That means vacation. A very good word no matter how much you like your work. I’m exhausted and am looking forward to sleeping. I still have reeds to make for Sunday and Tuesday, but other than that I’m forgetting school responsibilities. Wahoo!
I had a grand time dancing around with a club like an Amazon woman in Renaissance dance class Wednesday night. We also did a more dignified dance and I as there were actually more guys than gals I got to dance as a women and I got the best dancer in the group. :) He’s not a student, but he comes to dance with us sometimes. It’s so nice to dance with someone highly skilled. Anyway, we went out for drinks afterwards at the teacher’s suggestion and I decided Christmas comes only once a year and I joined them. I tried a Turkish yogurt drink while they had their beers and it wasn’t bad. I really have to learn some French because I am left out . . .
I got home too late and continued the trend of not getting enough sleeping every night this week. My room is a mess and so is my inbox but I supposed I should be happy that it just happened in the last week of school rather than the first like it always did at Eastman. Too bad there’s not enough time to relax for a week then clean and study for a week, but some break is better than none.
Thursday night I finally had an excuse to see the city at night and look at the lights. It is pretty, but better enjoyed with someone I gather. I just stood to watch a group in traditional Chinese dress play on the street when Stephanie said she was done with class and we could meet up. We took the tram to her place in Arlesheim and we had fondue with her landlady and her mother. They have good English skills so we mostly spoke in English, thought at first the mother thought I was German! That would be a compliment to my German skills only it’s not so much a compliment in Switzerland . . .
In the course of the evening the mother taught me a song the Swiss sing to cheer up whimpering children. She said it’s old, but it’s easier to remember Swiss German in song and I already knew the tune so it wasn’t so hard to pick up. Pronunciation is still a challenge, but they were encouraging. It’s to the tune of “Oh, Susanna!” and basically says “Oh, Susanna! Isn’t life great? So you shouldn’t be so sad. It would be a lot worse!” The landlady didn’t find it amusing growing up . . .
After dinner I distracted Stephanie from her work, but once again I got some good advice and lovely encouragement. I’m jealous that she hears so much Swiss German in the house because the landlady has a little son. Oh darn, looks like I’ll have to visit more often. ;)
That was another late, but nice evening and today I rather coasted through classes. I was surprised at the preaching that happened in German class and even more so by the openness of the students to it. American political correctness has so shaped my thinking! As the teacher pointed out, it’s rather important to understand Christianity if you want to understand Bach’s music. Still, it was so weird to be hearing the Gospel in a public classroom!
Tonight I went to the Bloms to practice for the Christmas service. It was lovely to play carols and Mannheim Steamroller with Mary. Mommy put some scanned copies of our Mannheim Steamroller piano books on the webpage so I can have them here. Guess who’s going over to Valda’s to sit at the piano over Christmas break! I’ve been sad to be too busy to go over and play and now I have fun music to go through, too! If only K could come and play flute with me or Mom and Dad could sing over my shoulder. *sigh* I’ve survived Christmas away before, I’m sure I will again, but I miss you all!
After another lovely dinner with the Bloms I’m now home and ready for bed by 10:30, plus I get to sleep in tomorrow. Yippie!!!!
