I've fallen nicely into the rhythm here, but a two-week school break this week and last has thrown off that rhythm a little. (And I can't decide which is better: not having to drive the kids back and forth to school every day, or not having to watch the kids by myself all day. I like the vacation days because they're so relaxed, but then all my friends are away on their own personal vacation, so I will be ready for the normal school days to start again.) I can't believe that it's already been almost two and a half months! That's insane! Christmas will be here soon! (And yes, I do get to come home! Hooray! Thanks mom&dad:))
Claire, my neighbor au pair, and I "go out" at least twice a week so that we're not stuck at home and so that we're maximizing the incredible opportunity we have here to be a part of a new culture and region. There's an au pair club that meets twice a month, and the leaders host a Bible Study every Monday night that we have been attending. We have also met a couple people via couchsurfers, and have discovered new places to hang out via other au pairs. There's also a wonderful English-speaking church twenty minutes away, and a contemporary church service on Sunday nights in Geneva. And of course, there's French class twice a week, in which we have met more au pairs! What else!
I have never been a drinker, as I simply don't like the taste of alcohol, but with Europe being such a different environment for drinking, I'm starting to try some new things out. It seems that here, almost no one drinks to get drunk; the exceptions would be foreigners and young college kids. I knew that drinking was a social experience here, but it's hard to understand what that means until you're involved in it. But when everything closes by 7pm and the only things left open are classy little bars and pubs, it only makes sense to grab a drink with friends at the end of the day!
I have come to love the region and pace of life here so much that I'm starting a search for a job to take after my year here as an au pair is finished. I'm primarily considering and English-teaching job, since I have an English degree and should have enough experience with French and children at the end of the year to qualify, but I am really open to anything. However, the cost of living so close to Geneva is somewhat high, so I'll have to find a good enough job to cover expensive housing costs.
Things I love about the culture/region, etc.:
- It's not necessary to smile at everyone. Don't get me wrong, I'm a happy person and I like to smile, but it does get tiring to smile at anyone you make eye contact with, like you would in the US. I like being generally left alone, especially if I'm not in the mood to smile! ;)
- Everyone is extremely polite and courteous. This concept overlaps with the no-smiling custom, as people simply want to be kind and respectful towards others, helping when necessary and giving them their space when it's not. The principle of non-toleration towards screaming children in public also falls under this umbrella.
- I love roundabouts, aka rond points. When I was first learning to navigate these curious little streetways, I hated them; but now, as I sometimes miss my turn... I think they are wonderful little inventions for the absent-minded or lost citizens who need another chance to make their turn without having to turn into a parking lot, etc., to turn around somewhere down the road. Insert philosophical musings on second chances in life here, haha!
- Everyone is much more health-conscious. Meals are balanced, sugar is not eaten in excess, fruits and vegetables are grown locally, and packaged foods have color-coded health notices. Because all the food is so much healthier, everything tastes better and I enjoy trying new things almost every day.
- Nothing can compare to looking outside and seeing the Alps every day. Nothing. I can't imagine wanting to live somewhere where you couldn't see such a wonderful landscape every day.
- When there is a price sticker, you pay exactly that price! The tax is included! This is brilliant if you only have a certain dollar amount to spend, and you know exactly what your total will end up being. Revolutionary (except that it's really not). Let's do it in the US, please.
- The historical atmosphere of Europe is wonderful. I love seeing simple houses that have been there for hundreds of years, old architecture, famous historical spots, everything! When I visited Annecy and saw a French prison that Frenchmen had been detained in during World War II, it really hit home to me where I was and what I had become a part of by living here.
- Even though tea is common in the US, it's more of a tea-friendly atmosphere here. I've never been big into drinking tea before, but after getting sick and drinking it for the benefit of my poor, sore throat, I discovered how much I enjoy it. Also, tea is so common that you can get great tea at any place that serves any kind of drink, and not just some basic bland tea that you would probably get at a restaurant in the US. Therefore, the social drinking concept includes tea (and coffee)!
Can you see the evidence of our first snowfall? The pictures are hard to discern, but it was lovely to watch coming down! It snowed October 27th and 28th, but there hasn't been any more since then.
