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