Saturday, July 23, 2011 Room 320, Youth Hostel, Bern, Switzerland 8:18 PM
It has been a long day - not by hours, but by the sheer amount of stuff we did today. Seriously, I've had longer-houred days at home where I've done far less stuff.
Today, I woke up at around 8:15 (others in the group woke up earlier) and was changed and ready to eat by 8:30. For breakfast, I had a whole-grain (I think) chocolate cereal with milk and a cup of milk/ coffee/ chocolate-ness (I had about three of those). I also had bread with cherry jam.
After breakfast, we went to Parliament to book a tour for later in the day. Then we made our way (slowly) to the Cathedral. We were slowed down by the cool shops (we didn't buy anything).
The cathedral was really cool. Since it was built in like the thirteenth century, it's freaking GINORMOUS adn there are a bunch of religious symbols carved into the stones and sculputres and ginormously huge stained glass windows. The windows sort of told a story, but not entirely - there were a bunch of small groups of scenes within each window.
The setup of the sanctuary was also different from where I go to church - there was a baptism thing in front, a pulpit mounted on a pole in the middle-ish, and the organ mounted in the back of the place. It's hard to explain, so this merits a diagram of the place (bird's-eye view).
*not sure how to do this, so I'm going to go with not doing it*
It was really cool. that is a really lame drawing, by the way, and it is NOT DRAWN TO SCALE. The blocks are columns and the lines are dores. And by doors I mean pews. There was also a sculpture of a dying Jesus (that had holes in his feet... as in the person who did the sculpture decided that Jesus would be dying and bleeding from foot wounds) and a depressed Mary Mother near the front of the place.
After we left, we learned some cool stuff about this supermassive door sculpture that was in front of (and by 'in front of,' I mean 'around') the door. There were angels, disciples, virgins (smart and foolish), sinners, winners, apostles, church-door-carving-designers, more angels, some demons/ imps, a drumming demon, and the Archangel Michael (who carried a sword and scales for judgement (I assume) and looked like Joan of Arc since he had hair that looked like a girl's and a face to match). I'm pretty sure there was some sort of connective thread, but I'm not entirely sure what that thread was. Let's just say the common thread was a religious theme to adorn a church door. Also, there were some cool gargoyles around the upper perimeter of the cathedral. I can't explain their exactl location, but it ws kind of above the door but close enough to take photos of them.
After we left the cathedral, we went slowly meandering towards a clock tower that apparently had a 'show' that started at five to noon. While we were meandering, we were also sort of window shopping. I spotted a yarn place and I really wanted to go in, but we only had ten minutes until the show, so I didn't, which made me VERY sad. Mostly because when we finally got around to going back, it had been closed for half an hour. Mom insists that it's not a big deal, but honestly, I'm probably never going to get another chance to get yarn from Switzerland.
Anyway, enogh about yarn.
By the way, it was NOT worth msising the yarn to see the clock. Some bears on a wheel turned around, an impish statue banged a gon, and a bearded stature flipped an hourglass and opened his mouth. The end. It was really boring and I could have gotten some cool Swiss yarn (or I could have found out that they're charging far too much for synthetic wool in lame colors. Either one. Just saying.) while were were on the street, but we didn't stay on that half of the street.
Instead, we passed through the archway under the clock and proceeded into the snazziest McDonald's I have ever seen in my life. I mean, I'm talking all windows, carpeted floors, TWO LEVELS, flat-screened TVs, and a winding iron staircase between the two levels. We all had to pee, which is why we were there, but Mom had to get a coffee in order to get us into the bathroom.
After our bathroom break, we got lunch. I had pizza.
But just BEFORE lunch we saw some fountains, including one of an ogre eating babies.
Allison deemed it inappropriate, but hey, it's an ogre! Ogres in Europe are notorious for their consumption of underage kids! *I'm pretty sure I made that up* Besides, there wasn't any blood or anyhting, just some miserable-looking kids and an ogre holding an infant with the kid's head in his mouth. Because of this, Allison declared this 500-year-old fountain to be a public display of vulgarity and was ready to start a petition for its removal.
Anyway, after lunch, we went and did some browsing, and I got theser really cool trousers and a skirt/ dress. Then we toured Parliament, which was cool, and then we went to see some bears and then we went to dinner (which was really good), and now we're here at the hostel. Before Parliament, Mom sorted out train tickets for Monday.
And now I'm gonna take a shower. Bye.
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Entry # 7, Europe Journal
July 22nd, 2011 Room 320, Youth Hostel, Bern, Switzerland 8:56 PM
Well, okay, let me PROPERLY summarize the day because I did not do it justice earlier.
So after we disembarked from the train, we proceeded to get thoroughly confused by the directions to the hostel (though they were relatively straightforward and we got to the Hostel eventually. Also, when I say 'WE got turned," I mean "THE MOMS got turned." The teenagers just followed them around.) But we got to the hostel, dumped our stuff, and proceeded to walk around Bern (this was around noon). We did a touristy photo op in front of Parliament (which, due to my tiredness, I often feel inclined to call it 'Palisaides,' 'Pandora,' and 'Pagoda' before remembering its official title) before deciding that it was time to eat food (aka lunch), which we got at the Co-op (that's the name of the supermarket. Most people in our group call it the 'coop' like chicken coop, but I'm pretty sure it's co-op). I had couscous, iced tea, a really good roll, and a paper box/ bowl of a local berry called Stachelbeerne that we got at the open-air market. That's German and I forget how to pronounce it - I just know it sounds rather dissimilar to how it's spelled. It's sort of like a pommegranite that's the size of a grape and tastes like a full-sized pommegranite ate a little tiny blackberry. (that's a lousy way of describing it... I just added that sentence in August).
Anyway, we went on a meandering walk around Bern for the rest of the afternoon. We crossed several bridges, went though a park, took lots of photos on the grounds of the Einstein museum (which was eighteen Francs for admission inside). We didn't actually go to the exhibits (partly because of price, partly because we would have been confused by the German info plates) but we DID Get some much-needed caffeine and hung out outside a lot.
Then we had dinner, and then everyone showered, and I wrote some letters, and now I'm the only one still awake in my room.
This is awkward.
I'm only staying up to let my camera finish charging - it gave me the 'low battery' mark by noon today.
Oh, wait, Mom's still up. I think my light is bugging her.
Well, then, goodnight. Will write tomorrow.
Well, okay, let me PROPERLY summarize the day because I did not do it justice earlier.
So after we disembarked from the train, we proceeded to get thoroughly confused by the directions to the hostel (though they were relatively straightforward and we got to the Hostel eventually. Also, when I say 'WE got turned," I mean "THE MOMS got turned." The teenagers just followed them around.) But we got to the hostel, dumped our stuff, and proceeded to walk around Bern (this was around noon). We did a touristy photo op in front of Parliament (which, due to my tiredness, I often feel inclined to call it 'Palisaides,' 'Pandora,' and 'Pagoda' before remembering its official title) before deciding that it was time to eat food (aka lunch), which we got at the Co-op (that's the name of the supermarket. Most people in our group call it the 'coop' like chicken coop, but I'm pretty sure it's co-op). I had couscous, iced tea, a really good roll, and a paper box/ bowl of a local berry called Stachelbeerne that we got at the open-air market. That's German and I forget how to pronounce it - I just know it sounds rather dissimilar to how it's spelled. It's sort of like a pommegranite that's the size of a grape and tastes like a full-sized pommegranite ate a little tiny blackberry. (that's a lousy way of describing it... I just added that sentence in August).
Anyway, we went on a meandering walk around Bern for the rest of the afternoon. We crossed several bridges, went though a park, took lots of photos on the grounds of the Einstein museum (which was eighteen Francs for admission inside). We didn't actually go to the exhibits (partly because of price, partly because we would have been confused by the German info plates) but we DID Get some much-needed caffeine and hung out outside a lot.
Then we had dinner, and then everyone showered, and I wrote some letters, and now I'm the only one still awake in my room.
This is awkward.
I'm only staying up to let my camera finish charging - it gave me the 'low battery' mark by noon today.
Oh, wait, Mom's still up. I think my light is bugging her.
Well, then, goodnight. Will write tomorrow.
Entry # 6, Europe Journal
July 22, 2011 Room 320, Youth Hostel, Bern 6:18 PM Swiss Time (12:18 EST)
Well, here we are. It's been a LONG day, and we're not allowed to sleep for another three hours so we can conk out ad overcome jet lag at the same time.
It'll be easier than walking all over Bern running on nothing but coffee and adrenaline and an hour and a half of fitful non-sleep. I am utterly EXHAUSTED, even though it's only noon back home. I've tried to nap, but something (or someone) has woken me up (probably on purpose) from the slumber I crave.
From the train station, we went to the hostel, which is a rather nice place, though a bit cramped. In my room is me, Paige, Mom, and Jean. I sort of wish the two Motivated Moms (aka nit-picky, can-sometimes-be-annoying-to-travel-with, I'm-going-to-be-with-you-for-three-weeks-so-why-can't-I-get-away-when-I-have-the-chance (that's my feelings on the topic) moms) weren't the moms I would be staying with in Bern, especially as one of them is mine (no offense to Mom...) but I'll just have to deal. I also have to write a LOT of letters.
And Paige and I are being summoned for dinner. Will write later. Probably.
Side note:
what I've noticed, looking back on this, is that I'm really pissy when I'm tired but I write really well (in a non-straightforward flowy, enhancy way, that is).
Well, here we are. It's been a LONG day, and we're not allowed to sleep for another three hours so we can conk out ad overcome jet lag at the same time.
It'll be easier than walking all over Bern running on nothing but coffee and adrenaline and an hour and a half of fitful non-sleep. I am utterly EXHAUSTED, even though it's only noon back home. I've tried to nap, but something (or someone) has woken me up (probably on purpose) from the slumber I crave.
From the train station, we went to the hostel, which is a rather nice place, though a bit cramped. In my room is me, Paige, Mom, and Jean. I sort of wish the two Motivated Moms (aka nit-picky, can-sometimes-be-annoying-to-travel-with, I'm-going-to-be-with-you-for-three-weeks-so-why-can't-I-get-away-when-I-have-the-chance (that's my feelings on the topic) moms) weren't the moms I would be staying with in Bern, especially as one of them is mine (no offense to Mom...) but I'll just have to deal. I also have to write a LOT of letters.
And Paige and I are being summoned for dinner. Will write later. Probably.
Side note:
what I've noticed, looking back on this, is that I'm really pissy when I'm tired but I write really well (in a non-straightforward flowy, enhancy way, that is).
Entry #5, Europe Journal
July 22nd, 2011 9:10 AM (Swiss time), 3:10 AM EST, train to Bern
Well, last night... argh. I got about an hour and a half of not-exactly-sleep, and breakfast was a cold, packaged apple turnover and some blueberry yogurt.
Getting through customs was relatively easy, but I nearly left my suitcase outside the bathroom.
We accidentally sat in first class when we boarded the train. There's not much difference between here and there, except here the seats are blue and they're red and a bit bigger (though not a lot) in first class.
Now Leila wants me to record an exchange that just occurred between her and Emily (as dictated by Leila after a super-long Photo Op Break):
Leila: when's lunch?
Emily: well, it's 9 AM, which means that it's 3 AM at home... so... it's NOT lunchtime!
The scenery here in Switzerland is amazing. Clouds hang low over the Alps, easily viewed from basically anywhere, because nowhere is more than several kilometers away from them. It seems like we're in rolling farmland one minute, and then two minutes later (like, literally two minutes), we're in suburbs/ urban areas that have French and German graffiti on the insides of tunnels. The only difference in graffiti here and graffiti in the US is the language - the big letters and hard corners in them are the same. But here, I've noticed, there are a lot more pictures in the graffiti as opposed to just words.
The hardest thing about being here is that everyone speaks French or German (in Geneva, mostly French). Luckily, a lot of people speak English too, but their first inclination is to ask you to move in French rather than in English.
I'm going to try sleeping before Bern.
Paige and Emily's French Ordering Lesson:
Can I have a coffee, please? = es-que e peu une cafe, si vu play?
Sugar = sucre
Je voudrais un cafe = I would like a coffee
cafe au lait = coffee with milk
Well, last night... argh. I got about an hour and a half of not-exactly-sleep, and breakfast was a cold, packaged apple turnover and some blueberry yogurt.
Getting through customs was relatively easy, but I nearly left my suitcase outside the bathroom.
We accidentally sat in first class when we boarded the train. There's not much difference between here and there, except here the seats are blue and they're red and a bit bigger (though not a lot) in first class.
Now Leila wants me to record an exchange that just occurred between her and Emily (as dictated by Leila after a super-long Photo Op Break):
Leila: when's lunch?
Emily: well, it's 9 AM, which means that it's 3 AM at home... so... it's NOT lunchtime!
The scenery here in Switzerland is amazing. Clouds hang low over the Alps, easily viewed from basically anywhere, because nowhere is more than several kilometers away from them. It seems like we're in rolling farmland one minute, and then two minutes later (like, literally two minutes), we're in suburbs/ urban areas that have French and German graffiti on the insides of tunnels. The only difference in graffiti here and graffiti in the US is the language - the big letters and hard corners in them are the same. But here, I've noticed, there are a lot more pictures in the graffiti as opposed to just words.
The hardest thing about being here is that everyone speaks French or German (in Geneva, mostly French). Luckily, a lot of people speak English too, but their first inclination is to ask you to move in French rather than in English.
I'm going to try sleeping before Bern.
Paige and Emily's French Ordering Lesson:
Can I have a coffee, please? = es-que e peu une cafe, si vu play?
Sugar = sucre
Je voudrais un cafe = I would like a coffee
cafe au lait = coffee with milk
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Entry #4, Europe Journal
July 21, 2011 Airplane over somewhere 8:11 PM EST
Well, I COULD get out, and my bladder is now empty. HOORAY! I probably should go to sleep soon if I want more than five hours of rest. If I'm asleep by nine, I'll get... okay, yeah, five hours of sleep. But it's better than nothing, right? But I've only written five pages today... darn.
TIME TO REPORT on CURRENT ACTIONS:
Right now I am writing, and Leila is watching "Cars."
Well, no, she's now sketchily watching me write this and laughing along.
"I like how many times I'm mentioned in this," she said. "It only does good things for my ego."
"Only twice," I pointed out.
"oh, true..." she said.
I went to finished the sentence. Since I need to fill space, I decided to put dialogue in here.
"I'm quoting you," I informed her.
"oh, SWEET!" she exclaimed.
Aaaaaand the cabin lights just went out. I am writing this by the light of the map on the mini TV embedded in the seat in front of me.
I think I'm going to curl up and "sleep" once Leila gets back from the bathroom.
Goodnight.
Day 1 summary:
Major things: boarding of plane, beginning of a SUPER AWESOME JOURNEY!
Entries: 4
Total: 4
Pages: 6
Total: 6
Foreshadowing of tomorrow: No clue. Geneva?
Well, I COULD get out, and my bladder is now empty. HOORAY! I probably should go to sleep soon if I want more than five hours of rest. If I'm asleep by nine, I'll get... okay, yeah, five hours of sleep. But it's better than nothing, right? But I've only written five pages today... darn.
TIME TO REPORT on CURRENT ACTIONS:
Right now I am writing, and Leila is watching "Cars."
Well, no, she's now sketchily watching me write this and laughing along.
"I like how many times I'm mentioned in this," she said. "It only does good things for my ego."
"Only twice," I pointed out.
"oh, true..." she said.
I went to finished the sentence. Since I need to fill space, I decided to put dialogue in here.
"I'm quoting you," I informed her.
"oh, SWEET!" she exclaimed.
Aaaaaand the cabin lights just went out. I am writing this by the light of the map on the mini TV embedded in the seat in front of me.
I think I'm going to curl up and "sleep" once Leila gets back from the bathroom.
Goodnight.
Day 1 summary:
Major things: boarding of plane, beginning of a SUPER AWESOME JOURNEY!
Entries: 4
Total: 4
Pages: 6
Total: 6
Foreshadowing of tomorrow: No clue. Geneva?
Entry #3, Europe Journal
July 21, 2011 on the airplane, over Canada 7:55 PM EST
Well, we just ate, and for plane food, it wasn't that bad. It could be worse. Having survived a week on cold meals and trail food, I've definitely had worse (I'm not saying I enjoyed it, though).
And the guy in front of me just tilted his seat WAY back.
This is just great. Not.
Anyway, the two hours we've spent in the air have been relatively uneventful, except for some turbulence and the kid three seats over having hissy fits every half hour.
And now the seat belt lights are on, which means I am not allowed to go pee.
Not that I could. The guy in front of me has leaned so far back that I probably can't get out.
The light went off again. Awesome.
I'm going to empty my bladder while I have the time and the need, and hopefully there will be very little turbulence and the guy ahead of me won't lean back even more.
Also, I will hopefully be capable of exiting the seat. This remains to be seen.
Until I write again, farewell!
Well, we just ate, and for plane food, it wasn't that bad. It could be worse. Having survived a week on cold meals and trail food, I've definitely had worse (I'm not saying I enjoyed it, though).
And the guy in front of me just tilted his seat WAY back.
This is just great. Not.
Anyway, the two hours we've spent in the air have been relatively uneventful, except for some turbulence and the kid three seats over having hissy fits every half hour.
And now the seat belt lights are on, which means I am not allowed to go pee.
Not that I could. The guy in front of me has leaned so far back that I probably can't get out.
The light went off again. Awesome.
I'm going to empty my bladder while I have the time and the need, and hopefully there will be very little turbulence and the guy ahead of me won't lean back even more.
Also, I will hopefully be capable of exiting the seat. This remains to be seen.
Until I write again, farewell!
Entry #2, Europe Journal
July 21, 2011 5:35 PM, the plane
We are on a PLANE! WOOHOO! It's one of those super-huge planes where they play classical music ALL THE TIME (or for the twenty minutes we've been on, at least), have pillows AND blankets ON THE SEATS, and seat seven people to a row with two aisles. A diagram is in order. [Unfortunately, I cannot recreate this diagram. My apologies.]
I have no idea why they decided to be lame and remove the letters D, F, G, and I from the alphabet, but they did.
Okay, I will write later - I need to deal with my pens. I may write later today; I may write tomorrow; but I will write again. My logging-of-trip skills are not dead. Yet.
We are on a PLANE! WOOHOO! It's one of those super-huge planes where they play classical music ALL THE TIME (or for the twenty minutes we've been on, at least), have pillows AND blankets ON THE SEATS, and seat seven people to a row with two aisles. A diagram is in order. [Unfortunately, I cannot recreate this diagram. My apologies.]
I have no idea why they decided to be lame and remove the letters D, F, G, and I from the alphabet, but they did.
Okay, I will write later - I need to deal with my pens. I may write later today; I may write tomorrow; but I will write again. My logging-of-trip skills are not dead. Yet.
More Europe!
Okay, I KNOW I've been super-lame at posting. And I'll try to improve while still telling you what I did in Europe. So I have an idea of sorts. And it's a good idea. What is this good idea? To type up, on the blog, exactly (okay, not exactly, because some of it wound up being me being moody) what I wrote in The ItalioSwiss Chronicles. (I just made that title up, but I like it).
Well, I sort of already passed the first four entries, but here they are again. Because I can.
Entry #1 July 21, 2011 4:51 PM the airport
Well, after two years of planning and nearly two hours of going through security, we are finally awaiting boarding the plane to SWITZERLAND! THe troop has shrunk massively; our current group going to Switzerland (plus Mer, who went a few weeks ago) is only 1/6 (not counting Mer, or Liza, Mary, or Jordan, the last three of which aren't going) the size of the original troop.
Who is going?
Paige
Leila
Emily
Allison
Me
Moms:
My mom
Mrs. W
Mrs. K
It was a rather stressful morning. Well, I take that back. This morning was okay for us, until 11:30 when Mom's panic started to set in and I essentially had to half-repack my suitcase about twelve times. The panic exponentially increased from there.
Right now, after getting through security and having a while before boarding, most people's stress levels are relatively low, except for Allison, who is panicking because Jean is off getting some food and Allison is trying to tell her that she doens't need to (since it's an international flight, we're getting fed).
Now Jean is back, and as far as I can tell, stress levels are back to normal. Now Leila and Emily are arguing about whetehr whole grain goldfish are better than regular Goldfish (Emily is arguing in favor of whole grain Goldfish). Now we're all discussing Goldfish flavors.
The discussion ahs now progressed to snack foods, honey mustard, bacon, combos, and smell vs taste. Also, bacon and chocolate. And now I'm getting really hungry.
And avocados, pickled eggs, and the apparently strange food habits of one of the fathers.
Also, furbies.
And Leila's opinion of mashed potatoes (only at one place will she eat them). Paige doesn't normally eat potatoes.
Emily doesn't like bananas or raisins by themselves. Or celery or eggplant, period. But she likes craisins. But she DOES like celery with peanut butter OR salmon (but not together). Paige doesn't really like eggplant.
We are boarding now. Will write later.
Well, I sort of already passed the first four entries, but here they are again. Because I can.
Entry #1 July 21, 2011 4:51 PM the airport
Well, after two years of planning and nearly two hours of going through security, we are finally awaiting boarding the plane to SWITZERLAND! THe troop has shrunk massively; our current group going to Switzerland (plus Mer, who went a few weeks ago) is only 1/6 (not counting Mer, or Liza, Mary, or Jordan, the last three of which aren't going) the size of the original troop.
Who is going?
Paige
Leila
Emily
Allison
Me
Moms:
My mom
Mrs. W
Mrs. K
It was a rather stressful morning. Well, I take that back. This morning was okay for us, until 11:30 when Mom's panic started to set in and I essentially had to half-repack my suitcase about twelve times. The panic exponentially increased from there.
Right now, after getting through security and having a while before boarding, most people's stress levels are relatively low, except for Allison, who is panicking because Jean is off getting some food and Allison is trying to tell her that she doens't need to (since it's an international flight, we're getting fed).
Now Jean is back, and as far as I can tell, stress levels are back to normal. Now Leila and Emily are arguing about whetehr whole grain goldfish are better than regular Goldfish (Emily is arguing in favor of whole grain Goldfish). Now we're all discussing Goldfish flavors.
The discussion ahs now progressed to snack foods, honey mustard, bacon, combos, and smell vs taste. Also, bacon and chocolate. And now I'm getting really hungry.
And avocados, pickled eggs, and the apparently strange food habits of one of the fathers.
Also, furbies.
And Leila's opinion of mashed potatoes (only at one place will she eat them). Paige doesn't normally eat potatoes.
Emily doesn't like bananas or raisins by themselves. Or celery or eggplant, period. But she likes craisins. But she DOES like celery with peanut butter OR salmon (but not together). Paige doesn't really like eggplant.
We are boarding now. Will write later.
Thursday, August 11, 2011
I'm BA-ACK!
I came home from Italy on Tuesday, and I really should have blogged about the whole 20-day trip then, but I didn't, so here I am, posting two days later. Yeah.
Anyway, I'll try and bounce over stuff in good enough detail to satisfy people and in little enough detail so I can actually start all the AP reading I have procrastinated on in a reasonable amount of time. I may have to break it up into multiple posts so the readers are satisfied and I still get homework done. Yeah.
Storytelling, commence!
So we left for the airport on Thursday, June 22nd at around 2:30. It took about 2 hours to get through check-in, security, and other international shenanigans before getting to the gate, where we had around half an hour before boarding started. It was long, so I was glad I was wearing my hiking boots since we were standing up so much (I was initially wearing them because I hadn't put my clothing into Ziploc bags and pressed all the air out (it's a space-saving trick that also keeps clothes dry that I learned from backpacking), so I had no room for my boots, which were the bulkiest things I brought). Anyway, then we actually boarded the plane, which was one of those International planes with ten seats in a row and two aisles. We departed at 6 PM; we landed in Geneva on Friday morning around 8 AM, Switzerland time. At home, it was 2 AM, and we had had around an hour of not-exactly-sleep on the plane (where you are not dreaming, but you still wake up), so we were all completely jet lagged, utterly exhausted, and running on adrenaline.
After we landed and got through customs, we took a train to Bern and checked into the only hostel in town.
Also, I nearly left my bag at the airport, but I didn't because Mom kept annoyingly not-reminding me by saying, "Are you SURE you have everything? Are you SURE you're sure?".
After the hostel, we went around Bern and went to the market, where I discovered my new favorite fruit-berry thing: a sort of mini pomegranate (it is about the size of a grape, is really veiny like a pomegranate, has the seediness of pomegranate, and kind of tastes like a pomegranate and a blackberry mixed together). I have no idea how to spell it (it had a long, cool-sounding German name), but it was really good, and we definitely don't have anything like it in the US.
Market food was what we had for lunch before going off to be dorky tourists for a while. I don't remember what we saw, but it was cool. Then we went to the hostel and ate dinner and slept really well.
And I'm going to leave it at that for now because I have a lot of AP reading to deal with and complete and stuff. Also, calculus packets. This is what you get for procrastinating on supper AP work...
Anyway, I'll try and bounce over stuff in good enough detail to satisfy people and in little enough detail so I can actually start all the AP reading I have procrastinated on in a reasonable amount of time. I may have to break it up into multiple posts so the readers are satisfied and I still get homework done. Yeah.
Storytelling, commence!
So we left for the airport on Thursday, June 22nd at around 2:30. It took about 2 hours to get through check-in, security, and other international shenanigans before getting to the gate, where we had around half an hour before boarding started. It was long, so I was glad I was wearing my hiking boots since we were standing up so much (I was initially wearing them because I hadn't put my clothing into Ziploc bags and pressed all the air out (it's a space-saving trick that also keeps clothes dry that I learned from backpacking), so I had no room for my boots, which were the bulkiest things I brought). Anyway, then we actually boarded the plane, which was one of those International planes with ten seats in a row and two aisles. We departed at 6 PM; we landed in Geneva on Friday morning around 8 AM, Switzerland time. At home, it was 2 AM, and we had had around an hour of not-exactly-sleep on the plane (where you are not dreaming, but you still wake up), so we were all completely jet lagged, utterly exhausted, and running on adrenaline.
After we landed and got through customs, we took a train to Bern and checked into the only hostel in town.
Also, I nearly left my bag at the airport, but I didn't because Mom kept annoyingly not-reminding me by saying, "Are you SURE you have everything? Are you SURE you're sure?".
After the hostel, we went around Bern and went to the market, where I discovered my new favorite fruit-berry thing: a sort of mini pomegranate (it is about the size of a grape, is really veiny like a pomegranate, has the seediness of pomegranate, and kind of tastes like a pomegranate and a blackberry mixed together). I have no idea how to spell it (it had a long, cool-sounding German name), but it was really good, and we definitely don't have anything like it in the US.
Market food was what we had for lunch before going off to be dorky tourists for a while. I don't remember what we saw, but it was cool. Then we went to the hostel and ate dinner and slept really well.
And I'm going to leave it at that for now because I have a lot of AP reading to deal with and complete and stuff. Also, calculus packets. This is what you get for procrastinating on supper AP work...
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Okay, the REAL last post
We leave for the airport at 2:30. As I write this sentence, the clock on my computer says 11:48.
In the three hours I have been awake, this is what I have done:
1. cut the sleeves off a t-shirt (got a brain wave to use sleeves to make my fall formal dress... why am I getting this brain wave four months earlier than I need to? Things to ponder while on a plane...)
2. eaten breakfast
3. updated Facebook
4. had some caffeine
5. Facebook again
6. checked packing
7. more cutting of t-shirts!
8. blogging!
So you can see, I've had a very (not) productive morning. I still have to shower and do the normal morning sanitary things, and it's almost noon. We leave in two and a half hours. I've never really been the type to procrastinate on trip preparation the day we leave... but then again, we usually leave in the morning. We'll be leaving at around 6 pm today, and arriving at 8:30 am Switzerland time tomorrow. AAAHHH!!! I'm still in shock that this is actually going through.
Since it all appears to be going so well, it'll probably turn out that circle needles (however non-dangerous they are) aren't allowed on the plane to Switzerland, or something equally irritating. (It wouldn't make sense to not allow pointy objects of a craftsy nature onto a plane to SWITZERLAND, even if they thought I was going to attack someone... why WOULD I attack someone? Isn't Switzerland the Middle-Ground Country On Everything?) So I'll be hoping that my circle needle makes it through international security. Hopefully it will. Hopefully the security people will not want to annihlate me for being a knitter. If they confiscate it, I'm kind of dead - the circle needle is being used for a commission. If they take it, they won't give me half a headache during my attempt to reload the stitches onto needle - they will be giving me a FULL headache because I will have to put ALL the stitches back on (for you non-knitters, a circle needle is basically two knitting needles joined by a cord in the middle. It helps with doing seamless circles for hats/ things of a circular nature, which is what I'm doing).
Well, I guess it's time to go do that packing and that showering. Farewell!
In the three hours I have been awake, this is what I have done:
1. cut the sleeves off a t-shirt (got a brain wave to use sleeves to make my fall formal dress... why am I getting this brain wave four months earlier than I need to? Things to ponder while on a plane...)
2. eaten breakfast
3. updated Facebook
4. had some caffeine
5. Facebook again
6. checked packing
7. more cutting of t-shirts!
8. blogging!
So you can see, I've had a very (not) productive morning. I still have to shower and do the normal morning sanitary things, and it's almost noon. We leave in two and a half hours. I've never really been the type to procrastinate on trip preparation the day we leave... but then again, we usually leave in the morning. We'll be leaving at around 6 pm today, and arriving at 8:30 am Switzerland time tomorrow. AAAHHH!!! I'm still in shock that this is actually going through.
Since it all appears to be going so well, it'll probably turn out that circle needles (however non-dangerous they are) aren't allowed on the plane to Switzerland, or something equally irritating. (It wouldn't make sense to not allow pointy objects of a craftsy nature onto a plane to SWITZERLAND, even if they thought I was going to attack someone... why WOULD I attack someone? Isn't Switzerland the Middle-Ground Country On Everything?) So I'll be hoping that my circle needle makes it through international security. Hopefully it will. Hopefully the security people will not want to annihlate me for being a knitter. If they confiscate it, I'm kind of dead - the circle needle is being used for a commission. If they take it, they won't give me half a headache during my attempt to reload the stitches onto needle - they will be giving me a FULL headache because I will have to put ALL the stitches back on (for you non-knitters, a circle needle is basically two knitting needles joined by a cord in the middle. It helps with doing seamless circles for hats/ things of a circular nature, which is what I'm doing).
Well, I guess it's time to go do that packing and that showering. Farewell!
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Europe bound!
This is the eve of my first trip to Europe. Starting at around 2:30 tomorrow and concluding at around 6:30 on August 9th, I won't be here. There is the slight chance I actually muster up the energy (and the Francs) to get some Internet passes and blog from the Chalet in Switzerland, but that remains to be seen.
If I don't, please don't think it's because I'm dead. I'll just be gone for 20 days with a severe lack of Internet access. I promise I'll be recording everything in the numerous photos, journal entries, and letters and postcards I will be writing.
I'm quite certain that the most money I'll spend on anything will be my numerous trips to the location in which stamps are sold in order to send international letters. It's going to be wicked expensive. I will therefore swear to myself not to purchase anything between August 9th and Fall Formal, and get all the knitting commissions I can. Hopefully I will be able to get some cool shindigs in Switzerland or Italy to make it worth it, though. I really don't want to come home with no cool things, but I really don't want to come home broke, either. Ah, decisions, decisions.
Unlike with Disney, where essentially EVERYTHING is overpriced, it's harder to tell in Italy whether or not what you are buying is way over-priced, because I, as a tourist, have probably never seen it before (unless it's one of those key chains with people's names on them, because EVERY tourist shop in America has them). Also, I'm pretty sure all the Italian merchants will be able to tell that I'm a tourist and try and sell me whatever it is anyway. I feel like that's how half of the street vendors in any city make most of their money - exploiting tourists from some place the vendor has never been. I'll try and tell the merchants off... Not sure how, as I don't know Italian... Whatever.
What I'm most nervous about is the long hikes in Switzerland and the language barrier in Italy. And also, the overnight dawn hike. I'm so pumped for that, but I'm also terrified. I don't know why.
What am I most pumped for? um... we'll be visiting a castle in Switzerland as an Excursion (this is planned by the people at the Chalet), which should be really cool because it's really old and stuff. It could also help for writing purposes. We're also visiting the Coliseum when we go to Rome, which I'm really pumped for (the history is the main reason I'm willing to go to Rome).
Aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnd I really should be going to sleep now. Farewell!
If I don't, please don't think it's because I'm dead. I'll just be gone for 20 days with a severe lack of Internet access. I promise I'll be recording everything in the numerous photos, journal entries, and letters and postcards I will be writing.
I'm quite certain that the most money I'll spend on anything will be my numerous trips to the location in which stamps are sold in order to send international letters. It's going to be wicked expensive. I will therefore swear to myself not to purchase anything between August 9th and Fall Formal, and get all the knitting commissions I can. Hopefully I will be able to get some cool shindigs in Switzerland or Italy to make it worth it, though. I really don't want to come home with no cool things, but I really don't want to come home broke, either. Ah, decisions, decisions.
Unlike with Disney, where essentially EVERYTHING is overpriced, it's harder to tell in Italy whether or not what you are buying is way over-priced, because I, as a tourist, have probably never seen it before (unless it's one of those key chains with people's names on them, because EVERY tourist shop in America has them). Also, I'm pretty sure all the Italian merchants will be able to tell that I'm a tourist and try and sell me whatever it is anyway. I feel like that's how half of the street vendors in any city make most of their money - exploiting tourists from some place the vendor has never been. I'll try and tell the merchants off... Not sure how, as I don't know Italian... Whatever.
What I'm most nervous about is the long hikes in Switzerland and the language barrier in Italy. And also, the overnight dawn hike. I'm so pumped for that, but I'm also terrified. I don't know why.
What am I most pumped for? um... we'll be visiting a castle in Switzerland as an Excursion (this is planned by the people at the Chalet), which should be really cool because it's really old and stuff. It could also help for writing purposes. We're also visiting the Coliseum when we go to Rome, which I'm really pumped for (the history is the main reason I'm willing to go to Rome).
Aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnd I really should be going to sleep now. Farewell!
Monday, July 18, 2011
Dear Rebecca Black...
Well, apparently, Rebecca Black has a new video called "My Moment." And she seems to have taken voice lessons (or stopped smiling while singing) since releasing "Friday," and the difference is noticeable. And it's a good change, too, which is kind of a surprise (albeit a good one - she seems to have good potential). Maybe it's partially due to the fact that the tune of "My Moment" is nowhere near as annoying as the tune of "Friday", but I think her voice has really improved a lot (her lyrics could stand to be a little less corny, but at least there is some corniness to be had in the new song, which is a step up from only being able to scorn the lyrics of the first one... and she apparently had a song called "Prom Night," which was basically a rip of "Friday." "My Moment" is a new tune as well. Score!).
So, since I need to get my letter-writing skills on for Switzerland, here is a letter to Rebecca Black, from me (that she probably won't read because this is a really unread blog, but whatever):
Dear Rebecca Black,
Whatever you have been doing to step up your game since you released your first song... keep doing it. It is noticeable and it is an improvement. And the rest of the world now has no reason to say you suck, because you no longer suck. Congratulations! Please continue to do whatever you did between releasing "friday" and doing "my moment," because there is a change and it is good. HOORAY!
From,
Drillbit :)
So, since I need to get my letter-writing skills on for Switzerland, here is a letter to Rebecca Black, from me (that she probably won't read because this is a really unread blog, but whatever):
Dear Rebecca Black,
Whatever you have been doing to step up your game since you released your first song... keep doing it. It is noticeable and it is an improvement. And the rest of the world now has no reason to say you suck, because you no longer suck. Congratulations! Please continue to do whatever you did between releasing "friday" and doing "my moment," because there is a change and it is good. HOORAY!
From,
Drillbit :)
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