Hello all! I am happy to inform you that each day has been getting better and I am now happy with Switzerland, my life here, and the world. Okay, so not everything is perfect, but when you’re feeling good everything seems to go better.
First of all, I have received a flood of letters and emails (okay, just one letter, but they’re special!) from family and friends from all over the world reminding me that they love me and miss me. That does wonders for the heart. Thanks to everyone who wrote! Second, I’ve met some great people, some friendly Swiss, and have learned a thing or to that help me not be bothered by the stares I get that made me feel so uncomfortable before. Thirdly, any number of little things have been going right, and it’s amazing how the little things make a big difference one’s emotional stability. Finally being of help to the family by cooking a successful meal might sound trivial, but I haven’t cooked very often and hardly ever for other people, so it was a satisfying accomplishment.
The one thing that’s been getting worse is German class. I just cannot relate to the first teacher of the day. I cannot understand her and have to ask her to repeat herself four out of five times. She doesn’t seem to understand my questions and respond to my needs. Today was so bad she could tell I was upset and asked what I wanted. I tried to explain that “I haven’t learned this yet, please give some examples first then I can try to come up with my own.” but she just asked us to come up with more examples. She’s a nice girl, and I can tell she’s frustrated that we aren’t being very good students for her. We just don’t mesh somehow! Ah well, I hope time will improve things. I’ve always felt sorry for my teachers since I get mad when I don’t understand and I can understand how they could take it personally even though I’m at my own inability.
That was the not-so-nice part of my recent adventures, so on to the good stuff. Seeing that I was a bit frustrated with Switzerland and not feeling at home I decided to go to an English speaking church on Sunday. I couldn’t help expecting a lovely little copy of New Life International Church in Japan even though I kept telling myself that it wouldn’t be like that. The people were warm, and attendance was good and diverse in ages. The service was quite Presbyterian, though I think they are nondenominational. Sadly I cannot remember the name of the hymn book we used, but it has all the cheesiest songs of the 70’s and 80’s in it. The words weren’t too bad (nothing like loud boiling test tubes) but still I couldn’t help laughing at some points! The music was so cheesy I don’t see how it could have been more so. The congregation didn’t seem to be singing much either. There was one tune I knew, though haven’t sung much, and that was the one tune that everyone else seemed to know since suddenly the volume tripled. We sang “At the Name of Jesus” but to a tune I’d never heard before. It didn’t seem to fit at all, but I can understand that some people grew up with it and having a taste of home is important (why was I there after all?). The best was “Jesus, we just want to thank you.” Repeat title three times (second time with a cheesy descending chromatic to the dominant) and end with “Thank you for being so good.” Repeat verse replacing “thank” with praise, serve, etc. and there you have it. I know repetition can be good, but I don’t care for the theology hidden in it either, BUT I didn’t write about church to criticize. I hope people realize they are free to like whatever they want to like and people can connect to God in any number of ways. That’s good, that’s natural, but I just can’t help it that that style of music makes me laugh!
There sermon was interesting, intellectual, informative, but alas I am an Episcopalian and an hour sermon is about six times too long for me. J I can freely say these things because I don’t find them to be the most important part of a church. I liked this church because people were warm, open and friendly, and everyone gathered together for coffee, cookies, and conversation afterward. It’s not as great at a meal together, but they’re a little bigger than New Life! I met some young Christian school teachers who work in Southern Germany. I also met a Swiss guy who was all smiles and friendliness! He seemed shocked when we Americans (the teachers were from Texas and Georgia) said the Swiss stare. I guess you don’t notice it on your own turf. It helped to know that I’m not imagining things, that the Swiss don’t realize they do it, and to hear how the other Americans have learned to deal with it. I haven’t been uncomfortable since (two days and counting). Better yet on Monday morning I passed a man who returned my smile with a grin and a “Guten morgen.” That made my day!
In the afternoon a friend from Anu’s work came for coffee. We went for a walk and Corinne taught me to count in Swiss German and say a few other things. She was very nice and patient with me. We went to her place, which was a nice old-fashioned apartment (with the bath in the kitchen!) and ate Turkish bread and figs (heavenly!) and I got to try the Turkish end-blown flute. I only made puffing sounds. Corinne is Swiss, but she married a Turkish man. It was a lovely afternoon!
In the evening we watched Beresina in German with English subtitles, but even so I didn’t really understand it. I think it’s one of those creative movies that goes over my head, though it was entertaining. It’s not rated “G” so for most of my audience I can’t recommend it. I think one needs to know a bit more about Switzerland as well to understand what it’s making fun of and revealing about the Swiss.
Monday I had a good practice session and got some difficult emails written. I then tried out my luck in the kitchen. I made lasagna for the first time since I made it once with Mom back in high school. I thought I remembered it was fairly easy, so I’d bought the ingredients while we shopped in Germany last Friday. Already I messed with the recipe since it called for 16 oz. of cottage cheese and of course everything is labeled in grams! I took a guess and bought things in proportion to each other. Trying to cook in Japan helped me get over the need to do things exactly according to direction, but you never know when that will backfire on you. I cooked the noodles for some amount of time I thought might work guessed at what might fit in the pan. I think I used a bit too much sauce because the pieces didn’t stick together, but that doesn’t matter when it’s in your mouth. I received good comments and only one piece was leftover so I say it was a success. My host family has been very gracious to me, but it felt good to finally be more of a help than a dishwasher and an occasional-side-provider. Next on the list to try is Siamese chicken with broccoli and peanuts. That’s a bit more involved and I’ve never made it before. Hm, better leave lots of time . . .
I had a nice chat with Mom that night, and early I got to have a long chat with Mom and Dad. (Was it Sunday night? Time goes so quickly!)
Today I went to my first academic Schola class. It was great! In a small room of about ten students gathered around a table and a harpsichord the same teacher who teaches the Renaissance dance class guided us through five Renaissance pieces in original notation. This is “notation class” and I’m coming in halfway through. Lucky for me I’d had a taste of reading the notation in harp class so I can follow along somewhat. Only one really confused me, the others I got after a while. The class was conducted in German, English and French. It was two hours long and interesting every second. I wonder if it’s the novelty or the subject, but I can hardly believe one might be able to get a degree in something so fun. I feel like I’m not allowed to go down that path officially, as if it would be cheating. I’ve known people are totally enthralled with what they study, but looking at their subject I’ve always thought “ugh, not my idea of fun.” Surely I can’t be of the same status if I study something as fun and interesting as early music? Once again it didn’t bother me to have no clue about so many things but have the mind that I could learn it if I had the opportunity. I’m quite tempted to go back to school, but I try to remind myself school is not as romantic as it seems from the outside, but we sang four part madrigals in class and everyone enjoyed it!
For my own education I secretly took a video so I could study later. Unfortunately, the camera under the table got a shot of someone’s legs, but you should be listening not watching anyway . . . (you can’t see anything btw)
2007-02-13 notation class piece 3.mpg
We tried to sing in theory class at Eastman, but classes were too big and it never really worked. Ah well, enough of my confusing inner thoughts. The students were welcoming and nice and I talked with a few afterwards. One other student is a guest student for the year and is living with a family in Bern. Maybe I’m not so strange after all!
That is the news from this little life in Switzerland. It’s been great to hear news from you all as well.
