Phew! Woah! Surprise! Outstanding! Quick!

One late Friday evening I returned home to Zurich from my summer exploits. Phew! This was definitely one of the best summers of my life. My Dad was visiting, using my house as a launch pad for a three week vacation. We caught up a bunch and the next day we headed into the Zurich Street Parade and 'danced' in the street to the theme of 'Friendship' with the other 800,000 people rocking out. Rocking out in one big urban puff of neon fishnets, neon wigs and neon feathers to the best house music floating by on these enormous lovemobiles. Woah!Then, casually, we drift towards a Mexican restaurant for some food because, I believe, I feel like nachos. Surprise! A 26th birthday party for me, with all my friends waiting there. My Dad seemed to think that because of my not having a birthday party these past few years, he should go through my phone address book and plan it himself. Outstanding! It was great to see all of my friends before work began (even if Dad displayed naked baby pictures of me in public), and so nice that my Dad could meet so many of my Zurich friends, and that they could meet someone who is so important to me in my life and in who I am; him! Thanks, Dad, for the plates and plates of nachos and the past 26 years of you and me. Quick! Post this before I get too semi-mental!

Sega 2008 - Books, Books, Books

This year's trip to Sega was focused around completing a library project; with a lot of fun time in between. Another month there just reaffirms that I may never be able to stay away. Since I didn't take any pictures this time around, I chose my favourite picture of Emily's for this post. Flash! Summer is gone!

On the road with Charlie

In just one week Charlie and I managed to put 1100 miles on his volkswagon. As a very willing passenger, I was able to watch the UK zoom by on our way from beautiful place to beautiful place. Besides the fortune of great company and yummy food (tons of it!), I also had the chance to visit my third love: the salty and chilly, wavy and windy ocean. We walked to it, along it, to see it, to sit by it, to watch the sun go down over it, to walk in it, surf and float in it, and it reminded me of home in Deep Cove and after awhile, it started to feel like home, and how lucky is that for me!

Come Join Go come join go comejoingocomejoingo

'The End Of June' in the life of a teacher: Bittersweet! Seven weeks of summer vacation and everyone seems to have something to celebrate before we scatter back to our home countries or onto long anticipated adventures... weddings, summer birthdays, farewells to leaving colleagues. We celebrate for the occasion, of course, but also I think we celebrate with the knowledge, somewhere in the back of our minds, that we won't see these friends until August, or in some cases ever again. This group of people that have made up our everyday lives abroad and boom... gigantic diaspora. The nature of the international school beast is its constant comings and goings and I agreed to it when I started this occupation; but that doesn't make The End of June any easier! The best thing to do that I have come up with is to celebrate. We'll celebrate them and us and the sun and say goodbye. Goodbye!

BudaPesch

With four days in Budapest, I managed to get a taste for the summer city atmosphere: hot, alive, colourful, busy. The buildings are gorgeous and preserved and so are the people!

We had quite significant a fork in the holiday wheel, though, as far as health was concerned. Lauren insisted Hungarian malaria was what we had. I rationalized. It was highly likely that she had sinusitis, as the doctor told us that morning at her appointment, and I a sinusitis/bronchitis combo, as the doctor had told me the day before. What a duo! We walked and toured as our bodies allowed, sat in every square and park known, ordered ginger ales and sorbet, spent money on vitamins and curing Hungarian tea, and destroyed whole boxes of Kleenex... together, we were a tourist team to be reckoned with.

Games in the Park

Question: What can you do when it is hot and beautiful in Zurich? Answer: Go to the lake with friends, come home seeking shade and match the pictures to a baby picture! Not too much has changed since then.

My weekend was intents.

The fearless trio of leaders, Andrea, Julia and I, survived a camping trip with eight high schoolers (alternative perspective being that they, in fact, survived it with us) to experience the culture and environment of Lugano, the Italian part of Switzerland. Even counting the sore muscles and stinky gear, it was a beautiful trip. For me personally though, it brought me to a realization that is, unfortunately, a familiar one: It seems that I can go so long, a year in this case, working in the same building as these fantastic people like Julia and Andrea and never really 'meet' them until our time together is almost over.

Speaking of Mysteries...

London

Five days, five teachers, forty-five students. Nuf said! Phew!

The Triple Change. August - October - May

Another transformation for Suedstrasse 1. A new big corner couch. This is so fantastic because the other(s) were dangerously uncomfortable. I am now, until I get a truck to get rid of those hidden in my basement storage cubbies, in possession of not one, not two, but three.... sofas. I'm 25 years old! Isn't there something else I could mistakenly collect?

May oh May oh May

Warm enough to leave the jacket at home, but cool enough to be comfortable. The sailors are out, the fairs are in full swing and the people are full of love and energy. Yey!

Ozel gave Mark and I haircuts in my apartment today. We decided on a throwback bowlcut for Mark. The Middle School girls softball tournament was two days where I was posted as first base coach with some scorekeeping and downtime in between.

What was usual was the skating that happened on Sunday at two o'clock. What was unusual was the thunderstorm that happened that same day at four o'clock. What would seem usual was the dissappointment that happened directly after that. What was unusual was the relocation to the Burkliplatz pavillion that happened til late afternoon. We danced!

The Motorcycle Diaries 2008 - Gruetzi!

Nothing is to be expected when Dad comes to visit. I know this from last year. My Dad, and the bike of course, allowed me to see more of Switzerland in four days then I have since I arrived in this country last August.

Kothlow Tour de Switchbackland

Agerisee

Another mountain biking and camping trip has taken place at the Agerisee with Jack, Kari, Katie and I, and eight high schoolers doing their Duke of Edinburgh camp. I'd go so far as to wish it as an annual event for us. Our bodies fried by day and froze by night. This didn't apply to the two down cuccoons pictured below on our tarp. For me, it was the last time I use my Lightsack 200 bag before the real summer.