Grützi (hello in Swiss-German),
On our red-eye flight, about 7 Orthodox Jews who never sat down and were always talking even when every one was sleeping, throughout our entire flight. The girl next to us wouldn't sit next to Jeremy because he is a man. One was sleeping in the aisle until a stewardess found him. Strange.
So that's it. I'm moving to Switzerland, the land of green mountains, bicycles, no wars ever, high standard of living, international consciousness. It only takes 10 years to become a citizen...ha. So far, my stay has been wonderful. Donat (his name is actually Donat Beer, like "donut beer") and Heidi, our hosts, have taken us to the mountains, taken us biking around town and on paths next to the mountains, and cooked for us and serve us wine every night. Jeremy's dad makes some great friends (that's how we're here...Donat and Jeremy's dad worked together). Donat is a school teacher, and Heidi is a secretary. Donat speaks English well, though he mostly speaks British English, despite living in the US for two years. Heidi speaks English, though not as well, and Jeremy and I quietly laugh at some of the funny things she says. They're both about 60, but act very young, taking us for bike rides, drinking until midnight, that kind of thing.
The Swiss are very friendly, and many will speak to us in English when they figure out we are American. The Swiss typically know so many languages: Swiss German, German, Italian, and English. Some know French too, depending on the part of the country they live. I only know a few expressions in Swiss-German, but it's fine when we're with Heidi and Donate. The streets are very clean, and there are these large fountains with pure mountain water you can drink from all over the city. There are areas that are free from cars, and where there are cars, the cars stop for you immediately if you are a pedestrian trying to cross. I've almost never had to wait for a car to pass by. The Swiss seem to be very critical of the US's politics (Donat gives Jeremy and me passionate history lessons every day), but at the same time like the American people. Switzerland is a direct democracy, and they typically vote 10 times a year on issues that are in their canton, instead of our elected idiots voting for things.
I've fallen in love with Chur, Switzerland, with a population of 37,000 or so and an hour and 15 minutes away from Zurich by train, with mountains surrounding it. Everywhere you look is mountains and well-kept gardens and pale-colored houses, with people constantly greeting one another on the street. People walk and bike to work all the time, and the buses and trains are really nice and quiet. We spend our days walking around, sitting at some cafe outdoors, walking some more, and then going home to something nice Heidi cooked for us, and then drinking and talking all night.
It's so strange being in a country that seems so much better than the US in almost every way (except everything is expensive since the dollar is a lot weaker than the Swiss Franc...just paid 300 dollars each for our train. eck. ). Since I've only visited Ecuador and Mexico, I've made negative comparisons with much of the infrastructure and standard of living, it's quite a change.
We will be leaving for Belgium on Monday and traveling for 10 hours by TGV (literally, train of great velocity) train throughout France. We get to stop for a little bit in Paris.
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I have photos and a lovely photo book J made for me, but I cannot recall my exact thoughts like I can of my experience in Ecuador. This little email is all I have of my trip after graduation, and thus my memories are truncated. Even though Ecuador was a year and a half ago, I can summon my thoughts and feelings with such ease due to the writing, editing and rereading process that this blog forced me to do. So, I've decided my blog will continue, but of my life here in Hyde Park and at UIC for my DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy). I doubt many will read it, and it only may be of interest to those in a similar situation, but because of the possibility people will read, I hold my writing to a higher standard and hopefully will write with more frequency.
Orientation begins tomorrow, and I am excited to leave the world of babysitting and sitting on the couch contemplating my future for a world of textbooks, cadavers, and educated people who share similar interests.
I'm not unhappy with how summer has turned out, just what I did this summer could not keep me happy forever. Summer has been breezy and carefree, with work interspersed just enough to feel like I'm doing something. I've done some reading (for fun!), trained (and still training) for a half-marathon, went out for icecream and dinners with J and his friends and family, and walked around observing Hyde Park's beautiful parks and architecture. It's been exactly how summer should be: make money, travel, read, relax, repeat. Now, starting tomorrow, I finally will begin the 3-year-long journey of physical therapy school, which will certainly have much less relaxation, but will bring me closer to a fulfilling career.
