Keine ahnung.

T

The Wood kids and I on our AIA outing

Yay election week is over! Honestly I am super glad that my Facebook news feed will not be cluttered with name calling and ridiculous status updates about the election. I decided I should live in a foreign country every four years to avoid the drama. First of all, I am not going to act like I know everything about politics because I don’t. I wish I knew more, but politics bore me to death. I tried watching the Presidential debates while doing some push-ups and abs in my bedroom, but it just didn’t cut it. I would WAY rather listen to Lecrae. The last two weeks I have been taking a German history and politic class (in German) because I had to pass a test for the government to pay for my German classes. All in all, I am a German citizen that doesn't know German. The perks of having two identities. J So I am not a big fan of history or politics and learning them in a different language isn't exactly easy. My teacher would always ask about America and what our system is like. One day he says to me, “Elizabeth, who was the President in the late 1980’s?” As you can guess, I didn't know off the top of my head, so I started singing the President song aloud to figure it out, but clearly the other people in my class knew it before I got there. Embarrassing. Oh well. I don’t pretend that I know everything about history and politics. I am probably just as educated now about Germany’s politics and history as I am about America’s.

Teammates :)

Politics are something that people openly speak about here and Germans aren't afraid to ask who you are going to vote for. Most (not all because I don’t want to generalize) Germans wanted Obama to win because they are in favor of Obama care and when I told them I wanted Romney they tend to look at me like I have a third eyeball. I hate discussing politics.

So another interesting story from language class happened on Wednesday after my class. I walk out of the building and this man is standing in front of the door. He says to me in German, “Hi, I am Michael.” I looked behind me to see if maybe he was talking to someone behind me, but sure enough it was the only one around. I looked at him and said, “Hi.” He proceeds to ask me if I take language class here and which class I am in, etc. I realize that his German wasn't that great so I ask if he can speak English, so we switch. He then proceeds to tell me is from Africa and just moved to Berlin from living in Poland for two years. I was somewhat trying to leave the conversation because I had places to be, but didn't want to be rude. As I was walking away, he kept walking with me and I started to say bye as he says, “Well I would like to get to know you better and meet up with you sometime. Can I have your number?” I politely said no, and then he asked if he could be my Facebook friend and I once again politely said no. So then he asked if he could give me his number and I was like okay fine. I put it in a note in my IPhone and then he wanted me to call him (Duh, I am not stupid! Then you will have my number). I told him I will write him never later. He said he wanted to be friends with me and I said how about we just see each other at class, knowing full and well that the next day was my last day and I would never have to see him again. After I left, I obviously didn't text him or call him and thought that was the end of it. I just planned on avoiding that exit the next day. Well I was wrong.

The next morning I showed up 35 minutes (typical) late to class and as I was like 40 feet from the building and he came up and started walking next to me. I was startled and gave him a clueless look, only for him to say, “ Didn't you recognize me?” I wanted to say, “YES!!! Of course I recognized you CREEPER!!” I asked him if he had class and he told me that he didn't and he was just being creepy “getting breakfast”. It would be one thing if he was there at 8:30 because he knew my class started then, but the fact that he was there when I was 35 minutes late is just weird. Anyways, then he says to me as I am about to go in, “You didn’t call or text me yesterday. Can I have your number?” Clearly he doesn’t take a HINT!!! Finally I said, “No you can’t have my number because I am not interested.” He looked at me like I was the rudest person ever, but at this point I didn’t care. He waited 35 minutes for me to come and that is creepy. Good thing it was my last day to ever go to that building!  

Schweiz

Interlaken

Well the last few weeks have been adventuresome to say the least, but I figure we will save those stories for another day. I have been injured and can’t train, so I have had a little more time on my hands than normal. I miss training though and I am excited to hopefully play soon. I was on crutches for the first week and it is crazy how much people move out of your way. Not to mention give you their seat on the train. I think the best part was getting “Preferred Boarding” on the plane when I flew to and from Switzerland.

Switzerland was amazing and SO BEAUTIFUL! It was a bigger and better version of Colorado and every time I looked at the mountains it made me realize how incredible God is. It reminded me of His power and how detailed He created the world. I often just stood and looked at the mountains in complete awe. We went to Interlaken for a day and I don’t think I have ever seen mountains that are so beautiful. It was so refreshing. I got to visit my friend Jessie there, who plays professional hockey in Bern and has lived in Switzerland now for two years.

Standing in the fountain at the chocolate factory
We thought we wouldn't get wet. Bad idea. There is
fountain behind me.

The amazing chocolate!

One minor problem we had was the car situation. Jessie’s teammate let us borrow her car and we were supposed to pick up Michael and his friend, Michael in Zurich early the next day. The only minor major problem was that it is a manual and both Jess and I can’t really drive a stick. We both knew the general concept of how to make it drive, but getting it going without killing it was always the trick. Jess drove first and did pretty good minus the time she killed it in the main intersection in Bern and everyone was staring at us. I was dying laughing. I even squeedered a little (if you don’t know what that means use your imagination). Not to mention I ended up with a little whiplash and a rubbery smell from squealing the tires and taking off so fast. We decided to go practice on a “backstreet”, which wasn’t very hidden because there were LOTS of cars and people. Eventually it was mine turn to see if I could do better. FAIL! I got it going a few times, but then I killed it right by these people and could not get if going for the life of me. The car may or may not have been smoking a little and the people around were plugging their noses and laughing at us. EMBARRASSSING! Yes, people in Switzerland laughing at strangers. Rare occurrence. We decided it was time to park the car (and let it stop smoking) and find a plan B. There was NO WAY we could drive an hour to Zurich in rush hour in a car that we couldn’t get going every time we stop. Train it was! We technically only had to get there because Michael’s friend could drive a stick. But we figured living was more important.

Not all for us. Don't worry

The next day we hung out in Zurich for the day and then stayed at Jessie’s parents. They made Raclette, which is a typical Swiss meal. The machine wasn’t working correctly so we ended up microwaving the food. Still was great though! The last day we went to a Swiss chocolate factory and got to eat as much chocolate as we wanted. It was AMAZING!!!! We definitely were those fat Americans. Two groups came through the tour and we were still standing there eating chocolate. I didn’t and still don’t understand what was wrong with them. FREE CHOCOLATE! Not just any chocolate. TRUFFLES! Then we went to a Swiss cheese factory and saw how that cheese is made. Chocolate and cheese! Does life get any better?  Switzerland was great minus the crutches, but spending time with people that you have known a long time can definitely be refreshing when you live in a foreign country.  Oh and I forgot one of the best parts of Switzerland. They had Pumpkin Spice Lattes at Starbucks!!! It was an investment that’s for sure. 8.60 Francs for a medium. Definitely worth it though! If I was rich, I would have bought ten, but clearly that is not the case. I also would have gone sky diving in the Alps. Someday I will. It is on my bucket list. J