I know a surprising amount of Italian when he can't speak English.
His poor cousin on the next table spent half her evening translating.
Got a great photo of him and I which I may perhaps share at a later date.
We wanted to meet Italian people in Italy. I guess that was him.
Not sure.
I ate a plate of mushrooms for dinner. I had my heart set on mushrooms AND Jerusalem artichokes but the were all out of artichokes. Something about it being Rome.
Not sure.
Thanks Franceso for a lovely bottle of champers.
And for wetting my Dad's pants and ruining my Mum's shirt.
Cheers!

One Big Giant Cliche

2009-07-31T14:40:00.005+02:00

Craziness.

Swiss fam left this morning for their holidays.

Mum and Dad arrived this week on Tuesday and it's crazy that they're here in my little world over here.

Swiss fam has been lovely about having Mum and Dad here...and I was so proud of the girls for using the English with my parents and they have been so good at talking with my parents.

MLF3 even wanted to call them on the phone last night when they were out - to tell them to come home.

Have been showing Zurich to them this week and they've gone off exploring by themselves this afternoon (will they come back alive?!)

We're heading off to Venice tomorrow morning - (rather early, what was I thinking?!)

Had the most amazing weekend last weekend in the mountains. It was like one big giant cliche. Green hills, snow capped mountains, mountain huts, cows, cow bells....always cow bells....so many cow bells...

Seriously if I was a cow and I had to hear the bell in my face every time I moved I would want to hurt someone....

We cooked over an open fire, slept in the straw and didn't shower. Ahhh.
We had to apologize to the lady who had to sit with us on the train coming home...I learnt how to apologize for stinking in German!

We also went rock climbing - on real rock walls - out in the mountains! So crazy.
It's completely different to indoor rock climbing. You spend this time practicing at the climbing centres, but when you're out on cliff?! it's a whole other game.

You can't really prepare for it - you can try, but until you get out there and do it, it's hard to understand what it is like.

And it's so much better. The view is amazing - and it's worth it.
It's worth the effort, the sweat, the strength.

So much better!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

2009-07-16T20:31:00.002+02:00

During a late afternoon game of Yatzee today I put a CD on. MLF1 really liked the song and turned it up rather loud. Half-way through the first song Mami came home.
Kinda looked like we were blasting music and playing betting games.
Alcohol, kids?

We're on School Holidays!
I finished The Little Prince today.
We made bread.
This bread ended up becoming 1 horse, 1 dolphin, 1 starfish, 1 cat, 2 turtles, and 1 Spanish looking guy.
Today I wore my shirt backwards.
This was pointed out mid morning by MLF3.
MLF1's friend (German-speaking only) understood what I said today.
Even if it's not perfect German, I can be understood. Yesssss.
The girl's friend is here visiting for the week. She speaks French.
I really like her. I think if we spoke the same language we'd make good friends. She's 12.
I had to rescue a butterfly, a lizard, and a mouse today from the cats. The butterfly will live to see another day. The lizard will find life a bit hard without a tail. The mouse - well, it probably saw better days and will not see anymore days.

What Is Most Important Is Invisible

2009-07-14T22:53:00.002+02:00

Meine Schweizer Familie has been away for the last four days and whilst it's been lovely to have a quiet house and some unexpected time off, I think I missed them.

And tonight, when I came home and went upstairs to say hello I had a 4-year-old run to hug me because she was happy. And the rest who seemed genuinely glad that I was there. And this made me glad.

Cos there has been moments over the last four days when I wondered what on earth I was doing here...and it was good to be reminded tonight. And I'm glad I'm here.

I've been reading The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint-Exupery over the last few days - and loving it.
And I wanted to share an excerpt that I read today.

"The desert is beautiful," the little prince added.
And that was true. I have always loved the desert. One sits down on a desert sand dune, sees nothing, hears nothing. Yet through the silence something throbs, and gleams...
"What makes the desert beautiful," said the little prince, "is that sometimes is hides a well..."
..."Yes I said to the little prince. "The house, the stars, the desert--what gives them their beauty is something that is invisible!"
..."What is most important is invisible..."

Tourist-ing it up with the Sound of Music! (Salzburg)

2009-07-09T22:13:00.007+02:00

The hills were alive with the Sound of Music in Salzburg last weekend.

I probably should start this blog with a warning. I'm not going to pretend that the Sound of Music setting didn't form rather a large part of wanting to visit this Austrian city - it was.
I admit it.
And so I took the tour. Had I know about it, I would have also taken the Fraulein Maria's cycling tour of Salzburg where you sing your way through the city.
(Seriously, there is such a tour!)

And so, WARNING: Some Spoilers may follow. Also, some references to the Sound of Music.

We spent a lovely 33 hours in Salzburg and I took in the biggest gulp I could.
These hours included, but were not limited to:

Reinforcing my hardcore status. Rain with lighting bolt symbols was the forecast for the weekend. Undeterred, Steph (my accomplice) and I decided we would go hardcore and see everything anyway. We bought awesome yellow ponchos to support our hardcore status.

Climbing every mountain and fording every stream.

Visiting Mozart's birth house. He was born in Salzburg (but rumour has it that he wasn't too fond of the town).

Meeting Mozart. 'Cept he was the younger, more hip version of Mozart. He even had an IPod, and he juggled, did some interpretive dance, and fire-twirled to the music. He is pictured here with his IPod.

Following every rainbow, and searching high and low.

Embracing tourism and the Lonely Planet. I would just like to take a short moment to give thanks with a grateful heart to Lonely Planet, without whom I would have been lost on the weekend. (Oh, and for Steph - great map following!)

Eating Lonely Planet recommendations. Living in Zurich really limits my eating-out possibilities (hence the 'I could live off cheeseburgers' label) and on the weekend I got to eat.so.much.good.stuff. Who would have thought Italian Restaurant owner with credentials from the Love Boat could make such good Pizza? Who could have known that the all natural-vegetarian-vegan-organic-bio-healthy-kill-me-now Indian Restaurant would be so good?
Lonely Planet, I lift my glass of water to you!

Singing 'These are a few of my favourite things' whilst eating Italian ice cream x 3.

Smiling for Japanese(?) tourists in the Mirrabel Gardens. As featured in the Sound Of Music. We did not share a common language, and so when they gestured towards me with their camera I assumed they wanted me to take a photo of them.

However, it soon became clear that this was not the case. I was dragged into their photo (I still have the bruise marks on my arm to prove it!) and made to smile. Seriously. And then a line started to form....and a new bunch of people surrounded me and grabbed my arm held on tight. I saw my life flash before my eyes and knew I had to get out of there. I think maybe they thought I was Julie Andrews. My singing did kind of sound like her. And I was doing all the right dance moves in the correct places around the garden so I guess it was an easy mistake to make.

Uncanny resemblance.....?

Practicing my moves for the Sound of Music 2. Here I am doing my audition piece on the water fountain. Unfortunately, Steph cut me out of the picture, but you get the idea.

Listening to the Sound of Music soundtrack on the bus as we drove through the hills out of Salzburg. It was just one of those ironic moments in life where you just want to laugh at yourself. A year ago? - I never would have dreamt that I'd be living in Switzerland, on a weekend trip to Salzburg, on a Sound of Music bus, listening to 'How do you solve a problem like Maria....'

Seeing all the places from the movie was pretty cool. You may not be able to see it, but behind my head, Julie Andrews -aka Maria Von Trapp - and the kids are falling out of the boat and Gretl is almost drowning because she didn't know how to swim. You may not also be able to see it because it may have happened 45 years ago.

Biking along the Salzburg River during the late evening. We had to wait until almost 1AM for our train, and so why wait at the train station when you can ride along the river? I love the summer months when it stays light for so much longer!

And, at the end of the 33 hours, it was time for the train home. Rather unfortunately, a supposedly sweet older lady was sleeping in my reserved seat. (Unreserved seats are never mentally the same!) Also unfortunately, it was 1AM and, unfortunately, I was feeling too nice. In the spirit of the unfortunate I think she slept the whole trip. I know this because I didn't. She was also warm under her blanket. (Note to self: Bring blanket next time!)

So Long, Farewell Salzburg!

While Mami is Away, the Spaghetti Cats Do Play

2009-07-02T21:51:00.003+02:00

'Twas a good afternoon. We went to the Library - the girls rode their velos and I rode the trotinet. (I think these are French words - no wonder my brain is so mixed up - I learn German in class and French in day-to-day stuff).
Actually I half rode the trotinet and half pushed MLF3 up the hills. I am going to be fit. I am going to be fit. I am going to be fit.

And! Victory! We finally found all the books and cassetes and CDs and DVDs that we had borrowed from the library and we could have a clean start with the Bibliotech. That is, until it was realized that we had left the cassette of Pingu in the Cassette Player. Nooooooooooo!
Darn Penguin.

MLF3 and I hung out in the kitchen while I made spaghetti and we learnt that you can use carrots as microphones. I asked her if she wanted to listen to a cassette and she asked for ABBA.
And so we rocked out to Dancing Queen with carrot microphones. And then I put a few holes in the carrot and she played her 'flute' to Voulez Vous.
I'm thinking of patenting the idea. Anything to help kids with their veggies eh?

Then we had spaghetti sucking competitions (how fast can you suck a length of cooked spaghetti into your mouth?) And MLF3 made some very cool pictures with spaghetti which I just have to post.

She told me that they were my pets from home (PussPuss the cat and Tessie the dog). She also keeps asking for stories of them with my sisters and brother. (Like I just can invent stories!) She also thinks that I liked these pets...Miscommunication.

She wanted to keep the cat on the table until Mami got home, however when I later cleaned it up there seems to residue imprinted on the table in the shape of a cat. Funny that.
Please be gone by breakfast, please be gone by breakfast.

And, in other exciting news (don't roll your eyes, having a clean slate with the Library is exciting!) looming is the possibility of Cuba and the Caribbean.
Kind of rates right up there with carrot flutes and spaghetti sucking competitions eh?

Untitled.

2009-06-30T20:55:00.004+02:00

After listening to an evening of both Swiss German and High German I had a couple of epiphanies.

1.0 High German is good. Swiss German is not good. Hochdeutsch ist gut. Schweizerdeutsch ist nicht gut.
1.1 Perhaps I have learnt something after all in German class. I actually understood parts of the High German conversation. I probably made up a lot in my head, but I think I actually understood stuff.
1.2 They actually change rules of pronunciation in Swiss German. Surely this is not legal?

I spent a couple of hours this morning enjoying the sunshine at a new-found spot by the lake. It was just perfect.
2.0 It was only 10 minutes walk from home.
2.1 Entry is via the cemetery. And I was amazed at the perfect condition in which the cemetery and graves were kept. Then again, it is Switzerland - they would not have it any other way.
2.2 You can swim here. There was someone swimming there but I didn't want to get too close - I don't think he had any clothes on. I guess when you enter via the cemetery....
2.3 I would show you photos of this beautiful spot but I want to keep it all for myself...and I forgot my camera.

And in other news, I have been spending quite a bit of time looking up travel plans for when Mum and Dad come to visit. Only 4 weeks today!! I booked Zurich to Venice and the ticket office gave me a box of pasta to 'get me in the spirit of Italy.' I love free stuff...even if it is just pasta...

4 Cats x 9 Lives

2009-06-25T22:07:00.003+02:00

Excuse me, I want my money back. I did not sign up for this. I didn't really want to look after three girls and their three kittens and one cat. I didn't want to know about their half dead birds, half-eaten lizards and headless mice (the kitten's - not the girl's). Nor did I wish to finding puddles of cat pee in the most unusual places or spend a fair amount of time each day looking for a missing kitten to console a sad little girl. I hadn't anticipated becoming fluent in the art of understanding the cat meow and I do not appreciate having to rescue kittens that tried to swim in the toilet. Washing drawer-fulls of clothes just because a kitten or three decided to sleep in there isn't really my cup of tea. I sometimes wonder if the kittens gang up against me - one doing the decoy meow whilst the others jump up on the kitchen table and try to get free food. It's a cat-eat-cat world out there. I will survive.

Testing: A Swiss Story by MLF3

2009-06-22T22:26:00.003+02:00

This blog seems to be becoming more and more dominated by MLF3.
However, I've decided not to change the name.
(A Swiss Story by MLF3 just wasn't quite personal enough...)

The latest bedtime trend is for Kylie to tell a story about when she was a child. Or, in the words of MLF3 -'I want a story of when you a kind.'

(And, no, that's not kind
kind¹ (knd)adj. kind·er, kind·est

1. Of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.

but kind - the German for child).

(However I sometimes perhaps maybe put a kind

kind¹ (knd)adj. kind·er, kind·est

1. Of a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature.

slant on myself in the stories. She'll never know.)

Sometimes she even asks for stories of when I was a baby. I may be an au pair with super powers but I do not have that much of an amazing memory. In fact, I'm fast running out of stories. I'm only 22 - how many stories do I really have?

Tonight I may or may not have taken a happening from the life of a sibling and made it my own. (Mum, Dad - have you ever done this?! Is your childhood as I know it a mixture of yours and your siblings?!)

In fact, my memory is fast becoming cloudy and once I tell a story as my own there is a chance that it will forever become mine in my head. Help!
If anyone has any childhood tales they wish to lend me I would really appreciate it. You may or may not get them back.

And in other news, I'm just loving living here. I feel so blessed every day to wake up and be a part of life here. To be a part of a lovely family, a beautiful country, amazing friends and the Lindt shop only a ferry ride away.

Why yes, I am holding a bag of chocolate.

The Cat is in the Bag

2009-06-15T20:01:00.004+02:00

If it starts like this...

Will it end like this?

Found MLF3 playing with the kittens today and one seemed quite happy to be tucked away in her little handbag. I took such a cute picture of her with the kitten, but can't really include it here ... so you'll have to use your imagination :)

And in other MLF3 news: For many days now we have been working on a certain phrase of hers. When she wants a drink, she always says 'I have thirst.'
Today, after many days of being reminded, she remembered all by herself.
'Can I please have a drink.' In perfect English.
Yesssssss.

Sweet success.

Suddenly 30

2009-06-14T02:43:00.003+02:00

I've returned from escaping across the border for 24 hours.
It was tough.
Ma and Pa were attending a wedding (not their own - this happened several years ago) and so the girls and I hung out in a hotel room with a lovely view of the lake, listening to - you guessed it - ABBA.
We also took a trip to the hotel restaurant where the waiter thought I was their mother.
Seriously, do I look 30?
On outings such as this, where its just the girls and I, I often have to suppress well-earned laughs.
The other adult, in this case the waiter, speaks directly to me only to be answered by MLF1, who speaks excellent German.
I smile and nod, giving MLF1 my full non-verbal support. The waiter then answers MLF1, but still looks at me, speaking to me, and waiting for my response.
MLF1 does not let me down and continues the conversation. And so it goes.
I just smile and nod and let them think I am mute.
An under-aged mute mother who lets her children order what they like off the menu.

I'm planning on heading to Basel tomorrow morning to see Art Basel, which I think is the largest Modern and Contemporary Exhibition in the world. Brad Pitt was last spotted here so I'll be wearing my I ♥ Brad t-shirt tomorrow.

And I'm very excited because my parents have booked their tickets to come and visit in less than 2 months! And I got the Paris leg of the trip in the mail today, so they had better come. I'm not going to return from Paris 3 times just to get my money's worth.
And if anyone has any lovely holiday houses that they wish to lend in Venice, Rome, Florence, Nice, Avignon, Paris or the Loire Valley perhaps you could just pop the keys in the mail and we'll call it even.

Today we went for a walk to Mainau Island where joined a ridiculous amount of tourists (sometimes I like to pretend that I am not a tourist) seeing the most beautiful gardens and butterfly house and played on the most amazing playground, or spielplatz. I got mistaken for the girl's mother yet again (seriously....30?) and I had to eat MLF3's ice-block really fast because she just wanted to play the whistle that made up the stick. One of the many perks...

In other exciting news I got to go toiletry shopping whilst in Germany. Once you leave Switzerland everything is so much cheaper and my thriftiness starts grabbing shampoos and deodorants off the shelves.
I also love pretending that the Euro is the same as the Swiss Frank.

And yes, its 3 AM and I am still not asleep. I think I'm probably too excited to sleep, since I'll probably see Brad Pitt tomorrow. Watch out Angelina.
Now, where is that t-shirt...?

Jordan

2009-06-07T23:57:00.002+02:00

For those of you who are feeling like a good story, I have a sister.

Actually I have 4 sisters, but one in particular who blogs.

This is her blog and this is my favourite recent story by her.

Just sayin'...

Week At A Glance

2009-06-05T22:46:00.002+02:00

Well after almost a week of no blogging (what is the world coming to?!) I'm finally sitting down to type out some events of the past very busy week.
And I'm eating a citron and pepper chocolate. I've been slowly working my through it today wondered at each piece what the bite was.
Now I read the package and it's pepper.
Strange. But good.

Pepper.

The week in a blur:

Saturday - I discovered the most amazing markets ever. I felt like I had died and gone to heaven. 100's of stalls with other people's junk - is there anything better?

Sunday - Somebody had the bright idea for a bunch of us to bike around the Lake of Zug (this may have been me). It's about 40-50 kms around (I think?!) which, I have to say, is a pretty good effort for me.
And for my legs and behind, both of which were quite vocal in their I told you so's in the following days.

But it was a beautiful day and view. We hired bikes for free! which was great, although a couple of the bikes did have baby seats on the back. (Which, btw, were not secure enough to put kids in. They worked well for backpacks though.)

Monday - I was catching the train at 5:59 AM to explore some Swiss Alp-ness. It was an amazing day where I saw too many beautiful things including the highest free-falling waterfall in Europe and also the Trummelbach falls.

We caught the bus, boat and train and I learnt that you can never use your Eurail pass on the Berner Oberland Bahn. Do this, and you will get sent back to section C. The poor tourists next to us were humiliated when the ticket inspector held up their ticket and called the whole carriage to attention, announcing that these tickets were not valid for this train.
He then sent them out of the train and back to section C.
I think they have forced labour back there in section C.

Tuesday - this was my 100th day in Switzerland (yay for me!) but generally not a very enjoyable day. However, I felt much better when an anonymous (but inexperienced with pressure cookers) friend informed me that she had just got pasta all over the kitchen and stuck on the roof.
Perhaps my day wasn't so bad after all.

Wednesday - We had MLF2's birthday party and I surprised myself by sprouting off a few German words and phrases to the kids. She got some really cool presents (or mega-cool as the kids say) and I'm thinking about inviting the same kids to my birthday party.

Thursday - MLF's and I tried to make squishy ballons with flour without a funnel. Didn't work. We somehow managed to get more flour over ourselves than in the balloons.

Friday - MLF1 left the house in the morning in a bad mood and I certainly didn't want the
mood to continue when she came home for lunch.
Enter ABBA. I had ABBA playing at a decent volume when she entered the house and I could literally see a change in her body language. Taking note of that one for next time...

Scoleciphobia

2009-05-30T22:06:00.003+02:00

I think I am able to diagnose MLF3. She has Scoleciphobia.

Each morning I make her bircher and obviously she thinks I am a good bircher-maker because she eats it.
However, I don't think she trusts me.
The other morning I found her carefully checking through her bircher before she ate any. When I questioned her she said she was looking for worms.

Worms.

I said there were no worms in her bircher. She kept looking.
I asked her if she had ever had any worms in her bircher before. She didn't think so.

I reassured her that I was sure there were no worms in her breakfast. I don't know whether she believed me or whether she'd finished her own search and found my statement to be true.

This has since happened again, thus forcing me to diagnose her with Scoleciphobia: the fear of worms.

We now have an unspoken understanding. I check for worms before I give it to her. She gets to eat a worm-free breakfast. Everyone wins.

A Clear Concert, I mean Conscience

2009-05-27T23:39:00.002+02:00

This afternoon I did a walk by of the venue. Checking out my options, seeing what was available.
I really wanted to go.
I saw the band's cars outside. I could tell they were inside. I just knew.

I didn't catch sight of them, however I did walk through the shooting of a scene from probably an A Grade movie. I'll probably be famous.

Then I had an internal battle. I could skip my German class. It was possible. I'm pretty fluent already.
But I was supposed to babysit tonight and Ma had taken the girls with her to an appointment so that I could make German class.

I couldn't skip out on babysitting for a concert with a clear conscience.

Actually, forget the clear conscience. I need an foggy conscience for later on in the story.

The other obstacle was that it cost 60CHF to get into this concert. A hefty price, let me tell you. Does he think the Swiss are rich or something?

So, I've got no options left. I'm sitting in German class, having saved myself 60CHF but really wishing I had spent it.

So on the way home, I got off at the station where the concert was. Why, I'm not sure. It was probably nearly over anyway.

As I neared the entry I spotted a Suitable Candidate. Leaving the concert early due to other commitments or some such nonsense.
In my best scalper's voice, I muttered, Wanna sell a ticket?

I think I probably confused her. Scalpers normally sell tickets, not offer to buy them.

And, in hindsight, I don't know what I was thinking offering the buy her ticket.
I had about 3CHF worth of change in my purse, with a few Euros.

Maybe I could buy a corner of her ticket. A small one.

She replied with some such nonsense about them taking it from her when she left the venue.
A likely story.

And so I hung around the entrance. I could watch the concert on the big screens inside and this mostly was fulfilling. Along with the faint musical sounds I could hear, it was pretty much the real deal.

It was almost as good as the time I really wanted to go to a similar concert, but couldn't, and so my sister rung me and I listened to the whole concert on the phone.
Don't feel sorry for me. And no pitiful looks please.

There was so much security hanging around the door that it made it kind of hard to walk in. But, waiting in the dark shadows paid off and then the doors were open for a minute and the security were missing.
I think they wanted me to come in.

And so I did. This is the part of the story where I need a foggy conscience.

And it was so good. I got to be in there for the last 5 songs, which everyone knows are the best anyway.

And I clapped and cheered and danced like I'd been there the whole time. Really, I was just taking the place of my Suitable Candidate. I was doing her clapping and cheering for her.

A clear conscience and a good deed.

Ahh.

The Short End of The ... Banana.

2009-05-25T22:30:00.003+02:00

I don't know how this happened.
She doesn't like the end of the banana. You know, the pointy end with the little hard, well... point. She'll chew up to the last inch and then hand it to me.

When did I become the person that eats it?

How did this happen? She's not my child (perhaps it's acceptable when it is?)

Since when did it become easier to pop that banana end into my mouth than find a rubbish bin?
It was so subtle I didn't even see it coming. No warning, just one day I wake up eating her banana ends.

I never thought it would come to this. MLF3, you have me wrapped around your little ... banana end.

And, in other news: If anyone is wondering what to give an 8 year old for their birthday, I have the answer.

No need to spend money on expensive gadgets, games or clothes.
Instead: just give them a tea-light candle. They will unwrap their expensive gifts (and be very happy with them by the way) and then make wax tips for their fingers from the candles on the table. This game entertains for hours. The presents are forgotten; white fingers are the new black.

Happy Birthday MLF2!

Home is Where Your Wrist Is

2009-05-20T00:06:00.002+02:00

MLF3's English is getting better everyday. I just can't comprehend this 4 year old doing so well in French, German, Swiss German AND English.

Tonight we were reading nursery rhymes and Humpty Dumpty came up. She may know four languages but she did not know Humpty Dumpty was an egg. It was like a light was switched when I explained about eggs and falling off a wall and why Humpty Dumpty did not have a happy ending.

I reasoned this with if you dropped an egg, could you put it back together?
She nodded. "With Scotch."

Then she wanted a cuddle and I told her I could hear her heart. She was really excited about this and wanted to hear mine. Then she got sad when she realized she couldn't hear her own.
I'll give her full points for trying though. Pulling your head down whilst pushing your chest up is no mean feat.

Then I showed her her pulse in her wrist. The amazement on her face was priceless.
But now she thinks her heart is in her wrist. And it's really hard to backtrack when there's more than one language involved.

She may know four languages. But she thinks her heart is in her wrist.

Why Does This Always Happen To Me?

2009-05-18T17:47:00.005+02:00

So last night I was coming home from a weekend in Vevey.
It had been such a good weekend, but I was rather tired.
I had been on a gigantic hike and seen so many amazing views that my eyes were tired.

I finally arrived in HB and after a slight detour to the cheeseburger factory (aka MacDonalds) I made it to my platform and waited for my train.

Did you know that people judge you if you get a Happy Meal from MacDonalds and you're not a kid?
Seriously, they do. I can't quite explain the look, but I can see their eyes go from me to the happy meal back to my face and then to my really cool shoes. Actually, they would look at my really cool shoes if I had any.

Size 41 people. Give me your really cool size 41 shoes.

From the cashier at McD's to the lady walking her horse through HB they all give me this disapproving look. It's like I've stolen their kid's meal or something.
(Ok maybe it wasn't a horse - it could have been a giant dog).

And the cashier gave me a boy's toy. Do I look like a boy?

I got on my train. I had my IPod on and Why Does This Always Happen To Me by Weird Al came on. Don't judge me; it just came on.

Why Does It Always Happen To Me video clip (some violent scenes)

It's funny, you've got to admit. He starts off with lamenting how this earthquake killed all these people in Peru and then breaks into song about how that news update on TV interrupted the Simpsons.

My train left HB and got to the next station and we sat there for a while. And then it started to go back the way it came! I was like, Noooooo.....!
I started banging on the door and hitting the windows but it would not let me off.

Turns out they were fixing something further down the line and I couldn't take the train home. Instead I had to take the tram and then the train.
I was pretty grumpy about this. Not happy Jan. This added more than an hour onto my trip and I wouldn't get home til midnight, luckily catching the last train home, but only just.

But then I had to laugh at myself. Here I was thinking Why does this always happen to me? when really, it doesn't. And there are bigger things to be grumpy about.

Like getting a boy's toy in my Happy Meal.

A Big Shout Out!

2009-05-15T15:18:00.003+02:00

I've been feeling thankful for many things this week.

In particular, I'd like to give a shout out to:

To the drivers of the S6 and S16 trains. The ones who see me appear at the top of the steps and then wait while I sprint the 100 or so metres to the train. I've got shoes in hand, my hair is yet to be done, I've got bits and pieces in my hands and under my arm, I'm throwing money in the direction of the ticket machine and I'm running as fast as I can. To the train drivers who wait.
Thank you.

To the folk who stand in the way of the train door so that it can not close in case the driver is not kind.
Thank you.

To Ma, who told me this morning that I have a day off next week, thus I can take day trips to Italy and France.
Thank you.

To my German language teacher. I understood something you said this week.
Thank you.

To the bakery around the corner. I'm willing to spend all my money on the chocolate croissants you make. Perhaps you could give me a loyalty card.
Thank you.

To ML3, who has started talking to her dolls and the cats in English. I can be a part of these conversations.
Thank you.

To all you kind ladies who give your expensive new size 41 shoes to the Brocki that I'm about to visit. Oh, you haven't done that yet? Nothing like a timely reminder. Summer shoes please.
Thank you.

Even Then

2009-05-12T21:23:00.001+02:00

It's a fear that keeps me wide awake
In the middle of the night
When the expectations are too great
And the bar gets raised too high

So I do the best with what I've got
And hope that no one knows
That I strain to see how high I can
Try to stand on these toes

Until I'm measured, but You know better

So, thank-You, Jesus
Even when You see us just as we are
Fragile and frail and so far
From who we want to be

So, thank-You, Jesus
Even when the pieces are broken and small
Dreams shatter and scatter like the wind
Thank-You, even then

So I put aside the masquerade
And admit that I am not okay
Which may not be the thing to say
But I'm not ashamed to need You more each day

We raise the standard and try to reach You
But we'll never make it, and we don't need to

-Nicole Nordeman 'Even Then'

Have you ever...?

2009-05-10T11:38:00.002+02:00

I was with a friend the other day who, in the course of this story, would like to remain anonymous.
Understandably so.
We were walking along. We'd been hanging out. We were enjoying the sunshine.
It was about 2 in the afternoon (This is important).
She stopped and rubbed her knee. Something was a little bit uncomfortable.
We kept walking and then she stopped again. I thought perhaps she had a small crawly creature biting her...?
But no, she reached up her jeans to her knee and pulled out...yesterday's undies!!
Tee hee hee.
We'd been walking around for hours! And she hadn't noticed it before then!!

It suddenly occurred to me that I could embellish this story any way I wanted to. The one person who knows about it is the anonymous friend. And like she is going to come forward to argue the story!

Would the anonymous friend please step forward?

Operation: Sweet About Me

2009-05-10T00:14:00.002+02:00

Never been too fussed about Gabriella Cilmi.
Her song 'Sweet About Me' must have been overplayed on the radio and I can't say I'm a fan - at all.

I haven't felt that I've really connected with MLF's so much. I mean, I really like them - they're very sweet but there hasn't been a real connection. I think the language comes into it somehow - it definitely makes things harder but it shouldn't make it impossible.

And then tonight it was one of those moments when you just want to freeze. Freeze time so that you can take a good look around so that later it'll still be fresh and clear.

MLF3 and I were hanging out before bed and I told her I could play her favourite song on the guitar. 'The Winner Takes It All' has been her #1 for the last week or so. Which I don't mind at all - (and no, I didn't force her to like it. Nor have I been playing it to her subconscious while she is sleeping).

Needless to say, she jumped at the chance and soon we were together in ABBA land. (Sweden?)

MLF1 came bounding down the stairs as soon as she heard me. She was so excited that I was singing ABBA.
(Seriously - how lucky am I that I look after 3 girls that ADORE ABBA. It's like it was meant to be).

MLF3 left to find MLF2, and MLF3 found song after song in her book for me to play. And she sidled up next to me and put her arm around me and sang with me.
I was so happy I could have cried. Or laughed. Whatever you do when you're happy.

I remember being 10 years old. It was hard to express myself in a true way. I still find it quite difficult.
I love that music reaches people in a way that allows them to express themselves truly.

She really wanted me to play ''Sweet About Me' and I begrudgingly did so. And it was then that she put her arm around me and sidled up. And it sounds strange, but when she did so, I felt accepted by her. Not that I need her acceptance, but it was good all the same. Like she was saying that she could put up with me as her au pair for the next year.

And that was a sweet moment.

He Who Hesitates is Lost (But Sometimes it's not Their Fault!)

2009-05-05T23:29:00.003+02:00

Tuesday afternoons involve horse riding lessons.
Thankfully, they don't involve me mounting said horse or any such nonsense. We all know how that story would go.

It does however, include me driving a big car with 4 girls in the back for a half hour each way. This trip includes many MANY requests on CD, song and volume change (I now know why this frustrated my parents so much) but it is a spectacular view all the way there.
Not that I would *cough* know; I'm *cough* concentrating on driving.

Today it included a rather large detour. The turn-off for horse-riding was closed and apparently a detour was in place.
It wasn't.
I ended up getting further and further away on the highway having no idea where I was and the poor girls were a bit tense.
We were going to be late.
They show stress in different ways.
MLF2's body tenses up and she is very alert but very quiet. I hear an audible sigh when stressful situation passes.
MLF3 just sits there singing to herself. And repeatedly asking for more music.
MLF1 is most helpful when I have no clue to our location. She is remarkably clear-headed and sensible and clever for a 10 year old.

I finally exited the highway and after asking for directions from some poor unsuspecting Swiss farmers I followed my nose and we made it to the lesson only 12 minutes late.
I was quite proud of myself. My nose had worked quite well.

I think the horse hair or something affected it though, because the trip home was too eventful.
I missed the first turn off because I simply didn't recognize it. Walk it off.
I missed the second one because MLF3 says the next right when we are passing that next right.
I missed the third one due to a disagreement between MLF1 & MLF2 as to the correct path.

And so it was no surprise when MLF1 kindly pointed out our street and said I should turn left.
And I proceeded to feel as small as MLF3.

Synchronized Relaxation

2009-05-04T16:43:00.006+02:00

Spring has sprung and yesterday was so beautiful.
Problem was, everyone in Zurich thought so and they all apparently decided to come and picnic at the same place as I.

Just this last week, I was re-telling MLF3 the story of the Berenstain's Bears - The Bear's Picnic, from which the following illustration is from.
And then yesterday I felt like I was a part of the story (see above photo...)

For a country that has a reputation of citizens generally keeping to themselves, the Swiss don't seem to mind group relaxation. I find it bizarre. But I guess I come from Australia - land of the wide open spaces - where you can picnic in peace.
I'm thinking this could be the next tourism punchline for Australia.

Australia. Picnic in Peace.

I'm loving Spring here - it's such an obvious change. Having said that, today is an overcast grouchy day, but yesterday ... by the lake ... kind of covers for it.

Seat 29E

2009-05-01T00:17:00.003+02:00

On the train home tonight I listened to a podcast that contained the following letter.
It was just too good not to post...

Dear Continental Airlines,

I am disgusted as I write this note to you about the miserable experience I am having sitting in seat 29E on one of your aircrafts.

As you may know, this seat is situated directly across from the lavatory, so close that I can reach out my left arm and touch the door.

All my senses are being torutred simultaneously. It's difficult to say what the worst part about sitting in 29E really is?

Is it the stench of the sanitation fluid that is blown all over my body every 60 seconds when the door opens? Is it the wooosh of the constant flushing? OR is it the passengers asses that seem to fit into my personal space like a pronographic jig-saw puzzel?

I constructed a stink-shield by shoving one end of a blanket into the overhead compartment-while effetive in blocking at least some of the smell and offering a small bit of privacy, the ass-on my body factor has increased, as without my evil glare passengers feel free to lean up against what they think is some kind of blanketeed wall. The next ass that touches my shoulder will be the last!

I am picturing a board room full of executives giving props to the young promising engineer that figured out how to sueeze an additional row of seats onto this plane by putting them next to the Lav. I would like to flush his head in the toilet that Ia me close enough to touch and taste, from my seat.

Putting a seat here was a very bad idea. I just hear a man Groan in there!This sucks!

DEPICTION OF A MANS BUTT IN MY FACE
Worse yet, is I've paid over $400.00 for the honour of sitting in this seat! Does your company give refunds? I'd like to go back where I came from and start over.

Seat 29E coudl only be worse if it was located inside the bathroom. I wonder if my clothing will retain the sanitizing odor...what about my hair! I feel like I'm bathing in a toilet bowl of blue liquid, and ther is no man in a little boat to save me. I am filled with a deep hartred for your plane designer. and a general dis-ease that may last for hours.

We are finally decending and soon I will be able to tear down the stink-shield, but the scars will remain. I suggest that you initiate immediate removeal of this seat from all of your crafts. Just remove it, and leave the smouldering brown hoe empty a place for sturdy/non-absorbing luggage maybe, but not human cargo.
[-a rather disgruntled passenger]

Life with Different Sized Feet

2009-04-29T18:19:00.003+02:00

I knew it was time for a visit to the Brocki House/Salvation Army/Opp Shop/Second Hand Store.
I know this because yesterday I was walking in our village and my heart quickened when it saw second hand clothing in the window of a shop. Thankfully I have a quicker brain because it was a Dry Cleaner's shop.
Close call. That could have been embarrassing.

It did make me wonder if many people ever go into clothing repair shops, dry cleaners etc and just browse through the items.

And so today i set out in search of a form of heaven on earth and went to one right next to the main train station in Zurich.
I did discover that my feet are not the same size as each other. Or perhaps that pair of shoes didn't quite match up.
I hope it was the latter.
I was pretty happy to discover a Europe travel book (this will of course save me money in the long run) and a cute little handbag (this will help carry my money for the long run).

And so for now I feel content. Until I see the next dry cleaner's shop.

Sliding Down a Fireman's Pole is Harder Than it Looks.

2009-04-28T13:16:00.002+02:00

After my rather eventful night on Saturday night and morning with Mr winking Policeman on Sunday, I was ready for a sleep.
I said goodbye to the policeman and looked at the time and realized that it was much later than I thought.
I had a very important meeting penciled into my diary.

Well, actually I don't have a diary, but if I did it would have been in it.

I was meeting fellow blog people face to face. Yes, we do have faces. We were meeting at the Zurich Google Office for a tour and initial meeting and then heading to a coffee shop for a larger gathering.

And now, because of worst nightmare and follow up visit from a winking policeman, I was going to be rather late.

I got out of the house and onto the train after getting ready in record time and without really finding out where the Google office was. How hard could it be? I just had to look for a big Google sign, right?

I got to the station where I knew the office was and after having a look around, I asked a couple waiting for the bus.
When the lady said, "Google....hmmm...does that have to do with computers?" I knew it had been a bad choice of unsuspecting help.
I moved onto the couple next to them and they, again, wanted to help, but obviously had no idea.
Along the line I moved again (literally) and the next lady could tell me where the old Google office was and had a vague idea where the new one was and so I followed her vague directions.
She was right, it was quite a hike, but I was only a little late. I'm not Swiss, and I've only been here for 2 months so I tell myself this is a pardonable sin.

It was quite bizarre meeting people, who, before this point, had been no more than text on a web page. But such a lovely bizarre meeting. I really really enjoyed it. Much more than I thought I would (walking into a room of complete strangers is not one my favourite tasks!).
So good to put faces to names and meet so many new friends!

And the Google offices - ahhhhhh.
I have decided I think I should work for Google.
To help me with this decision, I have started a pros and cons list.

PROS

Floors/Levels with themes - including a yellow one.
Little conference rooms in old ski gondolas.
A fake library with a fake fire.
Computer IT help on site.
Super nice people work there (well, the ones I met were super nice)
White Kit Kat Chunky bars just waiting for people to eat them in baskets everywhere.
2 Firemen's poles and a slippery slide at different locations throughout the building if you're feeling the need for a lift-alternative.
Kitchens everywhere with gleaming coffee machines. Mmm.

CONS

No Engineering or IT degree.

After seeing it all so clearly laid out, I don't know why I didn't think of this before.

After the blogger coffee experience (which included us taking up half of the shop and a waiter who was obviously on a too-much coffee high) I met up with Ma and Pa and MLFs to take MLFs home via the train whilst Ma and Pa enjoyed some Cinema action.

The train - a fun experience with MLF3. She kept repeating our station over to herself and then to me to check she had it right, and whenever the voice-over would come on she would sshhhh us so that she could make sure we got home ok.

I did spend half the trip ready to make a run for it if Mr Ticket Inspector showed his face. I didn't have a ticket for MLF2 and didn't realize until we were halfway home. And I know an au pair who got caught with her ticket-less child on the train and they had to go to the Police Station where they accused her of kidnapping. And slapped with her with a large fine.
Needless to say, this story was present in my mind but thankfully we got home-free.
Phew.

I plan to include a list of these wonderful blogs on this blog soon...so keep an eye out.
Also keep an eye out for white Kit Kat chunky bars and fake-order-online Engineering or IT degree certificates. I'm keen for either. Or both.

Switzerland, Safe? Pfft.

2009-04-27T17:49:00.003+02:00

Whoever said Switzerland was safe obviously did not have all their facts straight.
Anyone interested in one of my worst nightmares?
Making the Top 5 is:

Waking up in the middle of the night to find someone in my room who does not belong there.

I'm not sure what it's called when your worst nightmare becomes a reality but this is what happened on Saturday night.

I woke up to the sound of my front door handle. I was instantly awake and instantly I remembered that I had forgotten to lock and alarm my door.
Normally, it is always locked but because Spring has been present, the day before I had left my door open for a while to let the sunshine in. And I had forgotten to lock it when I closed it.
This thought came crashing on me and I was then quite on edge.
I was in the process of trying to talk myself out of being silly and making things up when I saw a man's silhouette go past the outside of my window, away from the direction of my door.
Phew.
And a few moments later come back.
And then my door opened and he started to come in.
I totally freaked out and jumped out of bed and yelled at him to get out!
I'm not sure what I was planning to do if he didn't do this, or if he didn't understand English, but thankfully he left.
And I locked the door. And stood frozen by it in shock for maybe 15 minutes with the keys clenched in my hand.
I couldn't believe that had just happened. That someone had tried to enter my room in the middle of the night.
Naturally I could not go back to sleep and turned the TV on just so that there was some noise in the room other than silence with me jumping at every sound.
About an hour later the thought came that maybe I should have called the Police? I decided against calling then, as I had left it a bit long. But the next morning when I talked to Ma and Pa about it, we called the Police then.
It took a good part of the morning with the whole Police process.
Firstly he tried to tell me it might have been perhaps an unwelcome friend or someone who had been around before. He was winking at me when he said this. Or maybe he had something in his eye?
I squished this notion.
I am thankful that just the previous week I had got my village registration card in the mail. This shows that I am legally allowed to be residing in the country.
They kick you out without it.
So the whole thing was put down as attempted entry/burglary in their records.
And I will never again forget to lock and alarm my door...
And I think I will buy a baseball bat.
Just for practice.

Here Comes The Sun

2009-04-23T23:46:00.007+02:00

The John Lennon Wall in Prague was one of my favourite places in the city. Although John Lennon has never been there, it is filled with graffiti inspired by him and Beatles lyrics. It's got a cool history - check out the Wiki
It was really interesting to spend time reading lots of the writings and I went away with Here Comes The Sun in my head.

Rain? Check.

2009-04-23T22:54:00.006+02:00

We're away at the moment. In our snowy village far far away.
I quite like it when they are on school holidays - everything is a bit more relaxed. MLF 3 sleeps til at least 9:30 and MLF1 & MLF2 play very happily until she wakes and we have breakfast.
They would stay in the pajamas and read and play with their PlayMobile all day if we let them.

Alas on Tuesday at about 4PM Pa decided it was time for a walk and everyone got out of the PJ's.
I knew I should go. After all, I had been inside all day.
But I was somewhat relieved when it was raining outside. Shame. And I was so looking forward to a bout of exercise.
Unfortunately this didn't seem to faze them. Sure, they have waterproof jackets.
I was promised peppermint cordial at the other end, at the restaurant out of the village, through the forest, and at the top of the hill.

Once we started walking I had to talk myself into the spirit of it all.
It would be refreshing. Invigorating. I could dance in the rain. I could organize a parade.
I had to try and not think about the fact that I was wearing my one pair of pants, sole pair of shoes (haha - just call me Les!) and only jacket (not waterproof, as previously discussed).
But it was good, and the view was magnificent. And the lovely lady at the restaurant put our coats to dry whilst we were there.
And the peppermint cordial? 'Twas pretty good, although it cost $5AU - for a glass of cordial!

BERLIN - PRAGUE - VIENNA

2009-04-19T20:52:00.013+02:00

BERLIN:
We arrived at around 7AM Saturday morning. I had spent the night in a coffin with 5 other people, but, surprisingly got a decent sleep.
I don't know why, but I wasn't expecting much from this city. Berlin had never made list of must-see places, and besides the Berlin Wall, I didn't know much else about it.
Perhaps due to our amazing tour guide I've changed my mind. I love Berlin and would love to live there for a little while. I was blown away by the history of the city and the beauty that has come from the ashes.

This is the moment to the Jews that were killed in the Holocaust.
It's bizarre and strange. Rows and rows and rows of concrete blocks. It cost $27 million Euros. It's an effective memorial though.
I may have gotten lost in there and almost been left behind by my tour group.
What does one do in that situation?

I don't know what I expected The Berlin Wall to look like.
Ironically, they're now doing a lot of work on the remaining portions of wall to keep it up and in good repair.
When they built the wall, they put the concrete sewer pipe halves on top as there was no way to grab onto the wall and thus climb over.

While everyone else has to double park, the little smart car just side parks and takes up a tiny amount of space. I'll take one.

PRAGUE
We took a train to Prague on Monday morning and arrived mid-late afternoon. The hostel guy suggested a pub around the corner for dinner and recommended the garlic soup. Seriously, who eats garlic soup? Pfft.
However, as it was the cheapest thing on the menu I got brave and ... cheap.
And it was amazing. Seriously, ah-maz-ing. I may or may not have eaten there the 3 nights we stayed in Prague. And I may or may not have ordered the garlic soup each night. I'm pretty sure that a.) they call me Garlic-Soup-Girl at that pub and b.) garlic is coming out of my pores.
[Side note: did you know there is pore, pour & poor]

I felt small and vulnerable the moment we stepped off the train in Prague. I had no clue about the Czech language and it was all rather confusing.

We spent a lot of time looking for the Charles Bridge. We found many bridges and met many Charles' but the Charles Bridge hid from us until our last day. But it was impressive once we finally found it.
Here we are on another bridge.

So we spent quite a bit of time poring over this map. Searching for our place in this world, for where we wanted to go, and how we could get there. We saw a sign for the station Kouření zakázáno and looked for where that was on the map, but alas, we could not find it for Kouření zakázáno meant: No Smoking. I'd like to think that was the end of our stupidity but we may or may not have searched for this same stop later again in our trip.

I had heard reports of a singing fountain. The Krizik Fountain uses music and lights and water to put on an amazing display. So I headed in the fountainous direction one night, and I was all prepared to part with $200 korunas to watch a show. However I got there a little early and found a little gap in the fence from which I was able to watch the earlier show - and it was good! And it wasn't a bad view - for free. And so I stayed to watch the next show, from my gap in the fence. A few other el-cheapos saw what I was doing and searched for their own gap. Alas, none to be found. And so I had them lining up behind me asking for just one minute.
I'm serious.
Then I got wise and decided to charge for my gap.
I made a fortune!

Nah, not really, but I should have charged them all.

We also visited the John Lennon Wall, which I loved. But I think I'll save that for it's own blog sometime...

VIENNA
....was an expensive city centre filled with amazing buildings that reached the sky. It was narrow streets and tall buildings. I did escape to the Danube for a short while which was lovely.

I'd heard that you could get in to the Staatsoper for standing price if you lined up early enough. I got there almost an hour and a half early and there was already quite a crown lining up for these 4 Euro tickets. But I did get in and got to see an Italian Opera.
I also sat near Meryl Streep. I may or may not have spent a substantial amount of time during the Opera deciding whether it was Meryl Streep or not.
But I'm going to stick with yes, it was.

I'd also heard that you could get cheap tickets for the Volksoper - if you were willing to sit in the not so favourable seats. But after standing for the previous night I was willing to sit!
We got tickets to see the Nutcracker ballet, or Das Nussknacker. I was sharing a platform with a lovely old couple who for some reason had bought a third seat on the front of the platform for no apparent reason and allowed me to sit with them.
Very lovely. She spoke a little English but tended to mix it with a lot of German and so I am quite proficient at smiling and nodding.
But the Nutcracker was truely amazing and I felt like I was whisked away to a fairytale for a couple of hours.

I also got to spend some time with George Clooney.

And after taking the night train home from Austria I am glad to be home in the land of the familiar. Ironically so. I'm glad for some clean clothes and my.own.bed.
And - whilst away - spring seems to have sprung in Zurich. Amazing colour everywhere and tonight I am going to the Burning of the Böögg.
More on this later...

Chapter 25

2009-04-18T19:52:00.002+02:00

Almost to the end of my BERLIN-PRAGUE-VIENNA journey.
Almost time for a hot bath and my own bed.
Almost.

I got a sneak peek at Don Miller's new book today. A Million Miles in A Thousand Years. He posted part of a chapter on his blog and it's good. Really good. And I'm really really really looking forward to the release. You can read it all here but here is a little bit:

It’s like this when you live a story. The first part happens fast. You throw yourself into the narrative and you’re caught in the water, the shore is pushing back behind you and the trees are getting smaller. The other shore is inches away and you can feel the resolution coming, the feeling of getting out of your boat and walking the distant shore, looking back to see where you came from. The first part of a story happens fast, and you think the thing is going to be over soon. But it isn’t going to be over soon. The reward you get from a story is always less than you thought it would be, and the work is harder than you imagined. It’s as though the thing is teaching you the story is not about the ending but about the story itself, about your character getting molded in the hard work of the middle. The shore behind you stops getting smaller, and you paddle and wonder why the same strokes used to move you but they don’t anymore. -You got the wife but you don’t know if you like her anymore and you’ve only been married five years. You want to wake up and walk into the living room in your underwear and watch football and let your daughters play with the dog because the paddling doesn’t move the boat anymore and the far shore doesn’t get closer no matter how hard you work. The shore you left is just as far and there is no going back, there is only the decision to paddle in place or stop, slide out of the hatch and sink into the sea. Maybe there is another story at the bottom of the sea? Maybe you don’t have to be in this story anymore? Maybe you can quit and not have to paddle in place anymore?
...
I think this is when most people give up on their stories. They come out of college wanting to change the world, wanting to get married, wanting to have kids and change the way people buy office supplies. But they get into the middle and discover it was harder than they thought and they can’t see the distant shore anymore and they wonder if their paddling is moving them forward. None of the trees behind them are getting smaller and none of the trees ahead are getting bigger. They take it out on their wife, on their husband, they go looking for an easier story.
...
He said you have to go there, you know. You have to take your character to the place where they just can’t take it anymore. He looked at us with a tenderness we hadn’t seen in him before. You’ve been there, haven’t you? You’ve been out on the ledge. The marriage is over now, the dream is over now, nothing good can come from this. He got louder. Writing a story isn’t about making your peaceful fantasies come true. The whole point of the story is the character arc. You didn’t think joy could change a person, did you? Joy is what you feel when the conflict is over. But it’s conflict that changes a person. He was shouting now. You put your characters through hell. You put them through hell. That’s the only way we change.

See. Remember?

2009-04-13T21:37:00.003+02:00

I'm in Prague.
And once again I feel surrounded by that which is unknown. The difference in language really throws me - whilst we were in Berlin I at least felt like I had some idea of what I was reading - signs, directions, ads etc.
And so I am content to walk around in hazy confusion. And to just watch. And eat.

Berlin was ah-mazing. To visit the Berlin Wall was something really special. Even as I type I'm not sure what to say about it. But I felt like I was reliving history. To see this part of history that is relatively recent was eye-opening. We went on a fantastic tour with a fantastic guide and I felt like I learnt more about WW2 especially in 4 hours than I ever learnt at school. (No fault of yours, Mum & Dad! :))

I stayed with a friend of a friend and was able to get the inside info (yay for me!) on Berlin which was pretty cool. And more of a feel for the place. And so lovely of a stranger to put me up in their apartment!

I woke up on Sunday and felt a little sad that for the first in many years I had not attended a Sunrise Service on Easter Sunday. I felt very far away from home. But perhaps more than other years I spent much of the weekend remembering. I saw a poll on the internet that was asking if Easter was a time for reflection on your faith. I'm not sure why, but this stood out to me and has been a good reminder to reflect on my faith.
The two phrases that have been running rampant in my head are
King of my Heart
and Hallelujah - for all You've done.
And its been really good to reflect upon these.
-To ask myself, is Jesus the King of my heart, and thus my actions? And, if this is true - what does this look like? How does that play out in life, in reality?
-To be reminded of what I know He has done - in my life and in my relationships. And to be thankful, and grateful. And to stop and be in awe of a God who is unable to be boxed and who is worthy of awe.
I went to a German church on Sunday night. A friend from Zurich had connected me with a friend of hers that went to this Youth Church. Her friend translated much of the service for me which I am so thankful for. It was just a good reminder of truth and good to be surrounded by unknown friends who are on the same journey.

On the way home from the Church I felt something of missing home. Of missing friends and family. And I actually verbalized to God that I really really wanted something of Him in another person. That I wanted something familiar and true and good and friendly. Perhaps a friend?

I bought some food and the lady who served me was so lovely. Her face was so - kind. And then she gave me extra chicken. :) I felt some extra love inserted into me at that point.

The tram driver went out of his way to show me the way home. He even got out of the tram to point me in the right direction. And, again, somehow I felt loved.

And then it was almost like God said me: See. Remember? Sometimes I work like that. Sometimes I work through people. Perhaps even people who aren't even conscious of it. See. Remember?

And so I want to see. And I want to remember. I want to look for ways that this God, this King of my heart, is working. I want my eyes to be opened to goodness and to truth. I want to search for it.
I want to see. And I want to remember.

A 10 Minute Blog

2009-04-10T18:31:00.004+02:00

I have 10 minutes and am about to catch the train to Berlin. I've got a most likely small and uncomfortable bed on the train but hopefully will sleep as it is the night train!

Happy Easter! Unfortunately, I came to the realization that they do not sell hot cross buns in Switzerland. I am sad about this. Sad that I cannot sing the hot cross buns song. Because, of course, this is what I did when I had access to hot cross buns.

I had my first German class the other night and now am a pro at all things German. Well...maybe not everything. But the teacher did speak nothing but German the whole class, and so I paid for the privilege of not understanding anything for 2 hours. But at least I did it with 10 other people.

Announcement: There are new words to Mamma Mia

Mamma Mia, Here we go again.
My my, how how you are my sister.

This is according to MLF3. Btw - I LOVE that she wants to listen to ABBA all the time. Not sure what Ma and Pa think about this.

I'm off to Berlin, Prague and Vienna for the next 9 days. Have no idea what I'm doing whilst I'm there but will be living it up as a tourist! Side note: If anyone has a spare copy of Europe on a Shoestring I'm catching the night train to Berlin in 40 minutes. If you could meet me at the platform, that would be great!

And, in other news: I just ate fish fingers and spinach for dinner. Popeye would be proud!

Good Friday! - because Sunday is coming!

How To Stick Out Like A Sore Thumb (And Other Helpful Tips)

2009-04-07T22:02:00.002+02:00

As much as possible I try to stay under the radar. Do my own thing, keep quiet, go with the flow.
I've worked out that this is more likely to happen here in Switzerland if I don't open my mouth. As long as I don't say anything, I'm safe. I just smile and nod. I look normal.
But, in case you were wondering how to not do this, I've got a few tips.

1.) Go to the Post Office and ask for a redirection form. They have many possibilities and you won't have a clue. But if by some miracle, and with a little help from overly emphatic gestures you manage to get the right one - you'll still be up the creek. Because then you actually have to fill the form out. It's like a multiple choice test in German - without the multiple choices.

2.) Look after MLF3 & friend on a play date. Friend can't speak any English, and we already know the extent of your German. When it is time for Friend to leave, instruct her to put her shoes on. She will then look at you confused and wave goodbye - Tschuss. Then, say, no - shoes. Emphasize the word too, if you want. Even use more gestures. She will still be confused and say goodbye to you again. Tschuss.

3.) Walk around with your IPod on, listening to podcasts of radio shows such as Hamish and Andy. You will laugh out loud in inappropriate places and wear a big grin and walk around chuckling to yourself. I suspect people will actually think you have problems.

4.) Ask the Swiss Assistant at the Travel Buro for help in booking your train tickets. She will look surprised when - A. You're booking only a few days in advance and B. You want to leave the country.
Why would you ever want to holiday anywhere other than SwissLand and Why would you not be more organized that? What were you thinking?

5.) Leave it til the last minute to catch your last train home. Then decide you absolutely must have a cheeseburger. You can then run at full speed through the station yelling Excuse Me! and Coming Through! Bag, coat, wallet in one hand and cheeseburger in the other. People will look angry, frustrated or annoyed, but really they're just jealous that they didn't think to get a cheeseburger. Trust me.

You can thank me later.

You Know You're in Switzerland When...You Wave Money At Jesus.

2009-04-05T22:55:00.002+02:00

Spring. Glorious Spring.
I think it's almost here. Today we spent a lovely lovely afternoon down by the lake and we turned our faces to the sun for the few seconds that it appeared through the clouds.
We played Frisbee. I had to apologize to a few people that got hit by the Frisbee. I know the German word for sorry, which I used a number of times. However, I have no idea what their reply is.
No worries. Nice dress.
or
Stupid Cow. Can't you control that thing?!!
Who can tell? Thank goodness German classes start this Wednesday.

I went to a new church this morning and really liked it. It was Palm Sunday and all the kids were up the front singing a few tunes. The Pastor had a few questions for them. He was talking about the original Palm Sunday (Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey in a parade-like atmosphere with people waving palm branches). He then asked the kids what they thought a parade would look like in Switzerland if Jesus came and what people would wave, since there are no palm branches here. The first answer?
Money!!

I've got 10 days off in 5 days time. I'm not sure what to do with this time. I'm hoping to join a couple of other au pairs on a trip to Berlin, Prague and Vienna. I'm hoping to buy train tickets tomorrow. I have no idea. How does one plan a trip like that?! Where do you even begin?!

Oh, and in other rather exciting news, I went to France yesterday. To the toilet. I walked across the border. Toilet. And back. And repeat sometime later in the day. I'm glad my first experience of this great country was so fulfilling and enthralling. It's a memory I'll treasure forever.
More on yesterday perhaps tomorrow. 'night.

It's All German To Me

2009-04-03T13:34:00.004+02:00

So I've been trying hard to sign up for German classes. I tried a few weeks back and their classes were all either full (no room for moi) or empty (can't start without enough people). And so I fell beneath the crack and waited a while before I called again.

This time I had to come in to do some sort of test. I explained that I knew no German and just wanted to sign up for the beginner's class but they insisted that I come in for the test.
Their testing time was quite inconvenient but we managed to shuffle kids around like a good deck of cards.

Miraculously, somehow I arrived too early for the scheduled time but presented myself anyway. Incidentally, I was able to meet with the testing lady immediately because the previous appointment was a no-show.

I followed Testing Lady down the corridor as she chats away to me in German.
This is a test, I think to myself. Do not cave, don't give in. Just smile and nod.
We sit down at her desk and she introduces herself - I think - in German. She also gives me half her life story - I think. She may also have been commenting on my fabulous hair that day or my amazing shoes, but I can't be certain.

She holds out her hand to shake mine.
"And I'm Kylie."
"Oh...You don't speak German?"
"No." This is why I want to sign up for the beginner's class.
"None?"
"No."
"You didn't learn any at school?"
"No."
"Did you learn any language at school?" Her tone of voice may have reached incredulous at this point.
"No."
"Any extra-curricular language activities?"
"No."
I want to disappear under her disdainful, incredulous look. But I chose good looks over special powers when I was born.
She does her best to cough politely. "Oh....Ok."
It is at this point that I resolve to myself to do better in my next life. To take private language tuition as a four-year-old. Or at least to become good friends with Rosetta Stone.

"Well, then. You will need to join a beginner's class."
Dang. And I was so hoping to be put me in an advanced class.
I thanked her and left. Two minutes and this compulsory test was all over.
And with my spare time? The Opp Shop.

Lady Muck & And A Stuck Truck

2009-04-01T13:25:00.006+02:00

Yesterday I walked past Napoleon Dynamite. I'm serious. I know he's a fictitious character, but I saw him for real. He walked past me in the street.
I was so busy looking at Napoleon Dynamite that I almost crossed the road without looking.
I stopped in time.
The elderly lady in front of me, however, almost got run over by a tram. I yelled, 'No Wait!'
In hindsight, I realize this was not a clever thing to say. I need to learn to say this in German. You never know when it will come in handy.

After this close call, I sat down to wait for my train. And smelt the woman next to me. And she smelt really good. I do not normally go around smelling people but this was an exception. I was all over her like a dog his dinner. I could drink whatever perfume she was using.
Note to self: Start wearing perfume. And, no, going into the Perfume section at Co Op regularly to test does not count.

I knew Pa was going away for a few days. The suitcase gave it away. I thought he was going to a neighbouring country. However, as he was walking out the door yesterday morning he mentioned he was going to Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. As you do.

She seems to have it all. Her clothes make me drool. I often think about stealing them. And her shoes - to die for.
She somehow has me doing everything she says and the world revolves around her pretty much every waking moment. How is this so? How has she accomplished so much in her life?
She's four. How can this be?

And in other news (yes, besides intense jealousy of MLF3) I saw a stuck truck.
I don't know how he got as far as he did, but Mr Truck Driver was not happy. And he kept revving the guts out of the truck but he was stuck for sure and certain. Under the train bridge. He'll probably have to live there forever.

Snippets of a Weekend Adventure.

2009-03-30T20:47:00.010+02:00

DESTINATION: Geneva
VIA: Vevey

I leave the safe comforts of the German region of Switzerland. I always travel after 7 (Gleis7 - ha! Take that Inspector Ticket!) and it is about 9pm I think when I switch trains at Bern. It is my first time out of German speaking Europe and all of a sudden I am completely out of my comfort zone. I had a comfort zone? But I hadn't realized how much I knew and recognized of signs and places etc. The train was so crowded and it was hard to find a seat. Free ticket pfft. Everyone is speaking French. And I must have chosen the craziest carriage available. It is full of Army boys and I think school kids on a trip. I think. I really have no idea. But there is a roll call going on and I'm half expecting my name. Everyone else gets their name called out. But all the other kids have one! But I shrink lower and lower in my seat, hoping to disappear off this foreign country of a train. The crazy French.

I wake up to the most wonderful view - I can see France out of my window. It doesn't look any different to Switzerland but, hey, I've never seen France out of my bedroom window before. Actually, I've never seen France at all. It is a wonderful weekend with Aline and her family. Strange how one can feel so at home with strangers. They even had a piano - ah bliss.
And Vevey has a giant fork. You don't see that every day eh?

And of course, there was Mamma Mia.
It was all I had hoped for and more. I allocated a whole blog post for it. It was goooooood.
Aline remembered that her favourite teacher lived near the Geneva Arena and so we popped in to say hello. She was indeed lovely and I now have a place to stay in Geneva :) This however cut our time just a little bit short. We then ran the whole way to the Arena (ok - maybe it wasn't that far but it almost killed me.) I just consoled myself that I would have died realizing my dream. Don't judge me.

After Mumma Mia we were waiting for 7pm so that I could use my Gleis 7 (ha! Take that Inspector Ticket!) and decided to take a look at this cool old church in the middle of Geneva. We walked in through a side door - and into the middle of Mass. But it was a really good 45 minutes or so. A chance to be quiet and have some space to think. Because I sure couldn't understand what they were saying. Pfft. A service in French. In the French part of Switzerland. What were they thinking?

Aline and I are walking home. It's about 9pm. Dark, but Switzerland is safe eh?
We're talking and laughing. Mamma Mia is bright and beautiful in our memories. I've converted yet someone else. All is well with the world.
Until Aline screams. I turn around and there is someone jumping on her. She is screaming and yelling and of course I am calm. Level headed. I take up my fighting stance - I know Karate, Judo, Pilates and Origami. Unfortunately I have no idea what the emergency number is in Switzerland. Or perhaps fortunately, or else I might have called.
Lucky for her brother.
Sheesh. You just don't do that to people.

I let Aline (aka Gung Ho) talk me into riding from her house in Vevey to Montreux. Destination: Château de Chillon. As I alight the bicycle the reality hits me that I haven't ridden a bike for...years. I feel like a kid learning all over again. But the allure of a castle proves too great and I'm a fast learner. Gung Ho leads the way and it is a beautiful ride. Today my behind argues with why I insisted upon visiting yet another castle in the space of a few weeks but it's always talking to me behind my back.
Château de Chillon is amazing. So much history. Lord Byron wrote the poem The Prisoner of Chillon from impressions and memories of this Castle. I even saw where he had carved his name.
Aline and I think we are doing so well. We visit torture chambers and dungeons and secret passageways. It is 10 minutes to 6 (closing time) and we are up to site & sight 21. There are 23 site & sights on the page. So well planned and how Swiss of me. However, then we turn the page over and realize there are acutally 50 odd site & sights. Sigh. I'm not that Swiss after all.
Ah well. Next time.

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again!

2009-03-30T15:16:00.005+02:00

I was in pure bliss.
Mamma Mia. On Stage. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.
Need I actually write anymore?
Well, no, but since you're here you might as well listen.
It was marvelous. Colourful, charming, energetic and captivating. I sat entranced for the entire show, almost willing it in my mind not to end. But I also was looking forward to my favourite part at the end.
The day before the show, Aline rang me to say she'd bought a ticket as well which made me very happy. I needed someone to relive the show with, or else there was a chance that I would be on a Mamma Mia high forever.
We made it there with seconds to spare (more about the rest of the weekend in another post). Literally - seconds.
And I suspect there was a rather big smile on my face from the moment I sat down until, well...it's still there.
Then show began with a warning: This show contains white lycra and platform boots.
And then the music began - blaringly loud. But so blaringly good. It was rather funny to watch everyone in sight jump in unison when it began.
So. Blaringly.Good.
And then it was non-stop goodness until right at the very end. I may have watched the movie too many times as I knew all the lines for the stage production. And the cast didn't disappoint at the end - they kept coming out with more songs.
Ahhhhh.
And the entire arena stood up and danced and sang for the last couple of songs. This may have been caused by those of us at the front. You know, you can't see - you stand up. But I can't know for sure.
And now I don't know where to go from here. I've been climbing the Mamma Mia Mountain for months and I finally reached the top and now where?
Not to worry though - I've already sniffed out a few ABBA productions in the coming months in Switzerland. As long as it's a fun slide down to the bottom of the Mamma Mia Mountain I'm happy.
Anyone want to join me for ABBA'S Greatest - showing throughout Switzerland in April??!

PS - I've decided to run away and join the Theatre.