Adjusting and Readjusting: My final post.

Well, I'm home. I've been home for 11 days. Sometimes it feels like more, sometimes less. That's pretty standard, I'd say. I adjusted really strangely back into this time zone. When I came back from Austria, it took me a solid week to feel fully adjusted. This time, I wasn't able to go to bed until 10pm EST (4am in Switzerland!) and then woke up with a start the next day at 7am EST (1pm in Switzerland) as if I'd overslept. The following night, I wasn't able to fall asleep until 2am EST (8am in Switzerland) and woke up again at 6am EST (12pm in Switzerland). After that, things pretty much went back to normal.

I miss Switzerland a lot, as expected, but the actual cultural adjustment hasn't been too rough. I was a little thrown off at a restaurant with a friend every time the waitress came back to ask how our food was tasting. I am still readjusting to strangers constantly greeting me and asking how I am.

But I think what most people are asking me are the following questions:

What do I miss about Switzerland (aside from the people, of course)? (in no specific order):

1. Bread. The bread here all looks processed and not fresh. I miss the warm bread in Migros/Coop, especially Zopf and Tessinerbrot and Silserkranz. Yum.
2. ÖV. (Public Transportation). Even if it took 30min to get anywhere and my bus only left every 30 minutes, I miss it! 
3. Cheese. I found Gruyère cheese here, which I'm hoping doesn't taste any different, but it's so much more expensive there!
4.  Fußgängerzonen. In all the European cities I've been to, there's a pedestrian zone in the downtown area, where most of the shopping and restaurants are. You can walk freely in the street and not have to worry about cars (mostly). Maybe bikes, but not cars.
   
   and, the surprising one...
5. Swiss German. I miss speaking (Standard) German all the time, I really do. I'm even dreaming about it now. But what I didn't expect to miss, since I had so much grief with it at the beginning, was Swiss German. Last night, when I picked up my brother from work and had my iPod on shuffle, a Swiss German song came on and I got all nostalgic and homesick.

What have I enjoyed about being home (aside from the people, of course)? (in no specific order):

1. TARGET. Oh my goodness, I missed everything about that store.
2. Arizona Iced Tea for 99¢ instead of 2.50CHF. 
3. Lower prices on EVERYTHING. My goodness, I've got something like reverse sticker shock! It's great...except not for my wallet... :-D
4. Using my bank account/debit card! It's nice not to have to carry cash around ALL the time. Options ate good. 
5. My car. Well, the idea of a car, since I've now got a new car. Which has been excellent and I love, btw. Meet Dieter:

So, I'm adjusting all right, but missing my other home a whole lot, of course. I am loving keeping in touch with everyone per Email and WhatsApp (if you want to communicate with me through WhatsApp or otherwise, send me your number! I lost all my contacts :-( )

The next chapter of this adventure I call life starts tomorrow, as I head down to South Carolina for orientation and move in approximately two weeks! And I've decided, in order to keep everyone in the loop on how that adventure is going, follow my new blog here...jessicateachesgerman.blogspot.com 

Danke für das Mitlesen! Thanks for reading!

Thank goodness for Waterproof Mascara.

As of right now I have one real day left in Switzerland, but two days until I leave. The past few days have been filled with goodbyes. It's been really hard, but with the help of waterproof mascara and lots of prayers (from near and far) and hugs, I've been able to manage. I've been doing fun things, like seeing fireworks in Zürich for part of Zürich fest and enjoying last dinners or coffees with friends. I've gotten really sweet and thoughtful presents, as well as blushed a lot from incredibly nice compliments from those I worked with. It all makes me reflect a lot on this year--what I brought to the SalZH school and what I've taken from this experience.

In Matthew 5: 14-16, Jesus talks about being a blessing to others.

"You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

It's hard to think of oneself as a blessing to others. Or at least, it's hard for me to think of myself that way. It feels like I'm bragging that I'm just so fantastic and everyone is lucky to know me/work with me, which is not what I want to say at all. And I'm pretty sure that's not what Jesus meant either. I think it means that we all have different talents and abilities, which God has blessed us with. And if we don't do something with those talents and abilities, we're not sharing the blessings of God. Many people this year have told me that I am gifted in languages. At first, I struggled with this compliment, because I can only speak two languages (which, in America may be impressive, but anywhere else is not so impressive). But, I think my language ability and understanding combined with my love of teaching/sharing with others has made it my blessing for the SalZH school.

I also feel extremely blessed to have been here for a year. I don't remember ever dreaming as a child of going abroad and exploring the world, but I remember always thinking world travelers had pretty cool lives. I am blessed to have gotten to know the fantastic people I have met here and to have learned more about different ways of life or traditions. And I feel like these measly words don't even come close to expressing my gratitude for this year. I am so thankful I've had this opportunity to be here, and although I'm sad to be going home, I'm excited to share everything I've learned here with my future students in South Carolina. I hope I can use this experience to be a blessing to my SC students.

I think this is my final post from Switzerland, as I don't have much time left and I plan to spend as much time OFF the computer and WITH Dorina tomorrow ;-) But I am planning on posting a reflection post once I'm home...so stay tuned :-)

See you on the other side of the Atlantic.

The Final Days

Today is July 1, and that means I have fifteen days left in Switzerland. It's quite hard to wrap my brain around. How did I get here so fast? How has it been nearly a year already? When I think back to what I was doing a year ago from today, I was working full-time at Stanley Steemer with also two weeks until I was done. I was mentally preparing to leave Grand Rapids and to say goodbye to my GR friends and the city I'd grown to love over the past five years. And now, I'm back to that state of mind. Back to the preparations of saying goodbye. Trying to squeeze in every last goodbye and fun thing possible before leaving. It's bittersweet; so very, very bittersweet.

I daydream often about the mini-summer I'll have, where I can see friends and family again before heading off to begin my new South Carolina Adventures. I mentally plan my classroom layout and rules, and how I want to start the first day of the year. But I also dread fifteen days from now. I don't want to leave and I'm not ready for it to end. I remember being extremely sad about leaving Grand Rapids, and had never really related to the whole my-life-is-a-book idea until that moment. My Grand Rapids chapter was coming to an end...and now, somehow, my Switzerland chapter is coming to an end. Maybe it's cliché to think of it that way, but it really does fit.

Anyway, it's strange to know that I was in the exact same emotional situation a year ago from now. At least I know I can survive it ;-)

So, how have I been filling my time? I spent a Sunday in Bern with Dorina and our own personal Tour Guide, Alexandra (with whom we shared a bungalow in Italy). I visited the largest annual street fest in Europe, Albanifest, which is to celebrate St. Alban. Dorina and I went to Romanshorn with Nina, one of the other interns here, to stay at her lake house, relax, and enjoy the view of Lake Constance.

And what's in store for the next two weeks? This coming Saturday is SalZH Fest, where everyone from the school comes together and celebrates all things SalZH. I don't know many details about it, but I'll update once it's over with. We're hoping to go to the Zürich City Fest next weekend, which only happens once every three or four years. And I have lots and lots of goodbyes to come.

It's going to be hard to say goodbye, but it's not over yet. Although I know my time is extremely limited now, I'm still going to enjoy my time here while I can. And I know I have a lot to look forward to in the next couple of months!