Hannah's RYE year in Switzerland: June 2017

So my year is almost over and my birthday is coming up. It’s not my birthday yet and I get emotional when I think about the “for the last time(s)” and “end of year … (ex. party)” so my counsellor and YEO (my exceptional fourth host family) organized a “Hannah’s Party” to save me some tears. They invited all three of my host families to their house for dinner. It was really a special evening for me. Before I even knocked on the door to their house I had tears in my eyes (I am a very emotional person). It was the first time that I saw my first host family in 6 months. At first we had Apero which includes appetizers and drinks. We chatted with each other, played with the kids/jumped on the trampoline and took pictures. It was nice to see my host families bond and get along with each other so well. We had a wonderful dinner on the patio, the weather was so nice it really was a perfect evening. There were lots of delicious desserts (I probably ate too much but whatever \_’-‘_/ ). This evening was such a wonderful evening. It was the best birthday present/end of year party I could ask for. I am so happy to have met such wonderful people and I am going to miss them so much. My host families have done so much for me and have had such a positive impact on my exchange year. As much as I am excited to see my family in Canada I am sad to have to leave my new family behind. I really hope that they all come to visit me in Canada!!!!!!

my current host family, the Bouverats 💓

Carole, Claudine, me, Vreni and Georges

Georges and Benno helping me out with the photo lighting and placement

my big wonderful family <3

the set table

on the tramp

yummmmyyyy foooddd !!!!!

you can see the excitement in my eyes

Loric is excited

the food is good!

My beautiful host sisters <3

Larissa (my first host sister) and I

MY BEST FRIEND, Laurent

Larissa, my first host sister, Carole and Claudine my current host sisters

yoga ritual

yummmmyyy dessert

my second host brother, Nevio on the shoulders of my current host sister Claudine

digging in

Claudine and Leonie enjoying the strawberries

our first family picture without our ski equipment on!

Fasel family 💓

Viviane and Urban, my second host parents and Nevio and Leonie my little siblings

level up

what a great birthday present!

A photo album of my time with the Fasels

my first host family

Glauser family 💓

Doris and Daniel my host parent and Loric and Larissa my host siblings

my current host family

Bouverat family 💓

Georges and Vreni and Claudine and Carole

My temporary host family and contact family

Oberson family 💓

Benno and Chantal my host parents and Ariane and Laurent my host siblings

Nevio

Laurent my best Swiss friend

host siblings bonding :)

My host sisters have been so busy studying lately so we haven’t been able to do very much together. They set aside Sunday for me so that we could go and spend the day together. It was a surprise for me so when we got on the train I didn’t even know where we were going. We got off the train in Spiez and went on the boat on Thunersee. When we got off the boat we went to a Badi which is a place with a pool where we can swim. We hopped right into the water to cool off from the hot weather. I convinced my oldest host sister to come swimming with me in the lake! My first time swimming in a lake this year was in March so it wasn’t cold for me but it was her first time this year so she was nervous at first. We packed a picnic lunch and sat in the shade and ate veggies, bread, cheese and crackers. For dessert we bought some ice cream and packed up to go up the mountain. We took the bahn up and then hiked down. We thought it would take us 20 minutes but it ended up taking us just under an hour. We then took the bus, then train and then drove home for dinner! I love my host sisters, they are so great and I’m so glad we get along so well and do things together when we can!