This is gonna sound really weird but I think I've finally arrived in Switzerland. Or at least fully engaged with the nuances of my life here. I've just had one of those days today where I everything just went well. I just feel so unbelievably happy as I am getting ready for bed time now and I just feel like for once my life isn't that tragic, sort of comical song that people listen to bittersweetly but I might actually be one of those really fun, comical songs that has people dancing and smiling. How?? The success of Sunday has just transformed me into a caricature of my previous person- I'm just so happy and confident and self-assured now. Plus, I've totally fulfilled over half of my bucket list already!!!
Next point to conquer:
Go on at least one date.
Any takers??
There's not, is there??
Maybe next month...
So let's see, why do I feel so blooming chuffed?
Monday morning started like any other, except I didn't sleep hardly at all and was therefore exhausted. I took the little boy to Kindergarten as usual, and, as with any of my trips there, the little gang of 5 year old girls were staring at me in what seems like awe and like to greet me shyly- SO CUTEE!!! I also got inducted into the secret society of mothers. I walked through the houses with a group of five, although only two of them actually talk to me. It was really funny. Felt a bit like the mafia, as we walked in a line down the streets of the suburb.
In the afternoon, I went into the forest with the kiddies for a teddy bear's picnic. I had regretfully gotten them obsessed with grass cutting monsters, or 'shy leaf-rustlers' as I was calling them, and they were constantly vigilant for the next attack. I had to physically hold a tree in place, when the little boy tried to uproot it to build a tent. I just said: Murdering isn't cool. He didn't really understand. I tried to buy some orange juice from the tree stump shop with the little girl: as usual she was sold out of anything I asked for. Gutted.
Today an old nemesis returned to the little girl's life. The crazy sheep hand puppet. For some reason, I take utmost pleasure in giving it an evil alter-ego that likes to maa like a lunatic and attack her basically. She's clearly terrified and equally angry. It really makes me laugh. At the minute, she's hidden it away in her jumper in the clothes basket so I'm just waiting for my next opportunity to re-connect him to my hand. Am I a good nanny?? Nanny McPhee doesn't approve. Her buck tooth almost fell out of her mouth with derision.
As I headed into town for my class tonight, I was pleased with having a mostly good (which therefore means perfect) day with the little girl. I think I'm finally getting a bit more established in the daily routine and a bit more accepted. It feels good. Like I can really do this job. I also really thoroughly cleaned the house and there wasn't a complaint about it which means I must have done it all perfectly!
In class I was able to keep up fine and keep at the top end of class- need to work ahead to make sure I retain my swotty reputation though...I'm so annoying!
After work, I went to Paddy Reilly's for a Magners, which is quickly becoming my fast routine (well, until the offer runs out in a few days) as I didn't want to rush home on the tram (and plus, I was hoping to run into the nice boy I talked to last week on the tram so needed to get a later one). I had a lovely chat with Craig the bar tender as usual, he's such a lovely guy. I said 'I know, I know, I'm drinking alone again...I promise I was with a big group the other day.' He remembered that I was going to the Irish club and asked how it went, seemed really pleased to see me back, and said 'I can't imagine you're ever normally drinking alone' Aww! I also befriended another bar man, and we had a bit of a private joke about him secretly singing as he was stocking the glasses out of sight of most people but me. As I left the bar, they were standing together and I said 'See you later guys, I'm out of here' and they chorused a lovely message of goodwill to me. Lovely way to leave the bar so familiarly. :) It does however have the connotations that I have become a regular... alcho alert...
I went and got the tram and who should come and sit next to me straight away?? My lovely Swiss friend, Sam! I couldn't believe he'd found me on the tram just to sit next to. I must be irresistible...jokes!! Anyway, we had another lovely chat, and I told him some of my more embarassing tales and he said 'It must be really difficult to be a young attractive girl alone in a new place' (I didn't even embellish that in the slightest!!) I had to laugh at that. He also offered himself as my unofficial tour guide so now we've done a number exchange, he's (hopefully) going to contact me with a fun plan. :D
On top of all this, there's potentially some imminent trips with some of the Irish crew...but I'm not saying more because I don't want to get my hopes up too much!
So, not bad work for your awkward friend, is it?? I'm evidence to you all: It's possible for even the most socially awkward freak-a-deak to manage to form some semblance of a social life in a completely new country. Don't give up hope yet, we can DO this!! Euggh, could that have sounded more like a greetings card? I'd like to apologise...
So, yeah, I'm really pleased to be doing better now, but don't give up hope, I'll probably completely ruin all of these new friendships soon through some collossal embarassing faux pas that'll have everybody talking for months on end and then you'll all be happy! :)
“Not all those who wander are lost.” – J. R. R. Tolkien
Showing posts with label tram. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tram. Show all posts
Tuesday, 28 August 2012
Tuesday, 21 August 2012
And then he said, maybe we'll see each other again
Hey readers! Here we are again, on what has now become a pretty regular posting pattern here: Tuesday night, Thursday night and Sunday at some point. There's nothing wrong with a bit of routine, right? I know I'm a sucker for it ;) Forget sweet talk, give me a man with a strict schedule and I'm his...haha jokes! Men with schedules never approach me (more's the pity) unless it's the doctor coming to tell me it's time to take my next batch of pills and to stop eating the glue...jokes, I'm not in a literal mental institution yet!
So, since my return from the STUNNING weekend retreat, I've come into this week with a renewed sense of joie de vivre or vigour or something. You see, I wrote my bucket list on Sunday. Not a life long bucket list though, just what I want to have achieved by the time I turn 22 in 4 months (buy me a present, yeah? ;) ) and, let's just say this, it's a list pathetic enough to make an angel weep. Can they weep? Interesting... Just to WHET your appetite, pals, here's a few points on the list.
*Meet as many people as possible
*Go on a date
*Allow yourself more you time
*Learn to love job
*Get really good at German (and use it in practice)
Now, I can't say I've fulfilled all 16 points straight of the bat, because that would be RIDICULOUS! However, I really think upon reflection tonight that I've really made some headway on some of the points. And I should be good at making headway as I have a huge head (and ego...hey, who said that?!) Saddo right here, talking to myself...I'm like one of those creepy men with ventriloquist puppets- why?? No wonder I can't make any friends!
Now, in case you're wondering why Angelina Jolie is perched on the side of my blog- bit rude of her- it's for the hilarious thing that happened during play time yesterday. There I was, cuddling my child the horse teddy and we were lying in bed having a sleep, then some grubby little hands came along, nicked my CHILD and left me her child, a kangaroo! I just remember thinking, 'Isn't this the exact plot of The Changeling??' and ironically enough, the lead character shares my first name...spooky! Anyway, luckily there was a happy ending to my saga, I managed to snag my own child (Megan the horse) back in time for her next play-doctor examination. I've jazzed up playing doctors, readers, because I can only listen to a heart beat with plastic stethoscope so many times. As there is a phone included, when I get to be the doctor, I ring up other doctors (today is was Dr. Cary Grant) and have imaginary flirtatious banter with them- with one sided conversations such as 'Ah, hi there Cary. Yeah, it's me. I was just phoning to-....oh no, not about last weekend...it's just, I have a patient here who needs a consultation and...oh Cary, not now, don't make me laugh out loud...yeah, after work drinks for sure...that's perfect, bye!' As you can see, I really have an active social life winky face *sob*
In the afternoon, as this weather here is still playing the fool and absolutely boiling us all alive from 7am to 11pm (STILL HOT NOW!) I was playing in the paddling pool with the kiddies. Unfortunately, Ring a ring a rosies was too vigorous for me when I got a wet pair of shorts from the 'All fall DOWN!' bit, so I taught them something new. It is a legend that has pervaded all of our childhoods. It makes us laugh. It makes us cry. It makes us involuntarily become milk maids. That's right, I taught them how to fill rubber gloves with loads of water and pretend they're cows' udders. How I laughed! Then I got shouted at when I tried to milk the cow so I just left them to do whatever the heck they wanted with the gloves instead. Obviously the true class and elegance of our beloved game was lost on them.
This week is interesting, because we're having a visit here in the house from the other au pair who used to work here. She's from England and went to the same uni as me and was in the same college and also played the piano and violin. Weiiird! But we get on well and it's lovely to have someone close to my age to talk to, we even went out for a beer this evening in the city and it was like I was a normal person with a friend. Also, she had a box of her clothes here still and gave me loads of really nice clothes that she didn't want anymore. And a DRESSING GOWN! Woooohooo! I can't wait to wear that in the winter!!! It's nice to have someone who really gets what I'm going through, and indeed there isn't anyone who could better understand! I'll enjoy her visit while it lasts, that's for sure!
Now, readers, I have a truly magnificent nugget of a story for you...gird your loins...ew, actually, please don't...but no, that's bad too!! Look, forget I mentioned your loins at all...this is so awkward.
There I was, getting the tram home from language class (did I mention we have five members now so we officially get to keep it up and running!! woooohoooo! I can continue being a swotty git! Now I have an Iranian boy who is also a swot and we get to sit together so the other 3 don't stand a chance, wayhey! We were so smug tonight, swinging in our chairs and grinning, while the others tried to finish an activity...SUCH FUN!) and this boy sat next to me who looked about my age. There I was, having a tic tac from my bag, when I paused and thought 'Hang on, I may as well try out my german' so I just offered him the box and said 'Mochtest dich eins?' and he said 'Ja, danke' and then a load more stuff and I had to say that I was from Ireland. Then he said, do they speak English there and proceeded to whip out a book for learning English. I whipped out my book for learning German. We were both just back from our classes to learn each other's languages! How delicious is that??? I could practically here the synthetic keyboard sounds of the meet cue on a classic Romcom. Amazing! So, we had a nice chat, found out he was called Sam and was 23, we were getting off at the same stop, he lives in the next village from me, and I have to say, my German is pretty good! He was a bit lazy so just said 'I find English very difficult, I prefer to speak in German with you' and I did it! I was speaking away in German and he was understanding it. GCSE German has somehow kicked back in!
I just thought that this would be the most wonderful opportunity if we were friends because then we could always help each other out with both learning. And he seemed a nice, sensible, normal boy. What are the chances of finding one of them to talk to, eh?
So, we got off the tram and were going opposite directions. I sort of thought he might say 'Do you want my number?' or add me on Facebook or something...but then he said, 'Maybe we'll see each other again on the trams soon. So that was that!
Maybe I will, maybe I won't!
So, since my return from the STUNNING weekend retreat, I've come into this week with a renewed sense of joie de vivre or vigour or something. You see, I wrote my bucket list on Sunday. Not a life long bucket list though, just what I want to have achieved by the time I turn 22 in 4 months (buy me a present, yeah? ;) ) and, let's just say this, it's a list pathetic enough to make an angel weep. Can they weep? Interesting... Just to WHET your appetite, pals, here's a few points on the list.
*Meet as many people as possible
*Go on a date
*Allow yourself more you time
*Learn to love job
*Get really good at German (and use it in practice)
Now, I can't say I've fulfilled all 16 points straight of the bat, because that would be RIDICULOUS! However, I really think upon reflection tonight that I've really made some headway on some of the points. And I should be good at making headway as I have a huge head (and ego...hey, who said that?!) Saddo right here, talking to myself...I'm like one of those creepy men with ventriloquist puppets- why?? No wonder I can't make any friends!
In the afternoon, as this weather here is still playing the fool and absolutely boiling us all alive from 7am to 11pm (STILL HOT NOW!) I was playing in the paddling pool with the kiddies. Unfortunately, Ring a ring a rosies was too vigorous for me when I got a wet pair of shorts from the 'All fall DOWN!' bit, so I taught them something new. It is a legend that has pervaded all of our childhoods. It makes us laugh. It makes us cry. It makes us involuntarily become milk maids. That's right, I taught them how to fill rubber gloves with loads of water and pretend they're cows' udders. How I laughed! Then I got shouted at when I tried to milk the cow so I just left them to do whatever the heck they wanted with the gloves instead. Obviously the true class and elegance of our beloved game was lost on them.
This week is interesting, because we're having a visit here in the house from the other au pair who used to work here. She's from England and went to the same uni as me and was in the same college and also played the piano and violin. Weiiird! But we get on well and it's lovely to have someone close to my age to talk to, we even went out for a beer this evening in the city and it was like I was a normal person with a friend. Also, she had a box of her clothes here still and gave me loads of really nice clothes that she didn't want anymore. And a DRESSING GOWN! Woooohooo! I can't wait to wear that in the winter!!! It's nice to have someone who really gets what I'm going through, and indeed there isn't anyone who could better understand! I'll enjoy her visit while it lasts, that's for sure!
Now, readers, I have a truly magnificent nugget of a story for you...gird your loins...ew, actually, please don't...but no, that's bad too!! Look, forget I mentioned your loins at all...this is so awkward.
There I was, getting the tram home from language class (did I mention we have five members now so we officially get to keep it up and running!! woooohoooo! I can continue being a swotty git! Now I have an Iranian boy who is also a swot and we get to sit together so the other 3 don't stand a chance, wayhey! We were so smug tonight, swinging in our chairs and grinning, while the others tried to finish an activity...SUCH FUN!) and this boy sat next to me who looked about my age. There I was, having a tic tac from my bag, when I paused and thought 'Hang on, I may as well try out my german' so I just offered him the box and said 'Mochtest dich eins?' and he said 'Ja, danke' and then a load more stuff and I had to say that I was from Ireland. Then he said, do they speak English there and proceeded to whip out a book for learning English. I whipped out my book for learning German. We were both just back from our classes to learn each other's languages! How delicious is that??? I could practically here the synthetic keyboard sounds of the meet cue on a classic Romcom. Amazing! So, we had a nice chat, found out he was called Sam and was 23, we were getting off at the same stop, he lives in the next village from me, and I have to say, my German is pretty good! He was a bit lazy so just said 'I find English very difficult, I prefer to speak in German with you' and I did it! I was speaking away in German and he was understanding it. GCSE German has somehow kicked back in!
I just thought that this would be the most wonderful opportunity if we were friends because then we could always help each other out with both learning. And he seemed a nice, sensible, normal boy. What are the chances of finding one of them to talk to, eh?
So, we got off the tram and were going opposite directions. I sort of thought he might say 'Do you want my number?' or add me on Facebook or something...but then he said, 'Maybe we'll see each other again on the trams soon. So that was that!
Maybe I will, maybe I won't!
Thursday, 16 August 2012
Ich komme aus Swottiland
Hello, and how are you? I am just writing up my usual blog entry, which have become as frequent as one every two days, don't I spoil you? You should see me, out and about making memories, and thinking 'I'd better write this down for the blog' because I want you all to be able to laugh at what I go through as well, in the most detailed way I can remember.
Just an aside, before getting down to the crux of things, I'm ever so grateful to any of you that are frequent readers, it's incredibly nice to have people who continue to read my posts even when I write an absolute dud (ha, as if I ever do that!) and still find something to enjoy. Thank you for reading, it's nice to know you're there somewhere in the world.
Anywho, there have been a few funny little things that have happened since Tuesday. First of all, there's been a polite desire by the family for me to try and make some friends my own age. As you know, the pursuit for a man for me has already started but now the friends situation as escalated too. I've been told to apply to expat websites, to join amateur dramatics, to go to special centres for lonely expats...oh Lordie! Unfortunately, as I posted a chirpy comment on most of the websites (seriously it sounded like an online dating profile '21 year old Irish girl- talkative, fun and wanting some friends ;) ), hardly nobody replied to my pleas for some company! Now THAT'S embarassing!! So now I don't know what to do...I did join the Basel Irish club (I know, who knew right?) so they've invited me to a BBQ next Sunday which I've said I'll attend although it appears to be in the middle of a forest in the back end of nowhere so I'll need the luck of the Irish to find it... or a car.
Also, a few kind people have been in touch and said I can go along with them for things this weekend but ALAS, I have to go away to the Lake of Thun this weekend so I've had to say, maybe next weekend instead...hmm...not ideal! Bet nobody gets back to me again now! Stupid plans...
See, if SOTPM had just bothered to show any interest in me, I wouldn't have to do any of this!!1 *sigh*
In other news, I did make a friend. Her name is Barbie and she is a llama. We really get each other. She's also a beautiful misunderstood creature (haha I'm INCORRIGIBLE!) Jokes, we're both just pale loners!
Unfortunately it's so frigging hut here at the minute that all the animals were hiding in the shade. I even managed to say to the farmer as he drank a midday beer 'Es ist zu heiss fur alles?' and he said 'Ja'. It was beautiful! I brought some children with me so it was a good cover story for me wanting to talk to some animals. People don't except me as I am. I'm sure Dr. Dolittle went through the same thing! Us creative sorts always do!
The goats came over for a quick perusal as usual and the ostriches were just LOVING being the only animals accustomed to the heat and were lounging all over the field.
In other news, there was a completely adorable moment with the little boy. Lately he's taken to kissing my arms when I don't expect it. So yesterday he was having a cuddle and kissing my arms and then said 'Do you know why I always kiss you?' and iI said 'No, why's that?' And he said 'Because I love you.' Wow. That just made my job worthwhile! Of course, he also loves dressing up like a fairy princess and complimenting my clothes so it's probably more akin to Gokk Wan saying 'You. Are. Fabulous' which he uses pretty liberally with all kinds of women so it doesn't mean Jack!
In another bizarre children incident, they were having their usual argument over who was the smallest baby and therefore got to cuddle with me. Instead of the plaintive whine of 'I is the baby' that I was expecting, I heard 'I is the Baby Jesus, the littlest baby in the world' and then the other chipped in with 'I am also the Baby Jesus.' I just had to laugh. And sing Eminem. Bursting into a rendition of 'Slim Shady' I was singing 'Well, I'm the real Jesus, no I'm the real Jesus, would the real Baby Jesus please stand up, please stand up!' They didn't get it. But by George I had fun.
In other news, I successfully put them to bed for the first time. Had them bathed, fed, read three stories to, and asleep by 7.30- think I did pretty well! I did choke up a bit when reading Cinderella though...that bit with the instant falling in love of Cinders and the Prince gets me every time...
Today I was heading back into the city for my next German lesson. On the tram today, an old couple were sitting in front of me, having an enthusiastic debate about, I'm assuming, whether fat women or skinny young ones were more offensive to them. Judging by their frantic whispeing and staring when viewing such specimen!
I was getting paranoid about having to get off the tram before them in case the whispering escalated again. I would have had to decide whether to take their whispering as a compliment or an insult...either that or I just had my knickers on display. Luckily they got off first.
I also got royally lost. One minute I was browsing city centre clothes shops, one wrong turn and a misjudged flight of stairs and I was somewhere I'd never been before, walking in circles near a bridge which seemed to lead into France...so I hopped on the first tram I seen...hoping to get to the city centre...but he was leaving the city so I had to jump off again in some random suburbs. Got on another tram, this one stopping in the centre and got off again at the right stop but took another wrong turn and got completely lost again....dear goodness! I had to run towards my class in the end! So that was fun...it was a shame it got me so frazzled because I had been planning to go out for a drink in Paddy Reillys after class but was just too stressed out to want to anymore.
I have a confession. I am a massive swotty knickers. I mean it. I'm revoltingly swotty. I sit there with a smug grin as I answer everything right the first time round on listening activities and sit there with my hands folded while the others have a second listen. I leap up to WRITE ON THE BOARD! Who does that??? Every time I pronounce everything, I make sure to make it as accurate as possible. I counted the numbers backwards. I keep my book really neat (not like me) I don't know why I need to be a swot so badly. I just love it though! I miss it from school, because I could rarely do it at uni because it's hard to be top of class. I love learning. Let the records show. I'm sorry, other two class members, bet you want to strangle me. But it'd be worth it to always be right for a while first! Hey, you gotta give me this, I have very few other things that make me feel like a success here!
So that's it, I'm off to the lake house tomorrow, I'm hoping to run into Keanu Reaves- then again, I might just miss him...(oh that was AWFUL Lake house humourrr!!!) so hopefully I'll return alive and not do to many stupid things to get me fired!
Lovely readers, I bid you adieu
QOTR
Just an aside, before getting down to the crux of things, I'm ever so grateful to any of you that are frequent readers, it's incredibly nice to have people who continue to read my posts even when I write an absolute dud (ha, as if I ever do that!) and still find something to enjoy. Thank you for reading, it's nice to know you're there somewhere in the world.
Anywho, there have been a few funny little things that have happened since Tuesday. First of all, there's been a polite desire by the family for me to try and make some friends my own age. As you know, the pursuit for a man for me has already started but now the friends situation as escalated too. I've been told to apply to expat websites, to join amateur dramatics, to go to special centres for lonely expats...oh Lordie! Unfortunately, as I posted a chirpy comment on most of the websites (seriously it sounded like an online dating profile '21 year old Irish girl- talkative, fun and wanting some friends ;) ), hardly nobody replied to my pleas for some company! Now THAT'S embarassing!! So now I don't know what to do...I did join the Basel Irish club (I know, who knew right?) so they've invited me to a BBQ next Sunday which I've said I'll attend although it appears to be in the middle of a forest in the back end of nowhere so I'll need the luck of the Irish to find it... or a car.
Also, a few kind people have been in touch and said I can go along with them for things this weekend but ALAS, I have to go away to the Lake of Thun this weekend so I've had to say, maybe next weekend instead...hmm...not ideal! Bet nobody gets back to me again now! Stupid plans...
See, if SOTPM had just bothered to show any interest in me, I wouldn't have to do any of this!!1 *sigh*
 |
| Barbie :) |
 |
| What the surroundings of my house look like |
The goats came over for a quick perusal as usual and the ostriches were just LOVING being the only animals accustomed to the heat and were lounging all over the field.
In other news, there was a completely adorable moment with the little boy. Lately he's taken to kissing my arms when I don't expect it. So yesterday he was having a cuddle and kissing my arms and then said 'Do you know why I always kiss you?' and iI said 'No, why's that?' And he said 'Because I love you.' Wow. That just made my job worthwhile! Of course, he also loves dressing up like a fairy princess and complimenting my clothes so it's probably more akin to Gokk Wan saying 'You. Are. Fabulous' which he uses pretty liberally with all kinds of women so it doesn't mean Jack!
In another bizarre children incident, they were having their usual argument over who was the smallest baby and therefore got to cuddle with me. Instead of the plaintive whine of 'I is the baby' that I was expecting, I heard 'I is the Baby Jesus, the littlest baby in the world' and then the other chipped in with 'I am also the Baby Jesus.' I just had to laugh. And sing Eminem. Bursting into a rendition of 'Slim Shady' I was singing 'Well, I'm the real Jesus, no I'm the real Jesus, would the real Baby Jesus please stand up, please stand up!' They didn't get it. But by George I had fun.
In other news, I successfully put them to bed for the first time. Had them bathed, fed, read three stories to, and asleep by 7.30- think I did pretty well! I did choke up a bit when reading Cinderella though...that bit with the instant falling in love of Cinders and the Prince gets me every time...
Today I was heading back into the city for my next German lesson. On the tram today, an old couple were sitting in front of me, having an enthusiastic debate about, I'm assuming, whether fat women or skinny young ones were more offensive to them. Judging by their frantic whispeing and staring when viewing such specimen!
I was getting paranoid about having to get off the tram before them in case the whispering escalated again. I would have had to decide whether to take their whispering as a compliment or an insult...either that or I just had my knickers on display. Luckily they got off first.
I also got royally lost. One minute I was browsing city centre clothes shops, one wrong turn and a misjudged flight of stairs and I was somewhere I'd never been before, walking in circles near a bridge which seemed to lead into France...so I hopped on the first tram I seen...hoping to get to the city centre...but he was leaving the city so I had to jump off again in some random suburbs. Got on another tram, this one stopping in the centre and got off again at the right stop but took another wrong turn and got completely lost again....dear goodness! I had to run towards my class in the end! So that was fun...it was a shame it got me so frazzled because I had been planning to go out for a drink in Paddy Reillys after class but was just too stressed out to want to anymore.
I have a confession. I am a massive swotty knickers. I mean it. I'm revoltingly swotty. I sit there with a smug grin as I answer everything right the first time round on listening activities and sit there with my hands folded while the others have a second listen. I leap up to WRITE ON THE BOARD! Who does that??? Every time I pronounce everything, I make sure to make it as accurate as possible. I counted the numbers backwards. I keep my book really neat (not like me) I don't know why I need to be a swot so badly. I just love it though! I miss it from school, because I could rarely do it at uni because it's hard to be top of class. I love learning. Let the records show. I'm sorry, other two class members, bet you want to strangle me. But it'd be worth it to always be right for a while first! Hey, you gotta give me this, I have very few other things that make me feel like a success here!
So that's it, I'm off to the lake house tomorrow, I'm hoping to run into Keanu Reaves- then again, I might just miss him...(oh that was AWFUL Lake house humourrr!!!) so hopefully I'll return alive and not do to many stupid things to get me fired!
Lovely readers, I bid you adieu
QOTR
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