Sorry I haven't been writing. We've been crazy busy and I haven't had much time to blog. But today, before we go out for our excursion in the Alps for 3 days, I will write. Last week was quite fun, we went hiking on a mountain with my dad's cousin who we have been staying with here, Karin, and her son, Ilui (EE-LOO-EE.) We went and visited another of my dad's cousins, Renee (a man), on a very famous mountain called "The Rigi." There was a giant family reunion with all of my dad's family on his mothers side, there were over fifty people, and while many of them knew a lot about me I had no idea who any of them were. We went (I know I'm saying "we went" a lot, but I'm not feeling creative right now, and I don't have much time) to dinner with 3 of my dad's other cousins, Christine, Dominika and Karin, at Dominika's house, where I heard many stories about my dad's childhood and young manhood which were quite... interesting. And yesterday was an errand day in Luzern. My mom stayed home, so it was just dad and I. We got me a bank account, a bus pass and an iPhone.. And then we went to my school to have an appointment with my future principal. And we had some very, very, very, very bad bad bad bad news. In order to go through the four years of schooling here to eventually take the MATURA (The Swiss standardized test, which every student must take in order to go to a Swiss university) I must take every single class and test that the other students in my G1 class must take despite my disadvantage of not being fluent in German. Which includes a French class taught in German, if that is not bad enough they are not beginning French this year, it will be their fourth year of learning the language, which leaves me three years behind with no French experience whatsoever. Well unless you count that year in seventh grade with Madame Cryer, where I learned more about French gypsies than the language itself.


BUT... I am going to try. I know it is crazy, but I am. The school will provide me with extra German lessons and we are going to get me private tutors in French so I can learn the basics. Luckily I have a huge support group here and at home encouraging and helping me. So if you have anytime send me some love and strength, because I will definitely need it. And I know that even if it is too much for me, I can say I tried and that is a world of difference from giving up before I gave myself the chance.


There is something comical about this though. Every student must take English along with French. Luckily, I am more than adequate in that area. So I do have to take every test that they take, but I won't have to be present in every class. I am sure I will excel at that class :).


Love you all, keep reading! Tschüss!