Follow every rainbow, till you find your dream...

July 18th

This is my direct dial if you ever HAPPEN to want to call me… 011-41-43-466-7777. I am usually available around 8:30pm my time, which is 7 hours past my family in WI.

I am not fully recovered yet, so it makes for some long nights at times. Please pray for my health. Yesterday I had so much fun being on the internet for an hour, chatting family and friends. The keyboard in the office has the usual German setup, which means that the “Z” and the “Y” are switched, and in place of our enter key is the “$” sign. My brother in law Alan was also online, and mimicking my typos, making me laugh until I cried. EVERYTHING ended with a “$”, and he would say things like, “this is crayz!”. :] So yeah, if you ever get an email signed “Beckz” you know why. :]

July 21st

Yes, I have not had much opportunity to write lately! It has been a special missions week, where all the missionaries from Africa are home and they share about the work that God is doing. As a result we have many guests, and are feeding about 200 per meal 3 times a day! That makes for a lot of table setting, and there are also the coffee breaks to prepare and clean up. :] It’s so funny, though, because I know a bunch of these guests - they were on my trip to Ethiopia, and when we greet each other warmly, and they rattle off to me in German, Zita wonders HOW I know these people! :]

One lady in particular had told me when we were in Africa that if I ever come to Switzerland, I must visit her. It had occurred to me that I should contact her, and here she appears yesterday! She does not know ANY English, and we had this long discussion - all in German! She was amazed at how much more I understand. There was no one around to translate, so I had to figure it out. Basically what she said was that she is involved with another mission in Switzerland, and they will be having a mission conference in the Tyrol. Many people from the Osterreich will be there, including folks who speak English. :] The cost is 420 Swiss Francs for one week, food and lodging. She will mail me a brochure and I can speak to Cornelia about it if I want to come.

So yes, this week has been busy, but there are about 5 girls from Germany who came to help out this week. It is such a relief for me to have someone else to set tables with! And it is a good exercise in German, the REAL German. You would not believe how much I hear Swiss German around here, but usually I can tell the difference. The girls told me that I am very good after 4 months, they took 5 years of English, and can barely speak it. Others from the Guetli told me the same, they tell me that my pronunciation is perfect. Thank you Lord! :]

Emanuel Hermann told me a joke the other day: “They say if you speak 3 languages you are tri-lingual. If you speak 2 languages you are bi-lingual, and if you speak one language you are an American.”. I told him mournfully that it’s so true it is not even funny! I explained to them how it is not required to learn additional languages in our schools, and other than Hawaii, we only have one language. The majority of people cannot afford to travel overseas, and if they do, most people speak English. It is so different here in Europe. The other day he was translating for me, from German to English. Then a French speaking man from Africa stood up to speak with another man to translate it to German. I thought I would have to wait for it to be interpreted twice, and then he began to translate from French to English. Yes, he actually speaks 5 languages that I KNOW of.

This last weekend was a special weekend for the youth, and I was not able to attend because Cornelia had forgotten to mention it to me, and you have to arrange for these things! (I will be included next month.) They really needed my help because of all the extra guests, but it was a little sad to see them all bike off to go swimming and grilling and stuff. I had to remind myself that I am here for MINISTRY not just fun. :] Anyway, Cornelia invited me to go swimming with her late Sunday evening to make up for it. It was sooo nice. We drove the windy road up towards Rifferswil - the lovely view road. You can look down over Zug and the snow capped mountains that tower over it. We went to the Turlursea, (they call lakes - “seas”) it was nestled in between a few hills, and simply lovely. The water was a unique green/blue hue, I could see my feet while swimming, and they say it is the yuckiest of the lakes around. (I found out later that there are black snakes that swim there! Ugh!) They just change on the shore and then swim out into the lake. It was quite cool, but very refreshing. As Cornelia and I were walking back along the trail, I thought to step on the grass as I was barefoot, and looked down just in time to see I almost stepped on one of those snails I wrote to you about! Then I saw they were everywhere! It was SO gross, I just shivered to think of what almost happened. They call them “naked snails” and they are something like a slug. 4” long, with antennas and a weird nude color. I DO NOT like them. Cornelia laughed and laughed at me.

I also went swimming yesterday afternoon in Mettmenstetten at the pool, and after the evening service at 8:30, Inge, Julia and I went swimming in Zug. The Zugersea is one of the loveliest lakes around. The evening was clear and perfect, and as you swim in water that once again you can see clear down to your toes in, you have a panoramic view of snow capped mountains. It was beyond words to describe. A fish bumped into me, and I saw another. It almost looked like a salt water fish. They are clear with vertical black stripes.

July 22nd

Yesterday was a full and special day! I got to go along with all the guests to the mountains!

July 23rd

Yes, you can see how far I got that time! :] We have been soo busy. With the missions week going on, and the way the Swiss eat 5 times a day, with 200 people to feed each time…well, you can see what I have been doing. It’s so funny, so many of them already know that I am an American, and they always say, “Sank you!” when I serve them food. Anyway, I have been very grateful to God for all the extra help this week. It’s amazing, He sends them just in time!

I have been hanging out with Tabea Jegge (“Tuh-bay-ah Yet-kay”) a lot lately. She sits by me when I sew, and is one of the only people with free time during my break, so we often go swimming and biking and walking together. I also found out she can give backrubs, for which I am extremely grateful. It’s not as easy as Martha you know, you can’t nag her like you can a sister. :] When we came back from swimming today, we decided to have a coffee together, and stole a couple of bites of sloppy pieces of the guests Zveri. Then we went around the corner where they all had just gathered, and she dragged me over and sat me down, and said, “Now let’s have Zveri all over again!!” So we did. :] The coffee here is awful. I just had to put that out there. If anyone ever wants to know what would be a good thing to send me, it would be Nescafe instant coffee. Then I can make it as strong as I like!

I have a lot of fun with Markus, too. He is the huge guy that can do anything. For some reason I am not afraid to try German on him, and then he rattles off back to me with his huge grin, and I peer up with a wrinkled nose and ask for interpretation. This morning he was preparing the guests breakfast, and Ursula came breezing in, and asked sweetly if he had some hot coffee. He goes, “Yep!” and in a sneaky tone: “But not for you!”. This was all in German, and I laughed, and he and Ursula were so amazed that I understood, he said it’s incredible. I am grateful for the encouragement. I sometimes feel like I can’t remember anything!

Anyway, about the mountains…They took the whole group of mission week guests to Hasliberg the other day, where the mission has another hotel in the mountains. Cornelia thought I would enjoy it since I missed out on the youth weekend. I rode up there with a young couple and one of the missionaries from Sudan, Tabea Roth. (“Wrote”) It was a familiar drive, but I could not believe how different it looked in the summer! I took a lot of pictures, and this driver stopped for me! When we got to Bellvue, we immediately left on the hike up to the Alpli. It is a tiny chalet and barn way up on the mountain, and it took about 1 hour of hiking - UPHILL the whole way! :] (“…my trainer…he says I’m in great shape!”) At times the path was so steep that you could scarcely move at all. I was completely soaked with sweat, but the missionaries from Africa were fine. :] It honestly looked like the scene from the end of The Sound of Music when they are hiking into Switzerland as a family, and the choir is dramatically singing “Climb every mountain!” I found out what hiking shoes are all about. My Chacos were OK, but now I see why people buy hiking shoes. A lot of them had the Salomon brand on.

When we arrived, several of the Bellvue co-workers were already there, having driven up with a Land Rover. They had benches and tables set out all around, and a toasty fire in a ring, and mountain cold water. We quickly set up a lunch, and ate fresh veggies and grilled bratwurst as we sat facing the amazing view. The glacier is so small this time of year. Sometime while I am here, I want to go up to the Alpli and spend the night, maybe with Elvira. It is so completely adorable, you would not believe it. I took a few pics, hopefully I can post them. It has a tiny kitchen with a stone fireplace built in, and a skylight with a small wardrobe with dishes. The tiny loft is above. And then the other room also has a stove, a bunk bed, and a small table facing out the window.

We ate, sang, had Raculet over the fire, and then after the Bible School students and I cleaned up, we hiked down the mountain, which took about 25 minutes, and was just as hard! :] We immediately went to the kitchen and washed all the dishes and prepared Zveri, and then ate it outside in the shade. Then we had the drive home already for supper. :] Yep, they eat a lot here.

Later that evening, Tabea, Julia and I biked to Mettmenstetten and went swimming. Then Tabea and I took a walk and sat on a bench and prayed together. It was a perfect evening. Can you believe it? Swimming, hiking, biking, and walking all on one day! I love doing these things!

Today was almost a full day of dishes. I am even now NOT sitting in the evening service so that I could write to you. I do think I will go now and see if I can find someone to unlock the buro so that I can have some contact with America again. :] I miss you, love you, pray for you.

Mr room when I arrived, Thea and I, The Stockli where I live, and the wheat fields around.

A couple more funnies...

So this older lady heard me speaking English and came up and asked me if I am an American. I told her yes, and she goes, "Ah! You have lovely handwriting!!". (I make the linen napkins ready for the guests with their names. They think Americans write so differently.

They have these HUGE snails that cross the road with no shells. It is so weird, and they are so gross when they are smushed! I have never seen such large ones in all my life.

I have been sitting at a table with some guests from Ireland, and actually have to translate sometimes with what little German I know because the Swiss have a hard time with their accent! They are so cute, and the wife has firey red hair.

I will post again soon!

I got sick on Swiss water once....

July 13th

And so here I am, sick in my bed. Just Saturday night I told Rahel, “It’s amazing! My new immune builders are working great! My family was sick with a cold, and I didn’t get it!”. Sunday I didn’t feel quite right, and today, VERY not right. :] They told me to just stay in my room and rest, and please do not enter the kitchen for fear of infecting others. Rahel came and checked on me, and brought me orange juice and some supper. I have my own personal nurse! I feel bad to get sick so soon after arriving. They are so loving and caring, people are sending loving greetings through Rahel, and she made this lovely tray for me with a flower and everything. This is a good place to be, I really feel at home here. And everyone feels like family. You know, I got sick on Swiss water once… :]

As I write, I have the intercom/radio on, and am listening to the evening service without translation. I was quietly saying aloud the words I knew, and Helen (my roommate) started laughing at me: “Wonderful…meat….brought….truth….today….money…..18.…not….prayer….time….later…” Makes a lot of sense, doesn’t it?! :] By the way, the computer made my smilies into “J’s” last time I posted, if you wondered what that was about! :]Sometimes when I listen to German like this, I have to think of Danny Kaye doing his impersonation and I have to laugh. He really had the whole inflection thing down pat! So much of it is getting the cadence down. My Deutsch course will say I said something wrong if I cannot properly copy the singsong cadence. When I listen to a translated service, I keep a pad of paper with me and I write down words I recognize and am not quite sure what they mean. Then later I ask about them and the spelling and meaning. (I just sneezed and Helen yelled “Gesundheit!” from outside!:]) Often the guests come up to me and ask me something, and I can understand them, but am unable to answer in German and they don‘t know English. It can be so frustrating! But hopefully I will soon be fluent. :] Har. Actually last night I met a delightful couple, and she spoke with me in German, I understood and was able to answer in German short sentences. :] Carrie would have been proud.

So the computer situation so far is thus: They have ONE computer with internet in a locked office. On Sunday I had someone show me how to post again, and he even typed up a sheet of instructions so I could remember. No sooner had he left than when I tried to post, some boxes and alarms popped up, with alarmingly long German words and exclamation points. I think the computer did not support rich text format, and even when I tried to change it, it would not work! I was almost in tears as the internet went down just then, and I was signed in and could not just send ONE note! FINALLY it worked, and just so you know, I have some emails saved in drafts because I could not send it. So I am thinking of you and enjoying your notes, I just can’t write too well or often. A fault which time will cure…all too soon. Sorry if I am repeating myself, I can’t remember what I told my family on the phone and what I have written.

I found out there are a few Settlers fans here, so I am hoping one of these evenings we can play it together. They call it “Seed-lers” in German. Yesterday we played volleyball. They also kick the ball, and say it is in the official rules. Hmmm. Then we young people watched an old black and white movie in a movie room they have since I was here last. It was called “Drei Männer im Schnee”. It really was funny even though I could not understand all of it. Tabea Jegge translated as much as she could from time to time. I thought it was interesting to see how the doorknobs they have here that are so different than ours were the same way back then! I understood random words again, like “Buy“, “excuse me”, “Attention!” and such.

I am really enjoying some people here that I knew well last time, but not well enough. :] Elisabeth has been translating in the evenings, and she has such a pleasant voice. We sit and talk together when we are done, I ask her about my written words, and she asks me if she used words in a wrong way. She is such a sweetheart, she also has Lyme Disease. The sunshine has made her look so much healthier than last time, she really has a glow about her, such a lovely woman. And Emanuel Hermann is here for the summer, leaving in November for their Bible School. He was the one who drove so fast on the autobahn last year for me. He is very suave for his age, very “unto himself” and has a dry sense of humor. I get the biggest satisfaction in making him laugh, which I have succeeded with quite a bit lately. He speaks English quite well because their family were missionaries in Ethiopia for 14 years. The huge man Markus is also a hoot. He can do everything, sometimes you see him baking loaves and loaves of bread in the kitchen, and sometimes he is out hammering in the barn. He reminds me a lot of Darrell, he even has reddish hair, and likes to tease me. They are so mild in their teasing here, not at all like my American friends. :]

The Hages are gone for a week to Italy, a much needed rest for Inge, I think. She has been sooo busy keeping all the guest rooms clean. She has two practicants (that’s what they call people like me) working with her, a girl named Sarah from Germany and a boy named Oliver who is Swiss. Sarah has that characteristic European look, I would love to see what Anna would think of her. She is blond with chiseled features, and pretty tall. Oliver always is smiling just a tad and has a lot of responsibility here for a practicant. He likes to clean with Inge, and I think she is glad for his help. He does not know any English, so it is harder to get to know him. But you can still pick up on people’s personalities. Last night I had Helen doubled over because I was imitating people of the Guetli, and she insisted that before I leave they will have a night where I stand in front and impersonate everyone. I hope not! It’s so hard to do on demand!

I think later today if I am feeling well I might do a little sewing or help in the laundry. Mirjam K. said she was so happy when she heard I was coming, because she is having such a hard time finding maternity skirts. She is at that stage where you all of a sudden need them. I can hear the cowbells out of my window right now….

I woke up this morning with a German word in my head, and I had to think and think what it meant. You know what it was? A toy. Spielzeug. :] And…I lost a bunch of typing because the computer locked up. Oh well.

July 16th

I am slowly but surely getting over my cold. I have had a constant headache since Sunday, and am all congested. I just completed an hour of German. 11 new words! Now if I can remember them! Yesterday evening we had a wonderful time. They have something special one night a week for the practicants like myself, and Rahel planned an evening of biking. They loaded up a car with food to drive to where we were headed, and then off we went on our bikes for about 40 minutes - most of it uphill, I might add! At the very end I had to walk, and so Ruedi got off of his bike and walked with me. The view was incredible, we were facing west, with everything from the Lake of Zug on our left to Mettmenstetten on out right. It really was break taking, and I want to go back with my camera and take some good pictures. The mountains were a bit hazy last evening. We took a quick stop and played some games on the trail. They lined up two rows of plastic cups about 2 ½ feet apart, and we had races to see who could weave in between them the fastest. Then we did the same thing with water in a cup in our hand. Ruedi almost always won! A man with walking sticks came running past and laughed and weaved through them too. They think of such creative games here!

We biked through a small town called Rifferswil, (“Reef-ers-ville”) to a small home that belongs to the mission. Grossfati and Grossi sold it to them for a good price some years ago, and now they use it for the missionaries when they come home for furlough. It was simply charming, and in a perfect little village with amazing views. We were completely wet through with sweat by the time we arrived. (The weather is quite humid here, it’s either really cold and wet, or really warm and wet!) I guess I am out of shape when it comes to biking, not like a few years ago. :] There we set up a circle of chairs and lit the outside fireplace and had a relaxing evening together, grilling bratwurst, eating fresh veggies, and drinking what they call Syrup. Then we had testimonies, singing, laughing, and just enjoying the evening. I never realize how much I miss the “small simple” life until I leave the community for an evening.

We didn’t leave to bike home until after 10pm. It was SO absolutely fun! It was downhill for 10 minutes the whole way home. I just prayed that God would keep me safe, and off I went! They just CRUISE through these little villages in the night, with almost no light, and I tried not to think what would happen if a cat ran out. The girls somehow got way ahead again (I must have been using my brakes more) so I was with Shy Simon and Ruedi. I really like Switzerland. :]

July 17th

Yesterday was very special for me, because I got to see two friends from Ethiopia! You know, when you visit these countries, you have no idea if you will ever see the people again. And when you do, it is such a blessing. Ato Elias (who was my main friend there in Ethiopia last year) came with two other men for the missions week we are having. They show pictures and share about the work and who has come to know the Lord. It was SO nice to not have to have the earphones in because they speak English! All the other people were interpreted to. :] He will be here for a couple of weeks.

Also, there is a couple visiting here from Ireland. Everyone told me, “you must go and sit and visit with these guests!” because they have a difficult time understanding the Irish accent. :] They are just so cute, in their 80’s, and she has bright red hair and freckles. I guess they have been coming here for years, and were also involved in the mission in Sudan, he is a doctor. They will also be here for a few weeks, so I am sure you will hear of them again.

We ate outside yesterday, the weather was so nice. Guetli has a large patio with umbrellas, and in the summer they eat outside there as much as possible. I also went swimming in Mettmenstetten with Helen. You would be so jealous if you could see it. We bike for just under 10 minutes to the pool, with mountain views the whole way. The pool is huge, mostly inhabited with mothers and children, so there was almost no one in the deep side. It’s crystal clear blue and very fresh. (And yes, you can see the mountains from there.) We swam for a couple of hours and Helen bought us ice cream. I have so many neat opportunities for memories!

The Hages come home again this weekend, I have missed them! It’s so nice to have Julia to be a sister to. Rahel is also like a sister, but she treats me like a little sister, something I am not used to! :] We have a big weekend ahead, because of the missions fest. Then after one more week all the young people are leaving on their trip to Albania and Greece. As far as I know I will not be going, no one has said anything. I would love to sooo much, I keep praying about it and giving it to the Lord. It will be all my closest friends here that are going, and they are camping, hiking through the mountains, sharing in churches, taking the train to Italy, it goes on and on. :] I suppose they will need me here during that time.

The weather is bad today, with tons and tons of rain. I think tonight some of the men who worked on the road for so long and so noisily will be here for supper. :] They helped patch some holes in our cement, so as a thank you they were invited for supper. I think that may mean some dish polishing….

Well, I will see if I can send this today, I am sorry that I cannot write more often, and that these are so long. Have a wonderful day, please keep me in your prayers.

July 7th

So here I am again, at my old desk in my old room next to my old bed. It feels like home! It feels so natural to be here, like I never had been away. I am not sure if I like that! I do not want the novelty of travel to leave so quickly. It was so amazingly fun to return to a place I had been before. As I flew in, it was much prettier than I remembered. (Perhaps because it is summer, I do not know.) There were the infamous rolling green hills, bright blue rivers, flowers hanging from window boxes on the chalet style homes, and the Swiss flag. I could not wait to get through customs (which was so easy!) and there was Inge waiting for me! During the ½ hour drive back to Mettmenstetten, we chatted and caught up on latest news. We arrived just in time for lunch, and how fun it was to see old friends again! Everyone knows that I want to learn Deutsch, so they are all happily speaking it with me, glad to not have to stumble with English. J

I was so tired, but knew I could not sleep yet, so I meandered around with Inge, seeing what all had changed in the year and a half since I had been here, greeting yet more people, and then finally, unpacking. It is so strange to not have Hannah Loewen here! I miss her a lot, especially when I have free time. I will be looking for a walking companion/victim soon. J I already bought a pass for the local swimming pool so that I can use it for exercise daily. Thankfully I have a friend in Inge, in that she loves to swim as much as I, and plans to take me to every lake around to swim. They are all such an amazing blue. I like not having to put on big warm shoes whenever I want to go out, it nice to have summer! It has been cool though, because it has rained since last night.

Hannah, I should write some things for you! Mirjam K. looks so absolutely cute pregnant, she is as sassy as ever, and ALWAYS speaks strictly German with me. LilyAna and her younger sister were here for about a month, but are leaving tomorrow. Sabina still scurries around singing and working, Eva Struder is sick in Dobel, Pia is timeless, and Tabitha and Lydia have gotten taller! You would not believe what a perfect blend Johanna is of Thomas and Daniela. She is dark with a round face, and often has crossed eyes. It’s so sweet to see Daniela be a mother, she has changed since last year. Rahel is all pink and glowing from being outside, I can’t wait to work with her in the greenhouse again. It won’t be for a couple of weeks because they need me for Eva’s job since she is sick. I came the day before the last person with that job left, they had been praying for someone else. Nati asked if he could please just speak English with me, always wanting to improve it ever more. He translated for me last night during the service (we have a 45 minute one every evening) and made me laugh out loud when he said “I have to quick run and play the piano now!”. I have seen almost everyone I think. Simon Stucki is back in the army for 3 weeks, they are called back routinely each year. And Mirjam will be home on the weekend! I can’t wait to see her.

And so for now my life is setting and clearing tables. J After the co-workers breakfast, I clear the tables and clean and set them fresh for the guests. Then I have an hour break, during which I hope to study my Rosetta Stone course each day. Then I go back and clean up the guest tables and reset for lunch. Next is Tzune. I have a feeling I will finish early with some of my duties, so I am not sure what the next hour or so will consist of, but after lunch I clear tables again, and if I am not on the wash schedule (which was just printed, and looks like I will only have twice a week for a few weeks) I get a two hour break. I tried to sleep today since I am so completely tired, but I couldn’t - too much thinking to do. J At four I reset the tables (later I will be in the greenhouse at this time) and it’s supposed to take me a few hours. I have a feeling this may become a sewing time or something because I will finish early. After supper (which is right now and I am out on a chair on my charming balcony) I have free time until the 7:30 service. Now that it is summer and light out for longer, there are always guests roaming all over after the service, or a volleyball game going on. I visited with Julia last night, but tonight I hope to walk. I have not seen the mountains since the first hour I arrived, they have been hidden behind clouds and if I did not know they were there, I would have been sure we had none!

Physically I am not doing well, I am dealing with lots of pain like last time. The jet lag really takes a toll on Lyme Disease! I have that shaky shivery feeling inside, and feel all dizzy. Hopefully that will soon be gone. I feel like my English gets all mixed up here because I keep hearing the wrong construction of sentences, and being the mimic that I am, I pick up on it! Ach well. J

July 10th

Imagine Switzerland as charming as you can, and you can picture today. I just took a walk, a mile or so with Inge, and then a mile or so on my own, and all I could do was smile at the beauty! The mountains are the backdrop, then you have the lower green hills, similar to WI, but much father away with chalets and trees scattered on them. Then closer are some more chalets, trimmed with overflowing flowerboxes. Next you have a green field with Brown Swiss cows eating and staring at you alternately their bells ringing in the breeze, a brook rippling at your left, and lastly you have a field of tall wheat set against the bright blue sky. It’s absolutely perfect. The weather has been quite cool here, I am looking forward to warmth again. I told Inge that I must go swimming 50 times because I spent 50 francs for the pool pass. J

I decided the Guetli people would be good prisoners - they eat bread, soup and water at every meal! (Of course there are all the other delicious things, I am just being facetious.) I have learned in the past few days how VERY important it is to line up the chair and the plate, and to have the plate one centimeter from the edge of the table, and to have the pattern in the plates lined up. After all, this IS a guest house, and people expect it to be “Mega fine!” J It has been a quiet job, I work mostly alone with Zita as my guide. I really do keep busy keeping the tables set and also all the other little odd jobs there are to do, like refilling sugar and salt and pepper, preparing the guests linen napkins, etc. This is first and foremost a guest house, and a lot of people work full time to make it presentable. There are always people cleaning, cooking, changing linens, working in the office, etc. Everyone helps everyone, it’s always a lot of fun to have people around.

Last night I missed Hani so much, I heard that there were goodies in the kitchen (and trust me, I have hardly been eating here for fear of gaining like last time!) but I decided to run down and see what was there when I made my nightly magnesium. There was Helen Guggenbuhler and her father, and Herr Gerhig. What fun we had sitting around the table talking! Neither Helen nor Herr Gehrig can speak much English, so I tried to say everything in German, which led to a lot of laughter. They tell me my accent is good, but the arrangement of the words is not so good. J I really think I have learned a lot in the week I have been here. I have been studying my Rosetta Stone course each morning for an hour, and that combined with hearing it constantly works well. I do hope that I can really learn to speak it, not just understand it!

OY! The noise here! I tell you, these neighborly carpenters NEVER sleep! Seriously, at 6am, they are already using their saws and hammers, and the perfectionistic Swiss work and work and work on the road outside, pouring and smoothing, pouring and smoothing. For a week now, on this one stretch! I can’t imagine how long it will take to paint! I have one loud bedroom. J Seriously though, it is because of this way of thinking that everything is so nice in Switzerland. The homes with junkyards that you see in WI you would NEVER find here. Along the walking path, there are stacks of exact bundles of firewood tied with string. Or the wood stacks have every piece precisely the same size. Everyone has flowers and flowerboxes, as a whole. I will take my camera out and start snapping pictures for you to see this place in the summer. It’s simple lovely.

Do you remember the little boy (Phillip) who took me walking in Slovakia last year and told me about the Mafia? He is living in Switzerland now for school, and has grown up so much! I just saw him for the first time today. And Christina is almost as tall as Julia! Her voice also is like Julia, only a tad lower. I had coffee with her and Heinz and Inge today before my walk. I love having my own family here. Mirjam comes this weekend. And Simon should be back from the army for the weekend, so hopefully I can send this post then. Sebastian called me today, and he is going to mail me a modem to try with my computer. But that will not be until next week. When I have internet all the time it will be much easier to stay in contact.

It was harder to leave home this time, but now that I am here I am really enjoying it. I am so relaxed, not having to drive in to work each day, and such. I feel like I can just kick back and relax about life for a time. Life is so slow here in de Schweiz And it is nice that I can profit from language learning as well. Claudia is a lady who used to be a co-worker here, and she is now married and lives nearby with about 8 children. I got to know some of them last time, and she has had a baby since then. Her little girl Hannah is teaching me German, it’s so cute! We do the simple things like “nose, mouth, ears”. J I think they think it is so funny how I can’t speak well. J
Tonight we had what they call “a feast” in celebration of the new barn. The economy is bad here as well, and so they have decided to invest in beef cattle. (Meat is very expensive here.) Many of the locals came to help so in appreciation they hosted a large party with an Appero in the stable, and a grill out by the house. These people do things right! I had to get a wet cloth and re-wipe all the silverware and glasses in case the kitchen left a watermark. We folded fancy napkins, and decorated a large buffet table. There were games, a slideshow, music, etc. Guetli can really pull off a party! Julia and I took a walk around 10, the mountains were glowing in the evening twilight.

July 11th

And so today the busy guest season starts. They tell me I came just in time to have a slow week of learning everything because from now on out we will have many many guests. I admire those kitchen workers. Many of my friends will be home this weekend, the young people who are in school stay here and help since it is such a busy time. (Tall Tabea, Tabea Jegge, Regula -who came to visit us- , Lydia and Tabitha.)

July 12th

I think I am getting the cold that my family had a week before I left. Just last night I was telling Rahel that I was so happy my immune builder works so well. She said they also had a cold going around here as well. Then I woke up with a sore throat and congestion. And I am so happy for the extra help this weekend because my Zita is sick as well. For breakfast we had the traditional Zupfe bread they eat on Sundays here. I have missed it! I carry around a small notebook and write down words I learn or hear a lot and ask the meaning. I figure if I can learn 50 words a week I am doing well. Then if I can understand 3 or 4 words of a sentence I can get the general gist of what they are saying.

I am sorry this is so scattered. I have to write what comes to mind to tell you! Last night Rahel and I went walking again, and I asked her, “Are you used to this?”. She replied, “Used to what?” Switzerland! Each cow on the slopes has a bell that rings across the valley, it was so very lovely out. It is so nice to have so many people to ask to walk with me! That way they don’t get burned out if they only walk once a week. J I am having a lot of fun sleeping with Helen. At night we have these hysterical conversations with a German/English dictionary. J We decided that from now on I should try to speak in German with her, and she in English. It makes for a lot of laughter and fun. I find it much easier to be humble and speak Deutsch with those who know very little English. I feel like an idiot to try and stumble like a child with the friends I can have a normal conversation with. Mirjam and Julia love to laugh at my German, they said I sound like a helpless little child. Rahel says my German pronunciation is better than her English, and she dreads how much better I will be at her language than she is with mine in a few months. I told her as soon as I can speak Swiss German I can imitate people with much more accuracy and she laughed and laughed and said “Maybe it is better you not learn it!”. J

Well sometime soon Simon said he will help me send this, perhaps today I can post to you, and by next weekend I will have my own internet! Hopefully I can learn it thoroughly this time, because he is gone again to the army next week and is always so busy I do not want to bother him. So keep emailing me, miss you, love you!