Day 10: More than a Week in Switzerland!

WOW! More than a week in the Schweiz! or as the Swiss Germans pronounce it, "Schwitz". Have to memorialize a few great moments of the last day or so: 1) Took public transportation to and from work in Winterthur today for the first time. May not sound like much of an accomplishment, but let me tell you, unlocking the Swiss Holy Book of Tables, enshrouded and protected by foreign runes, namely the Bus Schedule is a miracle unto itself. Then you have to make it on time, and decide which of the 47, yes 47 ticket options to buy from the street-side automat. I think God makes special angels that help you just to figure it out.

Buses at the Hauptbahnhof. I actually rode this line the other day.

Like all public transportation in Switzerland, the bus system is impeccably clean. If you were to peel a piece of gum off of the floor that someone had just stepped on, you could eat it. The buses are also quite punctual, opening and shutting their doors and speeding along their merry way, like the well-oiled machine they are, though they do make the disclaimer that: "jedoch können  Verkehrsbehinderungen zu Verspätungen und in der Folge zu Anschlussbrüchen führen." (despite this can transportation hindrances lead to delays and resulting connection breaks).

2) Also got the chance to meet students in the classroom for the first time this week (which is also the reason for the absence of posts the last couple of days). In general, I found these students to be much quieter and more respectful than American classes. It's an expectation that they shake your hand when they leave class as a sign of respect (for both parties), and they do. The listen when you speak, and they give serious thought to what you say. Now that's the brighter side. They can talk too. And they tease each other. And they require monitoring just like other kids (I found some climbing up and over bathroom stalls one day), but it's really a positive classroom experience. 

Trollstrasse, the School where I teach; newly renovated as of now.

I also discovered as I was walking home from the bus stop today that some of the kids live right on the same street as I in Iberg (suburb of Winterthur). I came around a corner and there were two boys from the 1. Oberstufe  (about 13-14 yrs old) riding on skateboards down the street. They picked me out first and we proceeded to have a 15 minute conversation about skating in Switzerland, countries they had visited and would recommend (one of them loved Ireland), the recent incursion of drugs and drug politics into Swiss society, and also how they were planning on carrying out their Dienst (mandatory military or civil service) for the state. They both said they would choose military, but that they wouldn't kill anybody. 

Anti-Immigrant Poster for the ultra-conservative Swiss party SVP.

So you can see students are a little different. And it's a real encouragement as a teacher that they are so personable. It makes teaching more like giving something worthwhile to someone that you respect.

3) Third, I went for a walk. Also pretty bland sounding right?  Not when the footpaths through sheep fields are so steil (steep), you wonder how your going to get up them again. I came to realization the moment I walked into the door at home that I had forgotten to run an errand to pick up bread from my host mom. So I decided to go for a walk to find some. Mind you, we're a little bit into the countryside where we are. My guest parent's house overlooks the valley of Kolbrunn which is nestled among thick forested pine slopes on all sides. There are, however homes in Kolbrunn, and so I thought there was a chance of finding something. I did after asking a bicyclist and walking done some 45 degree walking paths past and through the local greenery. It couldn't help but make me think a little bit about places in the Poconos, PA, where you also see such elevation and pine and similar looking red-roofed white painted homes. Comforting thought that. 

There's me and my already snowy house! Or at least it would be cool if it was :P

After inadvertently taking the scenic route around town, I made my way into town and found the COOP (one of the Swiss Adli-esque chains). And it was closed. And had been for the last 15 minutes. I wasn't deeply disappointed. I mean I would have had to carry the bread back. But really it was great for the physical exertion and getting a feeling for the area in which my house is located. Really made the house seem like more of a depot, where I stop to get my food and shelter, before trekking into the great outdoors.

So, as I mentioned it was just the first week of school. Not bad. A little stressful figuring things out. Had all kinds of interesting things happen, like missing deadlines and flip-flopped schedules, leading to more missed teaching. A lot has been chalked up to it being "the first week". Just time to get my act together now. On Tuesday night, I went to the charismatic church that my hosts do, which was great. Except by the time they let out at 10pm, I discovered that my hosts were not there at all, but were already at home. First time I really ticked off my host dad, when he had to come pick me up at the bus stop, which required a car ride. As it turned out there was a connecting bus I could've taken that would've gotten me to within walking distance. As I said, it's good to know the buses now. 

Well, it's almost Friday, end of the first week of school, and boy did it go fast! I think my time here in general will go fast, and I think I will miss it when I am done. I still can't wait though to see some people in October though. I may be doing an emissarial mission then for the school to the U.S. to find someplace for the graduating 3. Oberstufe to visit in America. It will be great to see Angela and my folks!

Well, goodbye for now!