Mountains and Onions

HALLO! :D

So last weekend while you were all eating Turkey with your families (or maybe already eating the leftovers), I was with 98 other exchange students in Zermatt, where the Matterhorn is! :] 

The first day (Saturday) we had a perfect view of the Matterhorn so many pictures were taken. I stupidly forgot to charge my camera so I actually have very few pictures, but good thing everyone else with me had a camera. :] The first day was spent exploring Zermatt with a game from Rotex (past exchange students). We had to do silly tasks like somehow get a sunny-side-up egg (yes cooked). We kindly asked an old man for an egg and a dish, and another woman cooked it for us. Haha We also had to trade an item for something better, by either talking to people in the street, or going into shops. We started out with an eraser, then we got a pen, then some Riccola cough drops, then a toothbrush (from another exchange student group), then a bundle of Yarn, then a fancy handwarmer, etc. and somehow we ended up with three things (I think I traded off another pen we had), and we ended up with a Matterhorn pocket knife, and two Swiss T-shirts.  Other groups found stuff in the garbage, such as A full table and six chair set (the table was a door), an old TV and a lamp, a cigarette costume, the list goes on. Needless to say it was an interesting way to spend a few hours.

That same day we toured the Matterhorn museum, ate cheese fondue, had a “disco” (really just a normal dance, but Mackenzie and I went all out with sparkly hats and tights), and just had an awesome time with a bunch of crazy exchange students. At the disco, the Rotary adults started dancing with us, and took mine and Mackenzie’s hats as they were dancing. Haha It was a good time ;] After the disco, they gave us another meal (basically a hamburger and fries), and every country had to sing a song from their country. The USA has the most people, so we couldn’t agree on a song, but we ended up singing “Party in the USA” by Miley Cyrus. I hate that song, isn’t “Don’t Stop Believing” way better? But that’s what happens with 20+ American exchange students, we never agree. The other countries songs were great though; a boy from Thailand had to sing alone, but he got the loudest applause I think. :]

The next day, after breakfast, a single cloud covered up the Matterhorn, and that was pretty much the only cloud in the sky. But, we rode cable cars up to the “Little Matterhorn” and took pictures there. Then we went down a level, and played in the snow for a good hour or two. It was a lot of fun, I think especially for the exchangies from South America or warm Asian countries and have never seen snow. We made pyramids, tackled each other into the snow, and generally acted crazy. Haha

Then it was time to go home, and Mackenzie, two other exchange students and I ended up sitting with the Rotex, who I’m pretty sure were laughing at us the bulk of the two hour train ride to Visp from Zermatt. It was around 8 when I finally made it to Ipsach.

Then, on Monday, I went to Zweibelmarkt in Bern! :] I got up at 4:50  and got to Bern a bit before 6, and started walking around. People pelt confetti at each other, hit people on the head with plastic squeaky hammers, and buy lots of food and hand made things. I was there the entire day because I kept meeting up with exchange students; some would leave, and new people would show up. So I was literally there for around 12 hours. It was a lot of fun, but I was exhausted, especially after the crazy Matterhorn weekend added in. My bedroom floor is still covered in confetti from the stuff that got into my clothes, I’ll vacuum it soon, but it kinda looks happy ;] haha

In other news from this week, I got a 4 on my Math test! :D That’s kind of like a C I gather (Grading scale from 1-6, 1 is fail, 6 is perfect). But for having to translate the word problems and memorizing the formulas because I don’t have a book, I think it’s pretty good! :]

Hope you all had a great Turkey Day, and welcome to Dezember! :D I hope it snows here soon, so far it’s only in the Mountains or high “hills” (Basically mountains to us).

Tschuss!

-Anne-Marie