Deutschland again.

OKAY OKAY. I'm behind on blogs. So much going on here in Switzerland. Enjoying school, hanging with Swiss and just having a great exchange year!

For my birthday, for example, my host dad and I went to the last match of Swiss pro league soccer in Basel (vs Luzern). Basel won easily and it was a really fun game to watch. The most exciting part had to be the end as a third of stadium rushed the field and the police attempted to take control. Afterwards, we all went to an intersection where the team came with the Cup and celebrated and that was really fun to watch (The next day I slept in a while).

Recently, I went up to northern Germany to visit the family of Tammo, who stayed with my family the first half of the year. The train left at 8.00am on the Friday and arrived in Nienburg at about 15.15 where Andrea and Joe Märtens picked me up and we drove to their house in Sulingen. I was told we would go see the student that lived by them a half year. When I met him, I realized he was one of the students that came down to Luzern for eurotour with a friend of mine! We had dinner by them and said goodbye as he would leave that Sunday.

On the Saturday, we went to Hamburg! Of the cities I've been to in Europe, Hamburg would be my favorite. It was clean, beautiful and the people that lived in the city were GERMAN and not foreigners like every other famous city I go to. We did a bustour that was very funny and interesting (all in German, if you must ask) then took a boat tour after a tour in the Rathaus.

Sunday was spent in the VW center in Wolfsburg and it was AWESOME. Cool cars, fancy cars, expensive cars. Not much to say except I had a great time. I have picturesss!


We went to Bremerhaven on Monday which was where many people emigrated to America and Argentina. There was a very interesting museum there which let you "experience" the trip as well.


I enjoyed the trip and had a great time up in Germany and it was fun to hear high-high German.


-Eddie

What's this? Eddie's doing more awesome things? Yes, he is.
A while back, I've been in France with my host family! We drove the whole way.

So on Thursday, my host sister came back from Ecuador after having host club difficulties. The next day, we all got in the VW and drove to France. On our drives, we stopped and picked up some bread, meat-cake thing that I don't like, and some pickles for our lunches. That evening, we dined in Orleans after a little exploring. The next day, we drove to Mount Saint Michel and walked around in the cool castle. I did one of those audiotours so I could find it interesting. That night we stayed in a hotel with:
-noisy sink that gurgled all night
-central bathrooms that look like those in airplanes
-rock beds
-sheets that don't bend
-wifi
-26euros per 2people

The next day we traveled to Sainte Mere Eglise, where the airborne trooper hung from the church in "The Longest Day" and went into the Airborne Museum right next to it. Very interesting. Then, off to Utah Beach and Omaha Beach. It was chilling (and not the "cool" meaning of that). The American cemetery was next. Now, I've seen pictures of this before but it's just not the same to see 9,387 white crosses in perfect green grass and feel the rain pour down.

We ended the trip with a night in Paris with enough time to see the Eiffel Tower and another church. It's such a beautiful city and I'm sure I'll be back soon.

My French sucks, by the way.

We like starring at old shit

I could never explain to you all the feeling of this whole adventure I’m attacking. I wake up each morning in a room not my own, in a house of a family I am not related to, with a cat I cannot stand (allergies don’t help), and with very little stress. I go to school in a class of great kids who don’t speak my language, taught by teachers who sometimes try to, in a school far from similar to that of mine in California. I meet up with other kids, the only ones who can relate with my situation, and go on a thrilling adventure to Italy.

Okay well, not all the time but that’s what we’ve just done. On Monday, we trained to Rome. Pretty dull day up to about 4pm. We just sat in a train sharing recent experiences with those we hadn’t seen in a while or had never really communicated with before. The kids from farther away slept since they had to wake up quite early. After we settled into the hotel, we set off into the city for a short time, returned for dinner and set off again. At night, I wandered to the Colosseum with some others. It was AMAZING.  Smaller than I had expected but still beyond me.

The next day, we took a tour to the Vatican! Man, was that awesome. The day was beautifully sunny. Our tour was in German so it was extremely easy to fade out. We walked through the museum, took pictures, “oo”d and “ah”d, and had a great time. I enjoyed some pizza for lunch with my group followed by some gelato. We dawdled and wandered throughout the city and enjoyed the sun.  After dinner, I went the Trevi Fountain (whatever it’s called in English). I didn’t throw any money, though. No regrets. On the way to the fountain, we met a Canadian couple who helped us find it. They were hilarious and said they liked being away from their new kid so they didn’t have to say “what the pickle” instead of the explicative. Made my night.

Wednesday consisted of a tour to the Colosseum. Though there were some complications, we got in. The tour guide refused to pay so she stayed behind (I don’t totally understand). So our group leader took us through. When we stuck with the other group’s tour guide and listened (it was English), he got mad and wanted us to go through faster, even though we had nothing to do beyond that. Basically, without this man, it would’ve been much better but shit happens. After the Colosseum, we passed through another part of Ancient Rome. I can’t remember what it was called but it had very pretty stuff. A lot was under repairs, unfortunately. We split up, got some pizza and gelato and went into the capital building. It then hailed! And it hailed hard! Then stopped, sunny again and we ventured on. We all got back for dinner then I went with two others to see an Amphitheatre at night. It was a cool adventure.

Thursday was in a train. We dropped our stuff at the nicer hotel and went to Venice! We just wandered around a little. Saw the Rialto bridge and San Marco’s square. Not much this day.

Friday was amazing. Started out with a tour (this time we got it switched to English). The only reason it was in German in the first place was because our group guy doesn’t speak anything but German. Since Italy was on strike, we didn’t have boats or buses most of the day so the tour was really cool. At the Rialto, I switched groups after my group guy insisted we continue on and I still wanted to take pictures and listen about the history. You know, like the stuff my parents and Rotary paid for? I dislike him oh so much. Anyways, the tour was interesting. Afterwards, I went throughout Venice with another student. It was EPIC. We went all over Venice. I got my Italian espresso yummm. I took a gondola ride with some other exchangies and got a decent price, too. More wandering, ice cream, and dinner back at the hotel. Just hung out in the hotel after that.

Saturday was just trains again. More talking, sleeping, and card-playing.

It was a great week with some pretty cool people. I can say I am so very glad I was able to go!!

-Eddie

Another Japan Article

We've all heard about it. The earthquake. The tsunami. The nuclear power plant(s?). Japan has been thrown upside down by the Earth's tectonic plates. Yeah, that's right. A god doesn't hate them. Mother Earth doesn't want them gone. It just happens. The planet evolves. Shit happens.

The moment I read about the event, my mind clipped to the exchange students. I know a few Japanese on exchange and couldn't begin to imagine how they felt reading the information I was reading. Then, those exchangies in Japan and anywhere close. Their mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandmas and granddads. What could they do? They went to call for their child with the worst on their minds. And I'm sure that one didn't/couldn't call back.

I'm not saying I don't feel for those people that were there. I just feel the connection with students across the world away from their homes and it hurts me to hear that those houses were wiped clean. Homes were wiped clean. A country, in a sense, wiped clean.
The number of people, humans with lives as basic as our own, is frightening. The final count could be over 10,000. Ten thousand. In a day. Sure, history has had worst. But that's why it's history.

Those affected by the earthquake and tsunami are in my thoughts and I wish them the best in recovering.

-Eddie

Ninjas in Germany

Well then. Back from yet another adventure within the boundaries of Switzerland. T'was a SKI CAMP! Get ready for... DAY BY DAY RECORDS!

Saturday:
Get up uncomfortably early for a Saturday. Then I got a ride to the meeting place for us all. I stood quite awkwardly by my bags looking for someone who either wasn't talking to people or just simply a face I knew. Wasn't there long before someone came to talk to. All 80-90 of us piled in the bus and commenced driving for 2.5 hours. We arrived in the French part of Switzerland between Fribourg and Lausanne. It's when we began unpacking the trailer that I learned I was to be a leader.
After little info talks and so forth, we all went outside and played a massive game of Ninja which dispersed into smaller games. Very cool to watch.
Each night was themed a specific country and that night was "Germany Night." We had bratwurst for dinner and then had German activities throughout the night.

Sunday:
IT SNOWED
8am wake up. Bread jam for breakfast. thennnn
S N O W B O A R D I N G!!!!! In fresh snow :O
I finally learned to use the Tbar lift successfully :D
until about 5pm. Then a nice freezing-ass shower because I was far from the first to attempt at getting warm water.
That night was ENGLAND NIGHT. We had risotto for dinner and funny English accents in german. HILARIOUSSSS

Monday:
Same on the wake up. Same bread.
SAME SNOWBOARD but with easier snow but it was even more foggy than Sunday. Maybe 5 yards then white.
Same cold water.
South Africa was that night's theme! I couldn't tell you what we had to eat because I, well, can't remember. At night, we had the kids running through a little obstacle course in the snow. I stood on the roof and had to be hit with a snowball for them to pass.
THEN SLEEP!

Tuesday:
Meh.... ugh...
SNOWBOARDINGGGG in the sun with awesome swiss people!
Cold water.

I think this was Balkan night, if I'm not mistaken. Hella funny night of weird music, dancing, and accents.
T'was yet another late night.

Wednesday:
9am Wake up!
When we got the the ski spot, it was foggy again so a lot of us went up above and laid in the sun for the day.
NO snowboarding that day.

That night was China night but I ended up sleeping some more.

Thursday:
Woke up sick.
SLEEPYTIME

It was Brazil night but I missed it sleeping and only ending up eating bread and apples because bread and apples are freaking delicious.

Friday:
Still not totally well but I slept until about 5pm and felt much better. I then ate EVERYTHING.

RICOLAAAA!

THEN!!!! MEXICO NIGHT!
I can't begin to tell you how excited I was for Mexican food! But it wasn't. It was burritos: no beans, no Mexican tortillas, only swiss cheese, and no TACO SAUCE!!!
I died.
We were then told to go upstairs and try to get stuff to look like a Mexican.
Things they wore:
-Mustaches
-Pillows under their shirts
-Blankets around themselves
-Big belt buckles
-a balaclava
-soccer stuff
-drugs
-weapons

I laughed the whole night, I think (maybe the meds?).

Unfortunately that night consisted of a friend in horrible stomach pains which caused her to be driven home at about 3.30am.

Saturday:
Drive home. Non-eventful

Sunday:

We went to a football match in Basel versus Zürich!
Basel won 3-1 but it was a really great game to watch. My current host dad, Heini, was very pleased with the score.

Teal Stripes

This morning I freaked out. Where am I? This isn't my bed! I wasn't thinking of the bed (and home) I lived in for the last 6months; I looked for my teal, orange, white, and black stripped walls and the large photo of a shark with a hockey stick between it's teeth. Or the white board across with blue two lines drawn and the scorpions Navy patch. Or the gecko tank. Or Dumbass at the foot of my bed. I've been away for a week over 6 months and can still remember the look of the room at 3.30am when the alarm went off (not that it woke me up).

So if y'all didn't pick it up, I've switched families. Totally different compared to the other family. I now have two host sisters HOWEVER: one is in Ecuador for the year, and the other is traveling Latin America for the next two months. Until then, I have the top floor all to myself and a huge bathroom (for just a dude). There's a cat here. Since I have a small allergy, I wash my hands a LOT. The parents are really nice (as they should be). The room has a balcony as well though not like a "spectacular" view. Just of the small orchard behind us. I also have skylight that I bumped my head on the first morning.

I began the day today with a scratch at the door from the cat, Mira. Let her in so she'd stop and began getting ready for school. Basic day of school.... in German. Nothing special today.

Things

Meh. It's time to write again. I think I'll do one of those comparison blogs again since it's the half-year mark (well, a little after but I'll be changing families this week).

FIRST OFF
It's Super Bowl Sunday. It's over already? I mean, I won't even be able to watch it ON Sunday! It starts at 0.30am on Monday! So currently, I'm waiting for that. But I'm watching it. Don't even think I won't. This is a freakin holiday. I want the party snacks... grrr.

Alright, now for some new stuffs. I'll be doing a little idea-stealing from friends here because I need to tell you all. I might repeat stuff because I'm too lazy to look back in my blogs.

1. Transportation is fantastic. If you want to go somewhere in Switzerland, chances are there is some sort of vehicle that can get you there. It blows my mind. I got lucky on my living area because the closest train station is Luzern, which connects to the biggest cities and is mostly an end station. If not, I can take a train to Zürich and get a transfer there EASY-PEASY.

2. Graph paper. It's the thing. Like I mean, the only thing.

3. COLORED PENS!!!!! Everyone (except me) has a huge-ass set of them

4. White out. Get it or you lose.

5. Glass cups, metal utensils and swivel chairs? Like kids at home could safely use those at school.

6. DON'T LEAVE THE HOUSE WITH WET HAIR

7. Gum chewing. Who cares?

8. Clean as a whistle that people clean really often

9. Well, except for all the cigarette butts

10. Swearing: Say "f*ck" on a bus and the American tourist will gasp. (that's my way of saying NO ONE CARES HERE. They ARE just words)

11. American Pie= rated 12yrs+... you get the idea...

12. It's very "for the greater good" here. In some way, its great. some not.

13.Remember when going through a tunnel was like the COOLEST THING EVER? It is no longer so.

14. Door/windows: Open regularly AND from the TOP!!! It's sooooo cool.

15. People are on time. They just are. That's how it is.

16. Dinner on weekdays is lame. Since lunch is the hot meal, dinner is bread, cheese and salami.

17. Butter. I'd say we go through 2-3 sticks a week

18. THE KEYS ARE SO AWESOME. I don't get how they work.

19. Swiss German annoys me because they only have 2 tenses. Past and present/future. I still don't know how I understand this but I just do.

20. No one expects someone speaking English to switch to Swiss German. MAN do they shit their pants.

21. Everything closes super-mega early

22. Sundays = suck-days. Nothing is open.

23. Use that knife to clean your plate. They WILL bring up the fact that people in the world are starving. Which pisses me off that they would even GIVE me that much food if they REALLY cared.

24. Money is so easy to spend when everything cost so damn much

25. WHERE IS THE NON-BUBBLY WATERRRRR

26. Censorship is very low.

27. What is suing? They don't really care what you do here. Like really, what you do is at your own risk.

28. They have a different idea what a sport is. Juggling: sport. Smolball: hockey goals, tennis rackets. Its a game.

29. They take showers after little to no work in PE. I mean, really people. One should sweat to qualify for a shower since i take one everyday anyways

30. The girls dress like they're going out for the night... all the time. And the guys.... there's no comparison... it's just European.

I'm done. Thank you and GO CHEESE HEADS!
-eddie

30.

Just was thinking...

One thing I've noticed here is the overall feeling amongst the people. The pride. Americans, I'll say, definitely can show off all their flags and sing their songs to prove their love for the USA. However, there's a FEELING here that you can only experience when you're here that tells me the Swiss have so much more love. They don't need symbols and lyrics and whatnot.
It could be that they are a much older country and have juicy traditions. While everything we have is seen by the whole world and loses its originality. It's definitely connected with the fact the the USA is a melting pot of cultures so the possibility of a legit "American culture" to be completely proud of is nearly impossible. There are the Native Americans, or course, but we don't use their traditions. We could use our great past and celebrate slavery, the Japanese internment camps, or even good ol' "Sensitive-about Everything Day."
I love the USA, don't get me wrong, but sometimes I really wish I could connect to a history that I was proud of and spoke a language that really showed the past and pride of the country. I'm undoubtedly lucky to have been born a white male in the Silicon Valley in California, USA, but being in Europe puts me at the point where I can only say "California" because the lack of good impressions my government and people give, along with me have no pride in saying "I'm American." Not once have I said that and I have corrected everyone who says that for me.
I'm going to miss this country. Not only for the amazing people I will meet, love and leave on this excellent adventure I am experiencing, but the love I can feel within the people.

New stuff

Last weekend was hard. On Friday, I got permission to not go to school and instead to the airport to say goodbye to the Aussies headed to home on the east coast. It was terribly sad for me because I had created great friendship with some of them and to watch them leave for an extremely indefinite time [that means no "coming back for Christmas and summer vacation" or the occasional "drive up." Basically, I'm trying to point out this is not like when you watched your son/daughter leave for college or so]. I realize I'm lucky to live in California because I know they'll love to come see SF and with a guide (and possible place to crash) would be an extra bonus for them. It's was still difficult. Afterwards, I went around northern Switzerland with some other kids from my year and one that was to leave Saturday.
Saturday: same time, same place. Definitely harder. I wish I hadn't held in the tears so I didn't look completely heartless. I then went home. That night, I went to the ice hockey game that I got from some random dude in Engelberg. It was odd.
Differences between Swiss Pro and NHL:
-No national anthem(s)
-International Hockey Rulebook
-Crapload of advertisements on the jerseys/goalie equipment
-Standing sections filled with soccer-like fans(endzones lowerlevel)
-Constant noise from these fans
-The noise from fans after a goal is barely noticeable compared to regular
-People just walk about
-This place had no glass seats (at least 4-5feet away)
-No mascot

That's it, really. Everything else that I've done these last weeks is kinda redundant.
-Eddie