IrishOboe

Another week has flown by, but felt like ages because it was so packed.  Everything is still going so well at school, only I don’t have a moment to think or to practice.  Both things are rather important I find . . .

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Oct 17-19, Wed-Fri

I’ve been busy enough to forget a thousand woes, not that I have that many, but it’s a pace of life that I haven’t had in a long time.  Happily, for now at least, it is energizing as I’m hopping from thing to thing that is interesting, challenging and of course my favorite thing: new.

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School started on Monday, but before then I had a lovely day of rest.  BCFers do not properly appreciate how special it is to have a congregation that can 1) sing a three part cannon a cappella, and 2) can self direct into small groups to discuss personal applications to the sermon.  I imagine at nearly any other church the direction of “get into groups and talk about it” would be greeted with blank stares and awkward shuffles.

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I hope I spelled that correctly.  It started out cloudy, but by the end almost felt like a summer day.  I went around town by bike running errands with Veronika.  My ausweis finally came in the mail today so I am official now - after I paid the bill, of course.

Veronika showed me how to make pumpkin soup, and I still find it cute how she uses all old technology.  I feel a bit like our math professor friend’s students who saw carbon paper at work and said “Wow, that’s going to put copiers out of business!”  Hand powered beaters, food processors, and the like – what clever inventions!  She even waters the whole garden with a watering can, making about 20 fill-ups.  It is rather delightful to be so out of touch with the modern world that I know.

I biked to Germany to buy a helmet.  I decided to go up through France and across the foot/bike bridge into Germany.  The road turned out to be beautiful and the weather was perfect.  I hardly noticed the 45 minutes it took (including stops to check the bike map Veronika gave me).  Shopping was crowded and uncomfortable and I’d better cut my hair because shampoo is so expensive!!!  I rode back the familiar way through Germany on the East side of the Rhine.  Tomorrow is my last blessed day of rest before the chaos of school starts.  I took a closer look at classes and it seems that the few that I really want to take all happen on the same day at overlapping times.  Grrrrrr.

Random pictures:  Can you guess where I am in each photo?  Extra points for getting the date, too. 

Sisterly love.  It's fun to look through old photos. 

Yesterday I biked to MPark and signed up for internet (though it won’t start until the 24^th).  I thought the Migros phones seemed decent enough and I just wanted to get it over with so I bought a cell phone, too.  Can you imagine: store brand mobiles at the grocery store!  So far it seems to work just fine.  The phone cost 49 Francs, but that includes 15 francs talk time and a promotion of 30 more over two months.  The way I see it, that’s 4 Francs for a prepaid phone with enough minutes to last a good while.  Most of you won’t need the number, but it’s on my contact page if you want it.

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Oh the comfort, the inexpressible comfort of feeling safe with a person,
having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring them all
right out, just as they are -- chaff and grain together -- certain that a
faithful hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping, and with
the breath of kindness blow the rest away. -George Eliot (pen name of Mary
Ann Evans), novelist (1819-1880)

Tuesday, October 9, 2007

Yesterday was a lovely day.  After lunch with Veronika I met with Valda at her work to have coffee and pick up the bike she’s lending me.  It was lovely, as expected, to have an hour with her.  The bike is also great to have, though I haven’t figured out the light yet so it’s not yet good for night riding.  I stopped by the school on the way home but it’s closed during the week, so I can’t do anything that requires a student ID.  My ausweis hasn’t come in the mail either so I can’t to anything else . . .

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After posting the updates yesterday I spent a good bit of time at Valda’s piano.  What a ministering gift it is to read through songs written by people in various times of trial.  I wept over There Is a Balm in Gilead and of course I thought of Rod singing it (so I can never hear it without misting up).  And I read the words of Be Still, My Soul in a totally new light.  I always liked the tune, but I guess never really saw the words.  The Hymnal for worship and celebration that we use at church only has verses 1,2, and 4 of what the Cyber Hymnal has:

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So after posting all my updates at Valda’s she invited me to a pumpkin meal at Richard’s.  Since it was nearly nine I said I had better not.  Veronika would be waiting for me.  I was a good girl and didn’t change my mind. ;)  I didn’t go with Valda and I didn’t enjoy a delectable pumpkin soup and fun company.  I did get drunk.

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Sunday, October 07, 2007

I walked to church this morning and was received with a very warm welcome.  It was simply so good to see people again, and perfectly wonderful to be surrounded by a congregation of full-voice singers!  It was so good to be back that the ‘all age’ service didn’t bother me.  We won’t get onto that discussion again. ;)

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Saturday, October 06, 2007

Only four days?  I walked through town for the first time since I’ve been back and it felt like just yesterday since I’d been there last.  There are more people than I remember, but then I always forget how much closer in things are here.

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Fri. Oct. 5, 2007

My computer now has power (but no internet as I’m back in my room) so I could wax poetic, but must be going soon.  This morning I woke up at 9am still tired but managed to get to the Binningen market.  Veronika had left me a note and I was able to decipher it and fulfill her requests.  The market was cute, and I’ve already posted a picture.

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 Side entrance.

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October 4, 2007

After writing my last update I scanned my emails to see if anything need to be taken care off.  I clicked on the one about BCF Bible study randomly, even though I had forgotten they were moved to Thursday nights.  I read that this week’s study was at Valda’s house, which I’m quite near now, and since it was only 8:10 I decided to catch the end of it.  It turns out I only missed the singing.  I didn’t realize how much I’d missed people until I was with them again.  I was so excited I ran most of the way there and it was just so good to see people again.  I know, it’s only been three months, and no, it’s not like seeing family again, but they are my family while I’m here, it is a bit like.  I had to question myself hard about whether I would still want to come back even if everyone I knew moved away (which is almost possible) and I did finally conclude that I would, but the people were certainly a big draw on top of that!  I was sad to hear that one of the ‘gang’ has moved churches, and Stephan was too busy with work to attend (that must mean work is insane), but a number of others were there and we had a lovely study with apple pie afterwards.  It was a bit strange to empty my brain of German and put on my British English ears, but I’ll get it back.  The extra blessing of the evening was an invitation from Valda to use her wireless internet anytime I need it.  She’s a five minute walk away and my time with the dial-up computer made the offer all the more sweet.  They get high speed for 49 Francs a month and it just splits the phone line so I can probably get internet at Veronika’s without much trouble.

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Tues. Oct 2^nd – Wed. Oct. 3^rd 2007 

Despite traffic I made it to the Orlando airport in time.  I even had time to do my Egoscue exercises (modified so I wouldn’t have to lie on the airport floor).  I was traveling alone so I didn’t have to worry about embarrassing anyone.  It was well worth it – as were doing some seated exercises on the plane.  The change in Atlanta was easy.  The flight to Zurich was fairly empty so I had two seats but slept on and off.  The signs to the train station were easy to follow and I missed the 8:04 because I had to call VZ to say I was coming.  I left a message and caught the 9:04 train to Basel and felt just fine.  I was earlier than expected so Veronika wasn’t waiting for me, but I called her and we met up.  I didn’t panic or worry one bit during all of it.  I knew I was in God’s hands, but it sure helps to be somewhat familiar with things.  It’s still odd to think I’m back.

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