Saturday, Daniela and Marcel (the couple I live with) had plans to visit Marcel's family in Switzerland. It is only a little over an hour's drive from where we live. He grew up there and loves it, and they invited me to come along. He drove, and I'm pretty sure I remained in a state of cardiac arrest for the majority of the drive. Considering that there is no speed limit on the Autobahn (a 2 lane highway on each side, set up like I-90), he took this opportunity to "shave off" as much time as possible, and get there "quick." Speed is measured in kilometers per hour, and we went about 180-220 km/h the entire way. That is roughly 110-140 mph. Really? Because that is completely necessary? European car engines are designed to take regular gasoline and diesel gasoline, and I think this enables cars to be capable of driving that fast without blowing up... or something. I haven't done research and probably won't bother to either, so I apologize in advance for my girlish explanation. Anyway, we managed to get there safe, and apparently he drives that way all the time. And here I was thinking he was just showing off for me.
Most people under 40 can speak English in Europe. In school students are required to learn to speak three languages fluently (awesome, huh?) Well, Marcel's family spoke no English, so your buddy Ashley here got to sit in a chair on the patio smiling and pretending to be interested in what Lio was doing, which was the same thing for hours....so I actually just looked like a creep staring at the toddler the whole time. I do remember my cheeks hurting at one point and being annoyed with that realization. And then on top of it, they do the whole kiss-on-the-cheek hello and goodbye. It's not like one on each cheek either like in France, it's three times. So I haven't spoken to these people in hours outside of uncomfortable gesturing, and then I have to kiss all 78 of them goodbye...times three?! I'm already an awkward enough individual as it is, so I am sure that they were like "get the hell out of here weirdo"...but I would never really know, because I couldn't have understood their thoughts had I heard them anyway! In the grand scheme of things, their smiles seemed genuine, and all of that was a small price to pay for what I got to see all day. Plus, the coffee is delicious, and I sipped it slowly in effort to look occupied a midst the bustling conversation that I in no way could be included in. I laugh while typing this in recollection as it is embarrassingly humorous.
Marcel made sure he drove through a part of Austria on the way to Switzerland, and I was able to get some pictures. In one, you will see that we are on a bridge over the Rhine river, and Switzerland is on the right, and Austria on the left. Completely amazing, and I thought standing on a state line was SUPER COOL. You can tell that Marcel is very proud of where he comes from, he talks about it lovingly, like he invented Switzerland or something. He has taken the time to explain to me why it is an independent nation from the EU (the European Union, kind of like in the United States with the Union versus the Confederacy...but not really). You can hear some bitterness when he talks about the EU. I don't understand much now, but my brain has taken in its full capacity of knowledge daily since I got here, so it is only a matter of time.
On the terrifying drive home, we passed a lot of signs that were aimed for tourists, directing people to castles. There's just castles everywhere! And then we saw some skydivers in their parachutes heading for land! I was blown away by that! Marcel says that it is pretty common and that they most likely did not jump from an airplane, but from one of the peaks in the Swiss Alps! Umm... AWESOME! I tried my hardest to get some pictures of the mountains, but if it's even a little cloudy you cannot see them well because they are so tall and enormous. I got some pictures of some huge "hills," though. I thought that THOSE were what the mountains were supposed to be, but Marcel and Daniela were hardly impressed and scoffed at my misconception. I guess I should have told them that when they come to Wisconsin, I will show them one hell of a dairy farm. Maybe then I'd be allowed to be impressed with a giant damn "HILL."
The children behaved, the day turned out to be the second sunny and beautiful day I've seen since I got here, and my camera was able to pull out it's best game yet. I will always say that the photos cannot do this place justice, and I mean it, but at least you can see what they are working with. I am one lucky SOB.
Bis zum nächsten mal
Most people under 40 can speak English in Europe. In school students are required to learn to speak three languages fluently (awesome, huh?) Well, Marcel's family spoke no English, so your buddy Ashley here got to sit in a chair on the patio smiling and pretending to be interested in what Lio was doing, which was the same thing for hours....so I actually just looked like a creep staring at the toddler the whole time. I do remember my cheeks hurting at one point and being annoyed with that realization. And then on top of it, they do the whole kiss-on-the-cheek hello and goodbye. It's not like one on each cheek either like in France, it's three times. So I haven't spoken to these people in hours outside of uncomfortable gesturing, and then I have to kiss all 78 of them goodbye...times three?! I'm already an awkward enough individual as it is, so I am sure that they were like "get the hell out of here weirdo"...but I would never really know, because I couldn't have understood their thoughts had I heard them anyway! In the grand scheme of things, their smiles seemed genuine, and all of that was a small price to pay for what I got to see all day. Plus, the coffee is delicious, and I sipped it slowly in effort to look occupied a midst the bustling conversation that I in no way could be included in. I laugh while typing this in recollection as it is embarrassingly humorous.
Marcel made sure he drove through a part of Austria on the way to Switzerland, and I was able to get some pictures. In one, you will see that we are on a bridge over the Rhine river, and Switzerland is on the right, and Austria on the left. Completely amazing, and I thought standing on a state line was SUPER COOL. You can tell that Marcel is very proud of where he comes from, he talks about it lovingly, like he invented Switzerland or something. He has taken the time to explain to me why it is an independent nation from the EU (the European Union, kind of like in the United States with the Union versus the Confederacy...but not really). You can hear some bitterness when he talks about the EU. I don't understand much now, but my brain has taken in its full capacity of knowledge daily since I got here, so it is only a matter of time.
On the terrifying drive home, we passed a lot of signs that were aimed for tourists, directing people to castles. There's just castles everywhere! And then we saw some skydivers in their parachutes heading for land! I was blown away by that! Marcel says that it is pretty common and that they most likely did not jump from an airplane, but from one of the peaks in the Swiss Alps! Umm... AWESOME! I tried my hardest to get some pictures of the mountains, but if it's even a little cloudy you cannot see them well because they are so tall and enormous. I got some pictures of some huge "hills," though. I thought that THOSE were what the mountains were supposed to be, but Marcel and Daniela were hardly impressed and scoffed at my misconception. I guess I should have told them that when they come to Wisconsin, I will show them one hell of a dairy farm. Maybe then I'd be allowed to be impressed with a giant damn "HILL."
The children behaved, the day turned out to be the second sunny and beautiful day I've seen since I got here, and my camera was able to pull out it's best game yet. I will always say that the photos cannot do this place justice, and I mean it, but at least you can see what they are working with. I am one lucky SOB.
Bis zum nächsten mal
This had me Laughing Out Load!!!
ReplyDeleteToo funny!I could just pic you sitting there smiling lol! luv ya!
oops forgot to sign my name.... Love Nikki :)
ReplyDeleteI am so excited for you and all of your adventures... and I know it's been said, but OMG you are a fantastic writer! Thank you for letting me live vicariously through you for the time being :) have fun girl!
ReplyDelete