Return to Switzerland - A Crazy-Busy Visit!

After waiting patiently for my passport for four months, it was finally returned to me with my brand-spanking-new visa. I jumped for joy, not just for the visa, but because it meant I could travel to Switzerland!

I booked a flight the same day my passport arrived, I was so excited! I eagerly counted down the days until it was finally time to go, time to see so many of my friends. In the days prior to my trip, I had started slotting people in to days/hours/meals in hopes I could see everyone. Finally, my trip had arrived!

This is an overview of the whole trip, and not necessarily entertaining for my readers out there - it's really for me in the future. I like looking back at my trips, and it can be so hard to remember trips like this. Unfortunately, I didn't take many pictures because I was WAY too busy actually chatting with everyone and getting myself from place to place. What I learned from this trip is that I have to book another visit to Lausanne, pronto!

Day 1: Landing in Geneva felt like it always did, and I had to keep reminding myself I didn't live there. The passport control officer was very pleased I spoke French (and I was pleased I managed to remember anything!) I caught the next direct train to Lausanne with a minute to spare, and was so happy to be in a familiar place. It certainly makes traveling less stressful! 

I dropped my bags at my old apartment, and then caught the bus to my old school. It felt so bizarre - there, but not living or working there. I gave hugs and hellos to many of the teachers in the primary building as well as classes full of students. In the secondary building, many of the staff said hello to me as if I still worked there (I actually suspect none of them realized that I don't, in fact, work there anymore). I joined two of my old colleagues/friends for drinks and dinner to catch up. Time had both sped by and stood still. We couldn't believe it had been ten months since I had last been there!

Day 2: Another day at College Champittet catching up with all the teachers, seeing how their year was, how the students were doing, dropping into my old classes, reading books with my adorable kiddos. My heart ached - I missed them all so much. But they've moved on, and so have I, and that's just life sometimes. A hundred more hugs and the school day was finished so I headed home. 

I met two of my closest friends for coffee, and we had a good long chat. I was so grateful to finally get the chance to catch up with them and their lives, and I remembered how important it was to have friends who really care about you and understand your life.

That evening, my old roommate Catarina and I finally had the chance to catch up. With pizza, wine, and the Bachelor, it was the perfect night! Girl nights like that are so important!

Day 3: Switzerland decided to have weird, bipolar weather for me while I was visiting. In the morning I had a slow jog with my friend Hannah (I miss you!), and then I rushed home for the next event. Alternating between sunny and knock-your-socks-off windy, I joined my friends John and Catherine for a BBQ down in Ouchy. The food was yummy, the company entertaining, and the wine flowing. And then a Swan tried to attack my friend John to get our food on the BBQ! The afternoon quickly passed by and it was time to get home and ready for dinner!

I was booked to have dinner with some of the girls from my primary teaching team at Champittet, and I was really looking forward to it. We had a lovely night of sushi (a bit more wine) and conversation. I wish the night had never ended!

Day 4: Caves Ouvertes! For those of you who have never been, this is a wine tasting event where you pay for one glass, and then drink for free at all the participating wineries for the whole day. Due to some communication problems with my different friends, we spent a lot of time wandering around trying to find each other, but I did get to taste some delicious (and some not so delicious) wine, chat with new people, and enjoy the beautiful sights of the vineyards, lakes and mountains of Switzerland. I especially loved seeing my friend Cam and taking the train/tractor ride up the hill!

 

In the evening, I managed to catch up with my old flatmate Matt, his wife Heather, and Matt's kind parents. They had been out at Caves Ouvertes during the day as well, and had a big day planned for the following morning. It was so nice to hear how they were doing and just touch base in person.

Day 5: Also known as the pack-em-in day. I have so many wonderful students that I wanted to see while I was in town, and Monday seemed to be the best day to do it. So, I made a schedule of buses, trains, and trams to get from one house to another. First I spent time with my friends Hannah and Lauren, and Lauren's gorgeous new baby (so many cuddles!), then two houses of students I used to tutor, then drinks with a friend in Ouchy, then (getting lost!) but finding another friend in Ouchy, then dinner with another family of a student I used to tutor. By the time I got home, it was 10pm and I was completely wiped out. How was this holiday going so fast? I thought 6 days would be enough, but it clearly wasn't!

Day 6: My last full day! I spent the morning at Champittet in attempts to see any teachers/students I had missed the first few days. I had a long lunch with my old colleague and friend Sophie, where she helped me (cough-forced me-cough) to speak French. Then I hiked up the hill to see two more of my little students (who weren't so little anymore), and then ran to have one last night of snacks and drinks with two of my fitness buddies at my favorite restaurant Cafe de Grancy. Finally, I picked up a bag I had left in Switzerland (thanks again Hannah!), and then went back to the apartment for a little relaxation with Catarina and sleep before the big flight. By this time I was congested, felt exhausted, and had a sore throat. Switzerland sure knows how to welcome a girl home!

Day 7: Phew! I made it alive! After picking up last minute supplies (chocolate! cheese!) I packed up my bags and took the bus/train to the airport. I had to promise everyone I'd come back - which I will! - because I miss you all so much. 

To Bristol and Back... And Everything Inbetween

I always get into this rut when I'm at home, living life as usual. I feel like there is nothing to write about. Well, nothing very interesting at least. But writing is a habit, and like all other habits it's use it or lose it. So, on this perfectly-Scottish-rainy-day, I'm going to write a short post about the goings-on in life during the past few months.  

First, we've been making semi-regular trips down to Newcastle to visit Paul's family. One of the best things about living in Edinburgh is how close we are to his family. They are so lovely and welcoming, and we always enjoy seeing our nephew's smiling face or meeting his aunts and uncles and cousins for lunch or tea. It feels nice to have a family support system so close by.

We also made a previously planned trip down to Bristol to see our friends and to watch Wicked with the Metsons. We got to sit in a box where we could see into the orchestra pit - and it was my favorite part! I tried not to sing too loudly throughout the show, and I thoroughly enjoyed both the company and the entertainment. We also got the chance just to spend time with our friends and their children - some of the cutest kids you've ever seen. The older I get, the more I think spending time with family and friends = happiness. 

 

   

 

Several visitors have come to the Szczypka B&B since our opening - including our friend Cam who (as soon as we had a spare bed), promptly jumped on a train up here. My mother-in-law Joan, my brother-in-law and family, Mark, Steph and Sebby, and our dear friends from the rainy bit of Scotland Ruth and Stu all trekked out to our house. I feel so privileged to finally be able to host people in our home! I absolutely love cooking dinner (even when the power goes out!), enjoying a night of games, wine and good conversation, and commiserating (about how we should have had less wine) over breakfast. If you are thinking of visiting, please let us know the dates then book are flights. I am definitely all for it!

 

 

The biggest news is that Paul has started his new job with IBM! This meant we flew back down to Bristol - Paul to do a week of training and meeting the team, and me to visit friends again. It's moments like these that I absolutely love the flexibility of my job. Every morning Paul got up early and trooped off to the office. I alternated my full work days with visiting friends. Two days I got to spend time with my adorable niece Libby. I swear she is getting cuter (and more mischievous) every day. With lots of bubbles, swinging, jumping, hopscotch, puzzles, tag, and hide-and-seek, I think I laughed and smiled more with her than I normally do in a whole week. Kids sure have a way of making life fun! 

 

I also got the chance to visit a wetlands park called Slimbridge with my dear friends Anna and Rob and their incredibly beautiful daughter Sylvie. They even let me hold her most of the day! Together we fed ducks (Na-nas? Ni-nis? Ne-nes?), watched an otter show, and explored all the different birds in the area (including creepy black swans!). My camera was out of battery so I've borrowed a few pictures from my friends. 

 

 

Paul stayed in Bristol to work a few days longer than I did, and that gave me the opportunity to do lots of running, swimming, and cycling. I even did 60+ kilometers on my bike into the Scottish Borders. Can you guess what I am in training for? 

With Paul away I also had panic-crazy-mode as my provisional UK driving license arrived and I had take my theory test (I passed!) and then my practical test (passed again!) within three days of each other. That must be a record! It was not the most productive week work-wise, but again, I am grateful for its flexibility!

 

Once home from the training, Paul had a few short days to be with me before I dropped him back at the airport and he flew to Boston for a big, week-long IBM meeting. The timing was pretty terrible in that I had just been scheduled for a last-minute surgery. When the NHS gives you a surgery date, you don't say no. So Paul flew across to America without me, and I checked myself into hospital for a few days. It wasn't anything big, don't worry, just an exploratory laparoscopic surgery to find out why I had been having several months of abdominal pain. My kind friends from gymnastics here in Edinburgh were around to check-in with me, take me home from the hospital, and be my moral support.

Paul is now back (yay!) and we have a lot to look forward to. It's my birthday on Tuesday, then I fly to Switzerland in a few weeks to visit friends and enjoy Caves Ouverts. June looks to be pretty calm (for now), and then in July I am flying to Chicago to visit my family there, then LA to see everyone in Cali. August is crammed full of visitors, and then September looks like it might be back to normal. I've reverted into my normal state of keeping myself as busy as possible, but I think you should live life to the fullest, don't you?

Whew, so that's all on the update frontier. What have you been up to?