The program had a reception at a hotel where the students would first meet their host family. I kind of reminded me of a middle school dance. The Americans were sitting in chairs lined up against the wall and host families would walk in periodically and grab their student.
My host dad, Thierry, was the one who picked me up. We each had a glass of wine at the reception and then he took me to my home for the next three months. I live in a two bedroom apartment. They have very close living quarters, but it's cool. There is wifi here, thank god, I was nervous there would be no internet access. Speaking of electronics... my power converter started smoking really heavily and I probably would have started a fire had I not removed it. So much for first impressions...lol.
My host mom Francelina, joined us for lunch after finishing massaging her last client (she owns her own massage shop on the lake). Thierry made a really awesome lunch that consisted of melted cheese on potatoes and pickles.
Francelina is a fantastic cook. She said she was so happy that I knew Spanish and was from Latin culture (It's hard to explain white-wash in Spanish, so I didn't bother) because I'm willing to eat the things she cooks and she can communicate with me the most out of her other host students in the past. Yes, for the record, I have cranked up my Spanish abilities here. Hopefully by the end of the program I will be able to speak three languages comfortably. Francelina also makes this really great tea. I thought it tasted like ginger, but when I asked she told me its a plant that she picks from the backyard. She showed me - it looks like a bunch of weeds. Questionable, but still good, I'll keep drinking it until something happens... haha.
Thierry and Francelina are quintessential Europeans. Thierry is from France and speaks french and english. Francelina is from portugal and speaks french and spanish. They are newlyweds and are 47 going on 25. They are quite the chain smokers too. While Francelina goes for the Malboros, Thierry prefers rolling his own tobacco. I think its great, they are so laid back and elegant with the way they carry themselves, I feel like I'm living in a European coffee shoppe movie scene.
They love music and have their ihome on all day. They actually asked if I could put my ipod in the ihome because they like contemporary american music. Thierry did specify that he didn't like pop music... so no top 40's for me. Luckily there was a new play list on my ipod that I played, props Douglas - it's European approved. Speaking of approval, as I was reading some material for class tomorrow I noticed Karma Police by Radiohead was playing on the ihome. I can't explain the exceitment I felt. These people may be, are, cooler than me. We got into a half hour discussion on Radiohead and I told them that I saw them at APW a couple summers ago. But alas, Thierry saw them live before I did -.-
Today we went to the monthly flea market. It was great. Among the pricless items being sold was a used Titanic sountdrack, a paperback version of Harry Potter (the cover is difeerent!) and random furniture and trinkets. There is also an ice skating rink. I figured I'd spare humiliating myself in front of a ton of little kids, so I passed on the opportunity. Speaking of the kids here, they are so well behaved. I still have yet to see one scream or act bratty, I guess it's the culture here. People are so nice and quiet. I think they can point the Americans out by our loud talking and laughter (I should probably try to tone down my laugh, haha, yea right)... the north face jackets don't help either I suppose, lol.
Well, the host family is fantastic, and so is this tea. Oh this questionable tea is so delicious. Tomorrow starts the first day of real class and my first day using the train without Earl guiding us. Until then...
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Friday, January 29, 2010
I needed a blog
Initially, I wasn't going to write a blog, but so far there have been too many times that I have told myself that "I need to remember and tell so-and-so." That being said, here we go...
I landed this past Wednesday into Geneva. I had a pretty annoying cold, but I tried not to let it get in the way of my first few days abroad. The people in my program are prtty chill, not to mention my academic director - Earl. Earl is quite the European (so are my host parents, but i'll get to that later) he defiantly likes to speak with his hands and does this interesting lean when he talks. I'll defiantly be doing some undercover videotaping so you guys can see what I'm talking about.
People were pretty tired the first night, but some of us decided to go out and try to beat the jet lag. Before finding a bar we walked around Geneva. I noticed that the women were pretty dressed up for it being only 7 pm. Then we saw a ton of not-so-discrete sex shops. To top it off some guy tried to sell some stuff to some to the people in the program. We realized we were in the red light district - where prostitution is legal and drugs are readily available.
Just to tangent on that, its really interesting how the drug dealers are on every corner. They all wear black jackets and black jeans - very recognizable. They all know each other too, it's quite an interesting network. If i could make an analogy, I would probably compare it to Grease - where the drug dealers are the t-birds and the prostitutes are the pink ladies. It probably is nothing like that, but the leather jackets made me think of it.
Anyway, after our Red Light adventure we went to this American bar (7 something?). It was pretty nice but.... two pitchers cost us 45 chf which is about 45 us dollars -.- It was nice to get to know some people in the program though.
Oh have I not talked about the Hostel yet?!?!?! Well, before meeting our host families, the program put us in hostels for a few days. It was actually pretty clean - but them German folk sure know how to stay up late. I think the showers were the best part though. You have to push a button to turn the water on, but the water only lasts for about a minute or so... needless to say I pushed that button 87549656789 times.
As for Swiss food, Switzerland is filled with Pizza joints and Kabab stands. We had fondue one night, I think it's pretty hit or miss - one pot had too much wine, but another was just right.
Well, I meet my host family tomorrow...
I landed this past Wednesday into Geneva. I had a pretty annoying cold, but I tried not to let it get in the way of my first few days abroad. The people in my program are prtty chill, not to mention my academic director - Earl. Earl is quite the European (so are my host parents, but i'll get to that later) he defiantly likes to speak with his hands and does this interesting lean when he talks. I'll defiantly be doing some undercover videotaping so you guys can see what I'm talking about.
People were pretty tired the first night, but some of us decided to go out and try to beat the jet lag. Before finding a bar we walked around Geneva. I noticed that the women were pretty dressed up for it being only 7 pm. Then we saw a ton of not-so-discrete sex shops. To top it off some guy tried to sell some stuff to some to the people in the program. We realized we were in the red light district - where prostitution is legal and drugs are readily available.
Just to tangent on that, its really interesting how the drug dealers are on every corner. They all wear black jackets and black jeans - very recognizable. They all know each other too, it's quite an interesting network. If i could make an analogy, I would probably compare it to Grease - where the drug dealers are the t-birds and the prostitutes are the pink ladies. It probably is nothing like that, but the leather jackets made me think of it.
Anyway, after our Red Light adventure we went to this American bar (7 something?). It was pretty nice but.... two pitchers cost us 45 chf which is about 45 us dollars -.- It was nice to get to know some people in the program though.
Oh have I not talked about the Hostel yet?!?!?! Well, before meeting our host families, the program put us in hostels for a few days. It was actually pretty clean - but them German folk sure know how to stay up late. I think the showers were the best part though. You have to push a button to turn the water on, but the water only lasts for about a minute or so... needless to say I pushed that button 87549656789 times.
As for Swiss food, Switzerland is filled with Pizza joints and Kabab stands. We had fondue one night, I think it's pretty hit or miss - one pot had too much wine, but another was just right.
Well, I meet my host family tomorrow...
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