Language class

So apparently my German language class started today, although I thought it started next week, not the day after we got back from Rome! 

I got up early and took the train to Zurich, where I met with my group, then took the tram to the "Clubschule Migros", where we got sorted (Harry potter reference) into a beginner and an intermediate group. Yay for me I'm in the intermediate group:)

We then had a short lesson and took the train to Bern, where we met with a group learning French and went on a scavenger hunt for fountains. My group got done early so we wandered around and found a giant chess set:

We then took the train back to Zurich, then I came back to Adliswil on the train. My friend fell asleep:

Rome days 4, 5 & 6

The day before yesterday we got up and went outside in the pouring rain. We didn't realize that the puddles on the road and the cars speeding past the bus station were not the best combo. I got splashed all the way up to the ends of my shorts... So we went back inside for a while, then emerged again when the sun came out. After that, we did the classic tourist thing and visited the Forum, where all the semi famous old ruins are. Then we visited the palatine and the Colosseum. The Colosseum was amazing! Selfies...

The next day we went to Ostia Antica, an ancient Roman town that is super well preserved, to the point of being able to climb up onto second-story buildings from 2000 years ago. I went exploring off into the ruins and found some pretty cool stuff:

I highly recommend a visit, as most people skip going there, which is a mistake:) After the ruins, we went to the beach! Now I can say I've swum in the Mediterranean Sea!

We all got sunburns though....

Today we went to the Vatican and the catacombs. It was very unique... And fun!

Rome day 3

Yesterday we went to the Vatican Museums, inside of which was the Sistine Chapel, Castel Sant'Angelo, and the Villa Borghese park. There were little go-karts there and Gage and I tried one:

This was on top of the Castel Sant'Angelo, a fortress for the Pope if he should ever be under attack.

Rome day 2

Yesterday was day 2 in Rome. We went on a food tour, which was the most awesome thing ever. Here's some of the food we got to try:

 

And today we are going to go to the museum of the Vatican and a park... :) fun times!

Rome!

Today we got up early and flew to Rome. Apparently flying to here is cheaper than taking the train... 

There are people everywhere! Today we went to the Pantheon (with a giant oculus at the top, open to the sky-a choir was singing and the acoustics were amazing!), Sant'Ignazio (church of St. Ignatius-the ceiling is flat, but painted to look curved!!) the Fontana de Trevi (a famous fountain that is part of a lot of movies-sadly it was closed for renovations today), and some obelisks.

What I learned today:

The Romans were obsessed with Egyptian things. They hauled an entire pyramid over from Egypt just because.

Facts of the day:

Our taxi driver was named Mario. 

There are 13 Egyptian obelisks around Rome. We saw 2 today.

Alcoholic beverages?

Today was Dominic's confirmation, and after we went to church, we had lunch with my cousins, cousins-twice-removed (I think), and Dominic's girlfriend. It was fun. And yummy. 

Apparently my mother decided that I was old enough to try a radioactive-looking beverage. It was wacky. I drew my glass some arms and legs and eyes and called it Fred. Fred was yummy.

Tomorrow we leave for Rome! I'm super excited... I don't know what all we are going to do there, but I'm sure it'll be fun.

I miss my friends so much though. :(

Fun times

Yesterday we went to a dinner with my cousins, Dominic and Lara. We played games and listened to music... It was fun. This was the gorgeous sunset on the way home.

Today I went to Blau ring, which is like a girl scout-type thing here with Lara. We had a muffin-decorating contest, and guess who won? This girl:) Here's a picture of my cupcake... It's modeled off of Olaf from the Disney movie Frozen. (The white bits around him are him melting;))

After we decorated muffins, we went to the Sihl river, which is about 5 minutes away from where my grandparents live. We played in the water and walked across the rocks over the river to get home.

Tonight we went to the "badi" (pool) and went night-swimming with Dominic and Lara. I've never been night-swimming, and it was super exciting.

Tomorrow is Dominic's confirmation, and then we get to go to lunch with some relatives:) Busy, busy, busy!

Internet

So, apparently my grandparents don't have wifi. Hopefully that'll be fixed soon.

Anyways, we got delayed almost an entire day... But we arrived a few days ago and I am still super tired. I finally slept throught the night tonight. Jetlag is a poop.

Today we went to the zoo, and there was a baby elephant, only 2 days old there. It was very adorable:)

Tomorrow we are going to go to Dominic and Lara's house (my cousins) and have dinner.

I miss everyone in Montana already. :/

Goodbye, Montana

These past few days have been crazy packing and saying goodbye to friends and family. 

But now the adventure begins! Katie came with me to the airport to say goodbye... And I cried... 

And now we are just sitting in the airport in Glacier waiting for our flight, which leaves in an hour and a half. Blech. 

Look! Airport picture!!!

What Time Is It?

Summertime! Yay! Our last day of school was yesterday, I'm so happy! Woohoo summer!

And just now, I looked out the window and there was this absolutely gorgeous double rainbow, half in the sun, half not, right as the sun was going down. So pretty! And what's funny is one rainbow goes left to right, purple to red, and the other one goes red to purple. Apparently this happens because the light coming from the sun is reflected twice inside the raindrops. The light emerges from the raindrop at a different angle than it does the first time. In the first rainbow the blue light emerges from the drops at a smaller angle than the red light, but in the second, the blue light emerges at a larger angle than the red light. Therefore it seems "flipped" to us. Whoa. Science. Cool stuff.

Congratulations. You learned something today:)

End of the Year

All of a sudden everyone has literally gone crazy. I swear.

We only have one more day of school left, so naturally everything that didn't get done during the school year absolutely must get done now. Asap.

So yesterday I went to church choir practice for the first time, and we had some cake... It was pretty awesome. And before I left, some people gave me cards. I opened then when I got home, and I was super touched that the wonderful people in that choir decided to give me some jewelry and some money (?!). It was super sweet, and totally unexpected. So that was fun...

Then today was the second-to-last day of school, so in all of my classes we either took tests or partied. We had a breakfast party in Choir, that was awesome...:) Hey, but it's Friday!!!

Tonight I get to hang out with Katie, and tomorrow I get to have a party with all of my old grade school friends to say goodbye. Only eight days until we leave!
Bye!

Never mind, sleeping in is amazing

Friday: School, bonfire at a friends house... While we were there we found a baby bird, maybe only a few hours old. It had fallen out of it's nest and it looked like an alien. It had no feathers or fur, and it's eyes were covered with skin.

Saturday: I slept in until noon. It was Wonderful... Then I hung out with Katie and we went out to get coffee. #suchwhitegirls

Sunday: Today is my voice recital... Lots of family is coming, and then we are having a "goodbye" dinner for me since I won't see everyone for a year.