Beths adventures through Europe :)

2 deaths and aching feet, a sad reality to my job that I understand and deal with, but not quite the Australia day I had hoped for. Nether the less, under my nurses uniform, I sported very proudly my Aussie singlet, I hope everyone had a lovely warm day full of good company and happy vibes :)

An interesting moment from last night which makes me smile to this moment, and cements in my belief of everything happening for a reason, was that I was walking through my very empty town at 9pm to meet a friend at the bar, when I came across 3 young people on the sidewalk looking terribly tired and frustrated, they eased into asking me a question very slowly with lots of gestures and waving of their iphone with simply an address on it. I (I now realise, meanly) let them finish and with a big grin asked very quickly “how on earth did you end up in Langnau … oh, and I am english aswell, you dont need to speak slowly :P) They looked overjoyed and also rather confused. It turned out there were staying in a lodge not all that far from my place so I was able to show them exactly where they needed to go.

I want to put this situation into Australian terms, the likelyhood of them finding an english person in Langnau, is like a Swiss person wandering around Stoneville at 9pm looking for the general store, and ending up bumping into another Swiss person who had been there only that afternoon. Absolutely no exaggeration there either … it was rather amazing! It seemed very very much like the world put me in the right place at the right time, -8 degrees is not a nice evening to be wandering around completely lost and helpless after such a long journey!

Emme Lodge in Langnau recieves from me nooooo props for convinient location, if I had trouble explaining the directions …. jetlagged tourists have no hope what so ever :P

The update:

Wellness weekend, simply INCREDIBLE. 40° water, surrounded by mountains, followed by 3 hours in a sauna and spa village, did I mention the whole area is governed by the rule “no clothes allowed” - originally the thought of walking from treatment to treatment and lounging around without clothes on would be more than horrifying, but it turns out when everyone is doing it, and no one cares, it is the most normal thing in the world …. it is actually a little bit of a shame and rather bothersome to stack on all your clothes again to head back into the real world! Here are some pictures from the normal 40 degree baths outside :D

German: I am officially enrolled in the international language school in the city! My bank account says OUCH.

Work: Today was memorable time, I blurted out during a patient emergency the solution needed for the particular and tough situation at hand, I was commended by the 3 other people in the room, for which I am very proud, though I know I contain good ideas, and I notice many things … I tend to stay quiet, mostly because my language barrier usually just confuses people in stressful situations rather than helping them; today, however, has infused new confidence in my  abilities :)

Operative procedure: Feb 1 is the date. I was given 5 days off work .. wonderful. Stiches; not so much. This concept freaks me out, sewing is meant for pretty blankets, not the side of my ribs! :)

A whirlwind month is still storming behind me, life is a wonderful thing full of ups, downs and very surprising turns! I was welcomed with open arms (and wine bottles!) to Christmas with my house mates family, it couldn’t have had more of a Hill gathering vibe. Experienced the greatest new years yet staying in a hotel in the mountains with some incredible incredible friends.

The 1st brought plans and promises, and the arrival of my beautiful friend from perth who had been the best company, adventure partner snd respectful couchmate in my room for the past week; I just dropped her off for a long flight home :)

The next 2 weeks bring a wellness weekend, German exam, and a bit of work before heading in for a little operation, meaning 4 days of minimised activity, stitches and 2 weeks sans bathing - I’m stuck between excitement and queasy nerves, a fairly large and deep cut is needed!

The perils of the cold are bringing this Australian body down!

With lows of -22 in the Emmental this week, comes a whole world of pain you never thought to associate with such a pretty white wonderland!

These are the three resulting questions asked from my baffled male housemate over the last 14 days.

1, Bethany, why is the kettle and fruit bowl in the bathroom?

2, Beth, why on earth is the honey on the sink in the bathroom!?

3, Beeetthhh, why are there Camomile tea bags in the bath tub…

When ones skin feels like it is on fire, muscles aching like crazy and reflex nerves on red alert creating in twitches that no one can see but drive you NUTS, one begins to put all hope in the world into the whatever-you-have-in-the-house all natural approach to relief. I hate this weather, I really really do.

One of the very amusing moments in my job occured last night as I was cleaning up from dinner.

Elderly Woman: Sooo so so, time for bed huh!?

Elderly Man: Bed? No! It is only 5.55pm!

Elderly Woman: Eeeee exactly!! … hurries off to room looking concerned and flustered at the realisation of the time.

I wonder who I will be when I am older, the group watching the late night criminal shows or the woman horrified at the thought of not being in bed by 7pm … either way it was one of the moments in life that all the professionality in the world could not stop me for having a giggle! :)

After working the last 8 days with only Friday “free” to get a mountain of house work done, I finally have another day off. Now off to the cafe for a hot chocolate and a mountain of paper work —- the grown up feelings are getting stronger and stronger as the bills, work requirements and reponsibilites start getting increasingly larger. I must say though, Dads finding of an app that will translate a whole page of German into english with just a picture from my phone camera has lessoned my stress levels and about 4 hours work into about 1 hour; I love technology!

The update

The last time I wrote on here, though I would not have admitted it, I was preparing to buy a ticket “home”. I had no job, no apartment, no future plans and not much to hold onto in terms of official documents and life assurances … how things change!

I am currently in my third month of working in my first full time and serious job at a health institution housing people with Dementia. I have Swiss life insurance, residence level status, a library card, credit card, bank card, grocery points card, injections history, personal doctor, a blender, an orange bicycle, mother duties to the worlds friendliest cat and 2 amazing housemates in an apartment that I keep expecting to see in the design magazines in the Kiosk. I understand many of these points are worthless information, however they have been the crucial and defining details to life life life, a new Swiss life!

And it gets deeper, in January I will begin a 6 month Diploma in German course in the city, lessoning my working week by one day, I will be glad for a bit more time to keep my heart and mind in a more positive and healthy state. In August I will then start study studying, as I was recently accepted to study healthcare and nursing as a adult, this will take 3 years to complete.

It is a long shot from my dream of Midwifery, however once I have completed this course it is only another 2 years studying to reach the dream.

I am really doing things the long way around, but at the same time I am very proud of myself, 1.5 years ago I arrived in Switzerland with no knowledge of the German language, let alone Swiss German … but now do, and I have alot to cling to, much of which has been so lovingly provided to me, but also alot that I have achieved all on my own, and that is the best feeling in the world, and very much the motivator to get me up every morning at 5am for another day of not stop translating ;)

This is my room, although it has been a little more girlified since this photo ;P