Hallelujah

First:

Yesterday, Ira and I led a group of 39 kids to Lausanne (town of 100 thousand) to get fingerprinted for passport requirements.  The bus can only go so far into town so we have to walk-not too far-maybe a half mile to mile but we (Ira and I) have only been there once ourselves, in this foreign city.  Half way there I was informed, two people have left their passports on the bus (did they forget the purpose of the trip? -HELLO??) Anyway, I run back, well, okay not run really, but walk fast, to find the bus driver, who only speaks french.  He's gone and has left the bus locked.  I hunt him down in a motorcycle shop not too far, and miraculously get him to understand that I need to get in the bus to look for these two passports.  I found the passports, found the owners and they were able to complete the mission.  By the time we returned to school, with all kids in tow, I felt a moment of success!

Second:

I'm walking back up to my apartment after dinner and a boy stops me in the hall to ask how the dryers work.  I stop to help.  The school has brilliantly laminated and color coded instructions on how to wash and dry.  Once I explained to his the instructions, he said "Thank you, I will help the boys that do laundry this weekend" (in his broken English of course).  Again-success!

For the most part, the kids are good.  There are a handful-mainly from Russia (that's our highest population) who have a hard time listening and following direction but this is a pretty strict boarding school so I'm hopeful they'll adapt.  Some will, some won't.  They are all testing the water and I hear Russian boys fear their fathers.  Nice to know I'll have back up.

Overall, a good day yesterday.  Today is the Berneuse challenge.  All kids are required (except those fasting for Ramadan) are climbing to the top of our mountain. A huge feat in my opinion.  When they get to the top, they are rewarded with pasta and ice cream!  I'm cheering for the freshman team.

In Google Maps anzeigen

Leysin-Feydey

1.	of Av. Léopold de Reynier to the northeast toward Route du Chamossare start	170 m
2.	left turn onto Les Chamois	700 m
3.	law hold in order to Les Chamois to stay	210 m
4.	keep a sharp right turn in order to Les Chamois to stay	6.5 km

Nuit Des Fees-Night of the Fairies

The day starts about 4:00ish with a parade and goes until 4:00am!  I understand this to be one of two days the Swiss "let their hair down" the other time is at Christmas, otherwise the Swiss are very serious people.  Anyway, we walked down the mountain and found vendors selling roast pork, sausages, pastries, hamburgers, etc.  People were dancing, singing, bands were playing and overall a good time.  This celebration represents the party before harvest.  The Swiss believe fairies bring good luck and it will help then for the upcoming busy season.  Terri Taylor-if you are reading this-we all thought of you and your love of fairies!
http://jeunesseedelweissleysin.e-monsite.com/rubrique,nuit-des-fees-2011,1121142.html

Leysin,CH

I've learned so much in just the two days I've been here.  It's more beautiful than I can begin to describe ...without thinking too hard because my brain is on overload.  The people are amazing and from everywhere.  So far I have only witnessed kind, thoughtful, excepting, helpful, lovely people.  Because of my wonderful new colleagues, I hope I can become more a graceful, patient person and not so quick with my tongue.  My job is much bigger than I thought and I am more inspired than ever, to do it well.

Just came back from the grocery store-spent 176 chf for just a few items...really-just a few and I'm not going to convert the currency, as I do not want to know. Tonight the new staff is starting with a cocktail party and then off to a fondue dinner!  I love cheese.

Switzerland, Day one.

Finally here!  It's breathtaking.  So happy.  Have my first meeting at 10:00am this morning.  Apartment is huge. Cafeteria food was amazing...off to a good start!

Pictures!

https://picasaweb.google.com/117521746759744201902/August142011

Paris, Day 3

I've refrained from posting the last couple of days because my Mother always said "If you can't say something nice...don't say anything at all."  I have sense calmed down a bit and warmed up to Paris.  I can appreciate the beauty of the city and overlook the filth and graffiti.  The Eiffel Tower was breathtaking as was Le Louvre, Notre Dame and Versailles.  Truly unbelievable places.   We (the family) have been on the go since Saturday (8 days) and look forward to hanging out in our Paris apartment tomorrow with nothing on the agenda.  It has been a very educational vacation, although not relaxing what-so-ever.  I wouldn't take back any of the experiences and will cherish all of them as long as I can remember.  Looking very forward to moving on to our new home in Leysin.

Onward

Two days left in Paris!  Saw most of the sights in the city and will be visiting the Palace of Versailles today.  Beautiful city, lots of people, and lots of money exchanged from our pockets to the travel industry - I'll consider this a good investment for our cultural education!

Ira.

Day One in Paris

Paris is incredible. It is definitely different than what is portrayed in the US (or at least what I thought it would be), but it still is an exciting place. We had an easy time getting to where we needed to be (although the train took a long while), and were pleasantly surprised to see our apartment was much better than it appeared on the outside. We went to dinner right down the street after we got settled, and realized that it is difficult to communicate with other people who don't speak the same language. Tomorrow we are looking forward to going to Musée du Louvre, and learning more about the French culture.

-Brenna

P.S. I had a hard time uploading photos of our adventures on here, so if you would like to see some they are on Facebook on both Bailey's and my profile:

Mine:http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2050927030596.2109030.1167109712

Bailey's: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2050927030596.2109030.1167109712#!/media/set/?set=a.2137044518086.2116849.1605306707

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2050927030596.2109030.1167109712#!/media/set/?set=a.2139224612587.2116958.1605306707

Day 3 in London

Yesterday was fabulous...we toured the city (a couple times), did a little shopping, walked around Buckingham Palace, Trafalgar square, Piccadilly circus, London Bridge, toured the Thames and had dinner with Jim Bamford, (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Bamford) a dear friend of my Moms. Today was filled with more history as we started off at Henry VIII Hampton's Court where the royalty lived before Buckingham Palace.  Fantastic.  I could have spent the whole day learning about the king and strolling through his many gardens.  If you can check out Bailey or Brenna's FB...they have all the pictures. (I will try and post some once I gain control of the camera and computer-I'm borrowing Ira's now)  Then we headed to the Tower (Bloody Tower) of London.  Wow. We were so brutal in  years past.  Truly unbelievable.  Tomorrow is Salisbury, Bath and Stonehenge.  Thursday, Paris.  I'm anxious to try new food.  London isn't cutting it but between that and all the walking-it's good for the weight loss plan!

Day 1, London

Very uneventful trip to the UK.  So happy to be here without any trouble.  We had an opportunity to see a few things today, the highlight being the London Eye (a gift from our dinner club-THANKS!)  Transportation is phenomenal; so easy to get around, and of course we had to have Fish and Chips for dinner-YUM!  Tomorrow is a day of tours...all the sights an American has to see, and then dinner with a family friend who lives here.  Hope to get the girls to Harrods as well.  I promise pictures when I can upload. Time to sleep.