Hannah's RYE year in Switzerland

Sunday, May 28, 2017

Domodossola, Italy

My friend from Australia, Georgia and I decided to go to Italy on one of our days off. For me to get to Domodossola, Italy from Fribourg, Switzerland (my home Canton) takes me about 3 hours and for Georgia it takes about 35 minutes from Brig, her Canton. I have been to this place before but it was just for lunch (now that I say that out loud I realize its such an unusual thing to say and I am so lucky to just be able to whip down to Italy for some za (pizza)). Its a fairly small place with not too much to do but Georgia and I had a good time anyways. We just walked around, saw some nice architecture and ate some Gelato before & after our 3 course lunch that was only 10 euros. On the way back to bring we were in one of the older trains with the windows that go down and i was so excited I was as happy as a dog with its head out the window. It was definitely different compared to the high class trains I’m used to riding in Switzerland. We went back to Brig and she showed me around because I have never really been there long enough to tour the city.

view from the front doors of the train station in Italy

round one

wondering how the food keeps coming and its only 10 euros

the market in Domodossola

Georgia from Australia

Exploring Brig, Switzerland

Happy Hannah in a very cute old train with windows that open

Dad if you are reading this I know you will understand how happy I am at this moment

Oeschinensee

Oeschinensee has been a place that I have been wanting to go to since the beginning of my exchange year and I am happy to say that I can finally check it off my bucket list! One of my best friends Jade, from Wisconsin and I both have very similar bucket lists so we often travel together and check things off. When we told each other we wanted to go to Oeschinensee we were both so happy and next thing you know we were going a few days later. We were filled with excitement as soon as we stepped off the train and we weren’t even close to being there at this point. We walked about 20 minutes to the gondolas that took us up and then we walked about 40 minutes from the gondolas to the lake. When we saw the lake we were like my little sister in a candy store, we were beyond excited. We could see the reflection of the lake on the water, the weather was so nice and the water was still, it was like a dream come true. We walked around the lake, had a picnic, showered under a waterfall and just had an all around amazing day. I must say it was one of my favorite days I've had here in Switz!

making our way to the lake!

a bench we didn't sit on because we just wanted to get to the lake.

a dog we met on the walk to the lake

first view of the lake

on the other side of the lake with the reflection on the water!

most beautiful view

litte frog

my new favourite shower

making an inuksuk

my inuksuk

walking to the gondolas

Monday, May 8, 2017

Changing host families

A question that I get asked often is why I always have to change host families. I just want to clarify that its not because I'm getting kicked out or have had any problems with my families! I am here on a cultural and language exchange so I change host families to see different ways of life and experience new things! My first host family had a farm with over 2,000 pigs, my second family has an apartment in Zermatt and goes skiing every weekend in the nicest ski resort in Switzerland and now I'm with the Bouverat family who travel all around Switzerland and have a lot of knowledge and insight to share with me (these are not the only things about my host families it's just an example to show the diverse lifestyles). I was in Zermatt for the holidays skiing and going to the Zermatt unplugged concert before I had to change so I packed up all my stuff said bye to my second host family, got on the train and I am now with my last family :( They are all so nice and only after a few weeks I already feel at home. They love to travel around which is cool because I've never been to Lausanne before and as soon as they found that out we made plans and went the next day. I just moved to this family and I already feel like a part of it. They are always so happy and welcoming I feel at home and it's just an amazing feeling to be able to connect with people in such little time. My older host sister, Carole was on exchange in Tasmanian and she had a friend, Antilia visiting her for a few days when I arrived. We would all do things together like go to Lausanne to walk along the lake and we went on a 6 hour (including picnic lunch and breaks) bike ride through Murten, along Lake Murten. My other host sister, Claudine is leaving on exchange in the end of July so my host family is an exchange family they are so fun and open it's great. My host sisters are 16 and 20 so we get along nicely and my host mom is also like a big sister to me, she's so sweet. My host dad was president of JCI for a year and has travelled and helped people all over the world so we often have really nice discussions about world issues and our travels. I'm excited for all the quality times and good laughs to come with my new family :)