They have spent so much time here dividing us into groups, then dividing us into smaller groups, and calling off our names to organize us into other groups.
They even do this for more free activities. Like scavenger hunts. And group excursions. We spend 20 minutes separating and naming off names….
But, that’s Germany for ya!
I love Germany. Everything is so cheap! I’m in heaven.
Let’s compare.
While the Euro is indeed doing better than the Dollar, the exchange rate is still about .80 to 1. Yet, even bearing that in mind, I’m still like super rich here. haha. Below are some examples. CHF (Swiss Francs) are almost 1:1 with the USD
Price of Coffee: Switzerland 4 - 7 CHF v.s. Germany 1, 50 Euros
Price of McDonalds Hamburger: Switzerland 5 CHF v.s. Germany 1,60 Euros
Price of Rent: Switzerland 600 CHF a month v.s. Germany 290 Euros a month
Guys, you will never hear me complain about prices ever ever again. Not after surviving 3 months in Switzerland! I’m so glad to be here. Plus, everyone makes sense when they talk to me! :)
Tonight I experienced German “Relaxed Clubbing.”
I kid you not, it was straight out of Sprockets. Complete with the weird, unrelated flashing video clips to match the techno band’s awkward dance party.
It’s my last day in Switzerland!
So, what did I go do?
Hike, of course!
Unfortunately, it started as one of those days. I woke up at 5:26, the very last alarm I’d set in order to make my 5:43 tram. However, even that didn’t work as I watched the tram pass me. I then tried to walk/run to the train station to make the 6:03 train. I made it to the station at 6:04.
However, after waiting 20 minutes, we embarked. We planned to do the 6 hour long hike I was prepared to do for Wednesday. However, because of the excess of cold rain here…. it had snowed a lot in the mountains. The Panaroma Weg, the ticket guy assured us, was good to go, so long as we had hiking shoes.
And that’s what we did. Me, a Marine, and a friend took the 50 minute, 12 kilometer an hour cogwheel train up and up and up until we were surrounded by the Alps. We then embarked on a two hour hike that gained just a bit of elevation in the slowly melting slush. It was essentially muddy hiking surrounded by a winter wonderland and the snow covered alps. The infamous Eiger, Mönch, and Jungfrau were in our view for the entire hike.
And, as is customary at the end of any Swiss hike, we ended it with a rest and a drink at the restaurant on the mountain. It’s the best views I’ve ever had while dinning.
All in all, a great last hurrah. Thank you Switzerland for being beautiful, welcoming, and photogenic! :)
Saying good bye is really a weird thing.
As we get older, it seems to get more frequent. And oddly, less traumatic. I remember the last day of my first summer camp: the tears, the promises, the intense feeling that you’re loosing people so important…. But then, as time fades and you say good bye to more and more people, those people you swore to be friends with forever are now just someone you look up on Facebook once in a blue moon.
Still, thank god for Facebook!
Plus, there’s such a odd pattern. You always say “yeah, we’ll see each other again.” But how often does of that actually happen? It’s almost a comfort for us human beings. We want to keep these connections going until they fade away. But during the immediate break, well, we never want to be honest about the odds of a future reunion.
Now, not to say you’ll NEVER EVER again see your friend from camp or high school or that place you lived when you were 12. But it definitely becomes harder.
And, it’s always a bit sad. It’s that last day of high school feeling. You know, that mix of “I’m gonna miss this so much” and “Wow I’m so excited for what comes next.”
So, long story short. Thanks Bern for giving me a great summer! I couldn’t ask for a better internship!
But, Germany’s calling. A new adventure. And I’m pretty darn excited!
Today, instead of hiking the planned 6 hour hike, my prayers were heard. We switched instead to a 2.5 hour hike up a little mountain called the Stockhorn. This was much quicker with only about 600 meters gained (around 2000 feet).
Still, it was a great way to start the morning! We met up at 6:30 a.m. (yep, wayy earlier than I’ve been up in a long time!) and began the hike around 8:00 a.m.
The views were great! Plus we saw some great Swiss “wildlife.” i.e. cows and goats and also two pigs. haha So cute! :)
We made it back in time for lunch. And in time to get back to work! ;)
Tomorrow, I am going to attempt to hike 16 kilometers in 6 hours through the Swiss Alps.
Please lord let me make it through!
If I live to see tomorrow, expect awesome pictures like this:
See those little tiny shapes in the middle? Yeah, that’s people.
I kid. It should be beautiful and super enjoyable…. and very strenuous.
Anyways, wish me luck!
Of course, all those mixed feelings go away when I realize this is where I’ll be spending the rest of my year.
In a week, I’ll be in Germany.
Man, time flies by fast.
Still, Bern’s grown on me. I love this sleepy capitol city and it’s beautiful old architecture, refreshingly chilly river, and general laid back feel.
But, it’ll be nice to be moving on.
Also, it’s a weird feeling. I feel sad to be leaving a place I’ve only lived in for 3 months. Compounded on that is the fact that everyone’s back together in Chapel Hill. Homesickness + Moving Day Blues + Study Abroad Excitement = a weird mix of emotions.
Then again, in a week I’ll have a whole new adventure. New friends, new town, new life…. So that’s pretty exciting too :)
