[tenir]

"...we do not mark our lives by dates and times, but instead by moments in our lives."

-Christian Kang-

It's those little moments that I try and try to hold onto, that I never want to forget.

Moments throughout my day such as...

• Walking to school with Oleann in the morning, hand in hand. She was cold so I gave her my unusually large shirt. Wrapped up with the sleeves hanging down to her knees, she looked up and said, "I love... Maggie!" and gave me a hug. Walking like that was no easy task.


• I almost brought my iPod with me as I walked to pick up Oleann, but if I had, I would have missed this moment. I was approaching a little boy and his nanny who were taking a stroll in the crisp, fresh autumn air. He pointed to me and said, "She. What is the name?" to which I said, "My name is Maggie." His face lit up and he gave me a huge grin, I don't think he expected me to speak or understand English.


• Walking to school after lunch with Oleann. Listening to songs from Glee, we twirled down the lane, skipping - Oh Switzerland, did you think I could keep my joy inside? We then proceeded to sing Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious as we waved to the old man trimming his hedge.


• Smelling Chai tea for the the first time in a while. I had forgotten what it smells like.


• Watching Oleann dance around to, uh, interestng music as Floriane studies and I just lounge on the bed with my eyes closed.


• Running home from school with umbrellas as weapons, we hid from ghosts and vampires. The boy following us didn't quite know what to think.


• Cooking up chicken for dinner, listening to music and having the family come home. Knowing I can help in some way in this family.


• Eating burritos... in Switzerland. This is a first for me.

I could show my you schedule, my to do list, but in all honesty, this is what my life is what now. This is what it means.... burritos!

[stupide moment]

Somedays, well, I'm just not that bright. I'm slightly amazed that I'm still alive, at times.

Anyways, today, it was 4:00 and I was already anticipating youth group coming up that night at 8:00. I thought of how I could make the time waiting not seem so long. I decided to walk there.

I headed out at 6:22 PM.

For those of you unfamiliar with Switzerland, the entire country is filled with these yellow "Wanderweg" signs that show you how many minutes it is to walk to anywhere. You could get to pretty much any place without having a clue where it is, just by following these signs. I decided to put them to a test.

I left from Arzier and my destination was the Gland trainstation, and then to my church.

First reason why it was stupid for me to do this - I still have a brace and was on crutches. The crutches were real life savers, this evening. I used them to hop and run much of the way. They also were handy because...

I ended up with bloody, blistering heels. Just 25 minutes or so in, I realized my shoes were rubbing my feet wrong. Now these are the hiking boots I wear all the time in America without a problem, so I didn't imagine they could do the damage they did. But see the above picture. Blood isn't extreme.

The pathways I took this time weren't always friendly. The path soon decended down hills into a valley and I watched as the sun went down. I picked up my pace as the path lead me deep into the woods. A few times I would surface up to civilization and breath a huge sigh of relief before the path carried me back into the darkness. A little path that curved with each turn of the creek.

I always hoped that my eyes would adjust to the dark quickly because misteps could twist my ankle, which would slow down my pace by half. The path forced me to go up and down steep slopes and underneath tunnels on tiny pathways that I couldn't see.

After and hour and a half of wandering, I reached a bus stop. It was dark and my ankles were causing me grief. I asked the kid ther if the bus was headed to Gland, he said no, so it was back to the train for me. Another hour, the sign said.

Finally, I felt like I reached Gland. I knew I hadn't completed the path but I was sick of the Wanderweg at night so I just left. Then I was in a city with no sense of orientation. I just started walking based on how I felt. Where I thought I should go. It must have worked (go feelings), because after 20 minutes, I ended up at my destination - Youth Group.

Wandering is one of those things I missed a lot about Switzerland. It's addicting, something I could do every day. In fact, I have done it every day since I did that initial 6 mile trek to Gland. It makes me feel fresh, accomplished, and to some extents - free.

[sucre]

I'm at it again, I cut sugar out of my diet.

I have cut out sugar before, or to put it better, simply sweets.

There are a few reasons why. Mainly, there is a huge trend I can't deny. My body responds oddly to sugar. It doesn't feel so good. I simply feel awful. I realized my diet in Switzerland had too much sugar in it through various sources, all times of the day.

At breakfast there might be jam or Nutella on my bread or sugar in my tea.
For a snack I might have a waffle, half dipped in chocolate, or a Balisto which is simply a cookie with chocolate - but the Swiss consume it as a meal sort of snack. My host family keeps containers of gummy candies and licorice right at eye level. Then, on top of it all, there is your basic Swiss chocolate consumption.

On my birthday, I realized my sugar "addiction" was getting a bit out of hand. I realized that I was constantly consuming sugar and it was doing me no good. I had done weeks without sugar before, in America, and I realized I needed to do it again. Cut out all sweets.

I'm not one for limits. I've hard it can relate to my ADHD, but I have little control. Once I taste a bit, there's no stopping. I have to go all the way or it simply ain't happenin'. I can't try to limit myself to one sweet a day, because after one comes two and two doesn't seem like that much does it now...

I decided not to consume any more sweets (including jam, Nutella, Balisto, sugar in my tea, hot chocolate, or licorice). I would still eat apples and other fruits for some of my daily, natural sugars. If sugar was in my food, no problem, I just didn't want to eat foods that fall into the sugar and fats section of the food pyramid.

Cutting out sugar has made me feel so much better.

I have this insane amount of energy now, which is hard to believe since I always have my ADHD energy built up. I feel lively and more outgoing and excited about life. I don't feel as physically tired. This is a wonderful feeling.

At first, I thought I was just more happy and I didn't know why. After two days, I realized that perhaps the sugar had something to do with it. I'm no scientist, and I know A does not always cause B, but I don't think this is a coincidence. Wouldn't cutting out bad foods have a positive influence on my mentality?

It also saves me money. When I'm out and about, it's the sweets that tempt me. Cookies. Ice cream. Crepes. Now when I'm out, I go for the fruits or grain.

It also saves me, well, calories. I'm not a weight-loss-crazy person, but I do know that Switzerland causes me to gain weight (15 lbs last time, I believe). I'm not worried about weight as much for asthetic purposes as for health issues. I want to be good to my body and I believe stomache aches are it's way of telling me it didn't like all the sugar.

Anyways, I'll keep this up for a week and see if I want to continue. I think it might be good for me. I can already see my mood changing and I like what I see.

[pique-nique]

Thoughts and Observations and Bulletpoints of September 21, 2009

10:00 - wake up to furniture being moved around upstairs
11:30 eat breakfast and made lunch for day
Caught the train at 1:40 - went to Lausanne
Met up with Kaci, waited for Christine
Five of us total

Went to Coop for food

I bought nothing

Took the metro to Ouchy

Wow. Cool park
Had a picnic
Saw something covered in sheet and surrounded by officials
Watched covered thing in press

Amusing conversations and inspirations
Waited for uncovering

Guessed what it would be
Was a bust
Train to Geneva was late

Waited 16 minutes for train

Gave money to liar who said he needed it
Went to Geneva
Missed transfer train by 3 minutes because other train was late
Wandered for 30 minutes trying to find another way to destination
Got on bus
Hopped off at first stop after realizing it went the wrong direction
Walked back to train station
Bought some bread
Train to Geneve Secheron
Only one at the station
Walked along sketchy, unlit part of Geneva
Searched for the square dance hall
Pass sketchy building covered in graffiti
End up at the United Nations Geneva
Walk back
Realize sketchy building has matching numbers to the square dance hall
Wander around sketchy property
Enter hallway
Hear music
See one square of dancers
Sit
Eat with them and chat in English
Dance a tip
Catch train to Coppet.
See good looking guy on roller skates in Pont Ceard
Arrive in Coppet and transfer to Nyon
Worry that Nadine will miss little train up to village
Train waits for Nadine
Train up the mountain
Arrive in Arzier and get ride home from Nadine
Check out online courses - realize that I need one book
Call parental
Get book taken care of
Final bed time - 2:34 AM
Wake up time the next morning? 7:00 AM

[dix-neuf]

The day has come.
My Golden Birthday.

On 9/19/09 I turned 19 which, for me, was quite the big deal.

I really do like the number 9. It looks quite lovely to me and now I feel honoured hat I can claim it as mine for the next 12 months.

Joelle had arrived the night before, which was quite the excellent thing. It was great to hang out with her, simply refreshing. That evening, we went over to see Alice and we watched Moulin Rouge. We went upstairs for pizza, which was delicious. At 12:00, Alice had the honours of wishing me, "Happy birthday honey!" which wasn't freaky at all. So I was 19, I guess. That's it.

We never made it through the whole film due to a wee bit of exhaustion on all of our parts.

Joelle and I tottled on home and went to bed.

The next morning - birthday morning - we just chilled for a bit. Lazy day, well, lazy morning, which is such an enjoyable lifestyle. I like waking up, but not having to get up. Even better when you can converse with someone else.

We got up, ate breakfast, went back to bed.
Wrote postcards.
Surfed the net.

We did what Americans do best - hung out. Simply chilling. No purpose to it at all. There is no need to move on or go forward, no time restrictions. One person can just be on the computer while the other reads old magazines.

At around 11:00 it was time to head to France to go shopping for my birthday cake and for the rest of the week in the Coddron residence. Once again, my host mom was extremely accomidating and bought me things I was in dire need of such as lotion. I do so like lotion.

The recipe we were using was from Marina, and my third host mom used to also make it. I absolutely love it. It's a cream, sort of, well, cream. So it's lots of cream with berries and then roasted butter cookies and almonds on top. It is rather delicious. One of those deserts that you can't help but have seconds of.

We headed back to Switzerland, listening to Cake and the Beach Boys.

When we got home, lunch was served, we ate it. That was lovely.

Then Alice, Florian, and Geraldine came over. We all baked up the cake together, well, we didn't bake it. We creamed it up. We tried whipping the cream but it didn't whip but then we read the back and it said you had to chill the cream or bowl or something first. See, in Switzerland they don't keep their milk or cream always in the refrigerator. You can buy it in bulk and keep it in the cupboard for a while without it going bad.

We mixed it all up. Made it all up.

Then it was time to wait for the guests to arrive.

The question is, how many people can I count on to come after I've only been here for around three weeks.

Veronica showed up first, a lovely girl from my language course. She's from Germany. Christine came as well, who is a fellow au pair from South Africa. She makes me happy.

Then Alice and Florian came over and cake was served.

It was a great birthday and I really did enjoy it. I am so grateful for already having such amazing friends in Switzerland. I do feel blessed.

We had some enjoyable conversations, which I liked. We talked about the concept of hanging out, and I found some other folks who are up for nothing evenings at home.

We hung out some more and Oleann and Alex were quite entertaining. I think they turned their cute levels up to the max. They're good at enchanting people.

That evening, we had dinner, and then we were going to watch Moulin Rouge but Joelle and I were just too tired. We went back to bed and read, surfed, did what we wanted to do without doing anything.

I was glad that Joelle had the opportunity to come here for the weekend. I know what it's like to be with a host family in Switzerland. They can be wonderful, but being an exchange student is like a full time responsibility in which you feel an obligation to always act certain ways and conform to certain ideals. It is always a search to find the balance between being with the family, friends, and on your own. That's why I like being an au pair, I'm not expected to do anything but my job.

I checked my facebook and there were 91 birthday greetings. I feel the love people, feel the love.

And that was my birthday. My 19th birthday on the 19th of 2009.

[le linge]

One of the high points is Thursdays.

Thursdays are wash days for me.

I absolutely love doing my wash in Switzerland. It relaxes me. Makes me feel refreshed.

I love hanging it up, nice and slwoly. Shaking it out in the cool air. Clipping each item on.

I keep my laundry in a pillowcase I got from Ikea. It goes in the very bottom cubby of the second row of my cubboards.

The washing machines in Switzerland take a long time to do their job. It just takes forever. It washes and washes and the machine washes on. I pour the detergent into a small clear sphere with a hole in the top and I put that in the machine. It is one of those machine with a round door on the side so you can see your clothes spin round and round. Back and forth.

Once the cycle is finished I carefully dump them into the laundry basket and carry them up to the patio.

That's when the best part comes, hanging them up on the clothes line. I let them dry in the Swiss Alpine air. So fresh. It blows the clothes crisp and dry.

Pants go on upside down, each pantleg hung up by a clothes pin.
Shirts as well, two pins.
Two socks to a pin.
Underwear, well, I get to decide as I hang it up if it decides one clothes pin or two.

The hope is that it doesn't rain. if it rains, you've got to take all the clothes mighty fast. Luckily, after living in Seattle so long I know the smell and sense of rain. My first time hanging it up, I smelt a bit of rain coming after they clothes had been up for around 55 minutes. I could tell it was coming soon and started to take the clothes down. Sure enough, when I was 25% done it started to sprinkle a bit and so I had to pick up the pace.

I put all the clothes back into the basket and inside to be ironed.

I normally iron while watching a movie or something. I enjoy the ironing as well and like ironing the ribbons on my pyjama pants.

At the end of the whole process I just feel accomplished, clean, and good.
It's laundry thearapy.

"We're just cheering for laudnry!"
-Jerry Seinfeld-

[reconnaissants]

I want to do a blog of things I am simply grateful for, I do. Here we go.

I am grateful for my American family. My really family. I love their quirks and all those things that make us the Hubert family. I love that Jesus is the foundation of our family.... and music! I love making cookie dough with Dad. Talks with Mom. Walks with Ian. Sometimes I miss living with those folks, in a home where I can blast my music and have jam sessions with my friends at night.

I am grateful for my Belgian host family. They really are good to me. There is a high level of communication between me and the host parents and I know I can talk to them about any little problem to avoid bigger miscommunication. They give me my space and simply expect me to fulfill my duties as an au pair living under their roof. They give me true freedom and allow me to have friends over for visits, even for a couple nights.

I am grateful for my fish.

I am grateful for Alice living across the street and what a good friend she is.

I am grateful for the Hagons who live across the street.

I am grateful for the beautiful walks to school with Oleann and Nadine.

I am grateful that I am allowed to use an awesome bike in Switzerland.

I am grateful for my huge bedroom in the basement.

I am grateful for the orange blanket from Callie and Lorilee before I left.

I am grateful for the shoes and the backpack I got from Monica before I left.

I am grateful for Mr. Chuck and the birthday present I have yet to open.

I am grateful that I have this opportunity to learn French.

I am grateful that I have already found a wonderful youth group.

I am grateful that I was able to visit Obwalden twice already and see my friends.

I am grateful that Lisa was able to lend me her crutches.

I am grateful for the tea last night from Corey instead of having to wait an hour at the station.

I am grateful that my classes start late enough that I can use my Gleis 7 and travel free.

I am grateful that my host family has so many movies that I can watch in French.

I am grateful for the rhubarb yogurt in the refrigerator and the English breakfast in the cubboard.

I am grateful that the last au pair left me some of my favourite Herbal Essence conditioner.

I am grateful my feet don't stink.

I am grateful for all of the pictures people have made for me.

I am grateful that I am living in such a beautiful place, again.

I am grateful that I am able to sleep in till 11:00 each morning, if I choose.

I am grateful that we have wireless internet that I can use.

I am grateful for an iPod full of songs.

I am grateful that I found a way to get a cello for the year.

I am grateful for trains.

I am greatful that when people ask me how I am doing, I can honestly answer with the truth.

I am grateful for Swiss chocolate.

I am grateful for late night walks.

I am grateful for postcards and letters and packages that show up in the mail.

I am grateful that I am in Switzerland.

I am grateful for my friends back home who haven't forgotten me. For the ones that still keep in contact with me likes we we're still together. For the ones I know will still be there for me when I get back. For the ones that give me a reason to come back, someday.

Life here might not always be easy. It is filled with its daily challenges and setbacks. But I know one thing, life is beautiful, and that's one things to be grateful for.