Wednesday morning at about 7am our whole American group had to meet Banu for her to take us to sign something for our visas. Half-asleep and grumpy (at least I was) we took the bus and eventually found the building. All we had to do was sign something and give 2 passport photos, but we didn't have any so we had to get them, which would be an easy task seeing as there was a machine for it in the same building. Only problem was you needed to pay in change, which meant 8 francs in change for each of us which we definitely didn't have. So we all walked to the nearest McDonald's to get change, but that wasn't even open yet (it opens at 10 here) and then we tried the coop gas station, but she refused to exchange our bills for change--apparently that doesn't fly in Switzerland.
Plan B involved going back to Fribourg and getting the photos in the train station where they conveniently have machines for passport photos. Everyone took out as much change as they had and for those who needed to get more, they bought a piece of fruit or drink or something that cost less than 2 fr. Finally we got our photos in which you A) can't smile and B) have to have your eyes and chin at certain locations, it's very specific.
I got back to my room, had breakfast, then had my 3 classes in a row. I decided to leave half way through the church one at the end of the series so that I could have some time to run before catching my train. I ducked out (of course everyone noticed the American bouncing) and went on a short run along the river. I got back, packed, and rushed my ass off to catch the first train after 7 to Geneva.
Unfortunately I had looked at the arriving train schedule by mistake, so after rushing there, I ended up sitting next to the tracks for half an hour. I got to Geneva and took a bus and Rachel met me at the stop. I knew it was her approaching when I saw a tufts sweatshirt running towards me. We went back to the brothel and finished up some Mbudget fondue with Helaina and some of their friends. Then I almost went with Helaina to ladies night, but her friends bailed and we decided to go to sleep. Rachel and I caught up a bit and realized we will both be in Barcelona at the same time! Good stuff.
The next morning bright and early I got to eat their continental breakfast and then took a walk to the Geneve-Eaux-Vives train station in the middle of no where to catch my bus to Annecy, France. It was on the other side of the road from the station, so I couldn't find the bus for the longest time, but I finally did and it was luckily just in time. The bus driver responded to me in English, which I hate, so I continued to talk to him in French, eventually I broke down, someone's got to at some point.
It was my first time entering France by bus instead of on skis, which wasn't as cool, but it was so nice going to another country where I can speak the language. I walked around Annecy for awhile until Rebecca Graffy and Emma Hanson's train came in.
After a very exciting greeting, we followed Emma to our hotel. Since the two of them had booked it, they went in while I waited with my stuff in the parking lot, but came out after a few minutes saying that it was closed this morning due to a death. We decided to explore and get food with all our luggage, and got pain au chocolate to eat at the lake. Unfortunately it was overcast and foggy, so the beautiful alps in the background were hidden.
We then walked around Annecy to find wifi, so that we could check the weather and some other things. We found a Quick Burger and set up shop for a solid hour and a half. haha what a way to explore France. We then went to the tourist office to get ideas of what to do that didn't involve outdoor beauty, and got a map of a walking tour, directions to the bike rental shop (we hada planned to hike Emma's favorite hike near Talloire, but apparently it was too early in the season and it was closed because of snow and ice towards the top).
I think next we went back to the hotel, still closed, then back to the tourist office, now closed for lunch, then over to the bike shop all the way back past the train station, ALSO closed, fml. Then we compared our luck to the pile of dog droppings on the stairs to the bike shop. We then went back to the hotel one more time and luckily it was open. It was my first ever 1-star hotel!! It was painted purple and orange and there was one queen size bed for the three of us, perfect. We fiiiiinally got to leave our stuff in the room and actually explore Annecy.
We then took the walk marked Unknown Annecy--good choice Rebecca--and set off on our way. We diverged from the path and ended up walking up a hill away from the old city. We were stopped by an middle-aged man along the way who first asked us if we were looking for husbands and then where we were staying and for how long. It was time to get away. Only me and Emma know French though, so Rebecca didn't know to get creeped out until a few seconds later. At the top of the hill there was a church, we went inside and then outside and found a man to take our picture. He was a mountain man with hiking sticks, so we asked him where we should hike. He said there was a million paths on the mountain right behind us, and if you hiked this 5 hour path you could see all the alps and it was wonderful. There was plan b for the next day.
We walked around Annecy and went grocery shopping at a cute store where Rebecca pushed her limits with cheese and we bought wine based on the pretty decorations on the label. That evening we walked around to find a restaurant with local food that wasn't too expensive, and found this cute restaurant with a waiter that liked to make jokes in French to us. We all got these bowls that were filled with cream, and then variations of other foods depending on what we ordered--big swiss influence in Annecy, almost couldn't tell I was in another country. They both got tartiflette, which I would've gotten if i hadn't had excessive amounts of dairy in the past couple days and my body wasn't rebelling. Little did I know that in Annecy, beef lasagna is also in a bowl of creamy cheesy deliciousness... sorry lactose intolerant body (as usual).
That night we stayed in with our wine and watched Superbad on my laptop, very funny as usual. Then the 3 of us slept in the one bed, and I got a surprisingly good night's sleep. We got up the next morning pretty early to go for our hike. After brioche and jelly we headed out in our stand-out-in-europe exercise gear and headed to the mountain. We tried to memorize the trail map and headed out on the blue path that seemed to be the 5 hour one he was talking about. The sun was peaking through the clouds that day, luckily, and even though we didn't take the right path, there was a nice view of the French countryside. In the end our "hike in the alps" was actually a nice nature walk, mostly flat, and the "peak" where you could see everything was not very high and you couldn't really see. But it was nice to be out in nature and with my tufts ladies.
We hiked on a bunch of different paths all afternoon, and tried to soak up the sun when it peaked through the clouds. We ended up at the lake and walked back along the beach.
We then laid down in the park in the sun and enjoyed that until we had to go back to get my stuff together so I could catch my bus. On the way back we hit a grocery store and the cookie store that gave us free samples the day before, unfortunately no free samples this time. Then I went and got my bus and reversed the journey.
At Geneve-Eaux-Vives, I got really confused again and couldn't find the tram to the main train station. I ended up wasting a shit ton of time, but got there eventually and made it back to Fribourg that evening (Friday) in time for the fête de printemps chez marta et esther, as usual, but with a lot more people and food.
The party was a lot of fun, and the Americans actually came although they stuck together in the beginning. Mauricio got pretty sloppy and would only speak to us in Spanish, even though I can't speak it and the Spanish girls who can couldn't even understand him. Then he walked out the front door never to be seen again (until the next day). Allison and I were determined to go dancing at Irish, so we eventually convinced the hosts to convince the guests to leave and we all went over.
As usual on a Friday at Irish, there were very few people, but we owned the dance floor and it was a lot of fun. I am getting way better at dancing to techno and my European dance moves in general... I think, you'll all have to let me know when I'm back in the states if I look like a tool. We stayed until they closed, and some people went to Rock Cafe, but I finally had someone to walk home with (Allison) so we did just that.
The next day I had to get work done / am slowly going broke, so I didn't go with everyone to the hot baths, and I think I'll just save that for when my parents come anyway. It was warm finally and beautiful out, so I decided to go on a journey. I ran the paths I had run in the winter, but this time, without ice I was able to go on the steeper parts (which was exhausting), and I also got to run a lot farther. I ran through the forest all the way past Marly before turning around, and on the way back I reeeeeallly had to do number 2 mainly because of the past few days' excess of dairy products, and I didn't know where to do it because it was all residential and I wasn't about to ask some random swiss in their garden to use their bathroom, so when I was back in woods I hopped off the trail and did what I had to do. I didn't feel good about it, I actually felt really bad--decimating the swiss alps like that, and promise not to do it again, but I was a 45 minute run away from civilization and worse things definitely would have happened. Sorry, had to get that off my chest.
That night I went out with the Spanish girls to a concert of Old Skool Rap at vingtième. We were dancing and semi-enjoying it. I met someone named Yves who is from the ivory coast and is studying and playing soccer in Lausanne, his brother studies at Fribourg so he was at the concert. Long story short, since I am way behind in this blog, we met up again on Monday but he eerily sent me these love poems via text message after that so I was a little thrown off. He has also continued to text me or call me at least once daily up till the present (nearly a month later, yeah I'm real behind haha). Eesh, good thing he doesn't have facebook.
That Monday I had a bit of an embarrassing old lady injury. I always have to leave futsal early, clean off, and change in time for the class I have right after. Since you are all faithful readers of my life story, I will give you the true (and not abbreviated account). I was in the handicap bathroom changing and decided to wash my feet in the sink, which i sometimes do. One foot clean and wet, I placed it on the ground and put the other in the sink. The wet foot--obviously--slipped out from under me with my other foot still in the sink. I swung around and caught the sink with my hand just in time to prevent my head from smashing into the cement floor, thank god. Fortunately, I only ended up with severe and extensive bruising on my back and some blood. Because I've had so many first aid needs, I had some bandaids in my back pack and was on my way. The weirdest thing though was as I ran around to find ice before my class, not one of the cafeterias had any... how do they keep food cold and drinks refreshing? Who knows. I only know I was shaken up for the rest of the day.
I was feeling good enough later that day to go on a walk with Cinzia, one of my few actually Swiss friends. She is Swiss Italian, but also fluent in French. We took a nice, long loop around Fribourg and stopped at my favorite viewpoint. Good bonding time. Also, I clarified with her that "Je suis chaud" does not have the same connotation as it does in English (it does not mean I am hot in the lets open a window sense).
That week I had my witchcraft presentation in the class with the monk professor. I got it done, mostly by reading a script, but afterward the monk complemented me on my french abilities, maybe some improvement has occurred? Finally, after that presentation, my easter break began. I hung out in St. Justin (which is now--mostly--smoke free!) with some kids that night, it was good. Next day, I just relaxed all day and it was wonderful. I went to dinner with ACP/spanish/pinar and showed them the love poem text messages--they were enjoyed by all. Mauricio warned me that he is probably a serial killer and I should watch out. Then the sender arrived in Fribourg for our already planned and last date. Thanks to Mauricio, I was pretty nervous of being killed haha.
That Friday I packed and then took an afternoon bike trip in the early spring weather to Lake Murten which is about 45 mins away by bike. It was a beautiful ride and a really nice lake, but I realized once I got there that there is not much to do at a lake, alone, without anything with you to do. So I left pretty quick, and on the way home, I realized that to get from a lake to a mountain you have to go uphill... a lot.
I left that night for Lugano, which is where this post will end, and my spring break will begin!!
Observations, French but not Paris edition:
-Free wifi is the norm.
-There is a grey line between French Switzerland and the French alps regions.
-Lots of cheese and cream.
-They speak French too, so I can actually get around!
-The Annecy-ers are not that snobby, just wait till Observation, French Parisian edition
-They are more openly impressed with French speaking efforts than the Swiss.
-Much less purple clothing. Good call, France.
