Lausanne... finally home.
I haven't updated since my month-long LSU program in Barcelonnette, France... darn, it's about fucking time.
July in Italy was rather interesting, but no smooth ride: Italian Gelatti every day; watching 3 kids for 12 hoursday with no break, one of the younger kids has autism, mind you; and now I'm back in Switzerland. God, it is so beautiful here, I almost forgot much I missed it...
The sky was clouded when I came right up to Lake Leman, the blue waters smacking me hard in the face. Suddenly, I remembered how beautiful it was...the very same mountain range I used to look at everyday for nearly 11 months, that's 330 days, almost 8000 hours of breathing time to realize that this place, this little neutral country of Swiss cows, 4 languages, and some of the best chocolate in the world--was the place I left my heart, mon coeur, more than 3 years ago. It's a crazy thought, but I would choose to Swiss if I had the choice. The reasons would take more than a six pack and a few hours of drunken craze to explain why, but nonetheless, I'm a little estatic to be here!
Tonight I called the Peiry's.. the family I au-paired for in 2000-2001. Tiffany answered the phone, she's 9 years old, and Morgane, finally 12.. these beautiful girls have grown up so much, and Regine, their mother, sounded just the same over the phone. They were excited to hear from me.. and it truly was a surprise. I haven't heard from them in almost 4 years! This weekend, my mother and I will stay Friday night, and spend Saturday with them as well.
Since I arrived in Lausanne on Friday, July 24th, I've done nothing but relaxing.. reading, eating and recouperating from the kids in Italy! I tell you, I am so glad to be on vacation finally!!! With my mom here, we finally have a plan of attack and a few hundred kilometers to make: So the plan with my mother goes...
Wed. 7.28 Bern and Luzern (Lucerne)
Thurs. 7.29 Zermatt and the Matterhorn
Fri/Sat 7.30-31 Stay with the Peiry's
Sun 8.1 Chill in Lausanne, see the fireworks with Pascal's family--it's Switzerand's Independence Day!
Mon/Tues 8.2-4 Train to Milan, then Fly to Rome and stay a few days, home Wednesday
Thurs 8.5 Last day in Lausanne with Pascal.. maybe a boat trip across Lac Leman
Fri/Sat 8.6 Travel to Barcelonnette, possibly stay a night in Aix-en-Provence
Sun/Mon 8.8-9 Leave for Paris, check out dolls for mom, do the Paris thing
Tues 8.10 Plane back to the states... booh!
Then.. I move back home to Washington!!
Night all'.. long day in Bern and Luzern tomorrow. Ouch.. better practice my German!!
° Chelsea
July in Italy was rather interesting, but no smooth ride: Italian Gelatti every day; watching 3 kids for 12 hoursday with no break, one of the younger kids has autism, mind you; and now I'm back in Switzerland. God, it is so beautiful here, I almost forgot much I missed it...
The sky was clouded when I came right up to Lake Leman, the blue waters smacking me hard in the face. Suddenly, I remembered how beautiful it was...the very same mountain range I used to look at everyday for nearly 11 months, that's 330 days, almost 8000 hours of breathing time to realize that this place, this little neutral country of Swiss cows, 4 languages, and some of the best chocolate in the world--was the place I left my heart, mon coeur, more than 3 years ago. It's a crazy thought, but I would choose to Swiss if I had the choice. The reasons would take more than a six pack and a few hours of drunken craze to explain why, but nonetheless, I'm a little estatic to be here!
Tonight I called the Peiry's.. the family I au-paired for in 2000-2001. Tiffany answered the phone, she's 9 years old, and Morgane, finally 12.. these beautiful girls have grown up so much, and Regine, their mother, sounded just the same over the phone. They were excited to hear from me.. and it truly was a surprise. I haven't heard from them in almost 4 years! This weekend, my mother and I will stay Friday night, and spend Saturday with them as well.
Since I arrived in Lausanne on Friday, July 24th, I've done nothing but relaxing.. reading, eating and recouperating from the kids in Italy! I tell you, I am so glad to be on vacation finally!!! With my mom here, we finally have a plan of attack and a few hundred kilometers to make: So the plan with my mother goes...
Wed. 7.28 Bern and Luzern (Lucerne)
Thurs. 7.29 Zermatt and the Matterhorn
Fri/Sat 7.30-31 Stay with the Peiry's
Sun 8.1 Chill in Lausanne, see the fireworks with Pascal's family--it's Switzerand's Independence Day!
Mon/Tues 8.2-4 Train to Milan, then Fly to Rome and stay a few days, home Wednesday
Thurs 8.5 Last day in Lausanne with Pascal.. maybe a boat trip across Lac Leman
Fri/Sat 8.6 Travel to Barcelonnette, possibly stay a night in Aix-en-Provence
Sun/Mon 8.8-9 Leave for Paris, check out dolls for mom, do the Paris thing
Tues 8.10 Plane back to the states... booh!
Then.. I move back home to Washington!!
Night all'.. long day in Bern and Luzern tomorrow. Ouch.. better practice my German!!
° Chelsea