23 May 2009

It hasn`t really been that long since I`ve blogged, but a whole lot has happened. Let`s start at the top...

13 May: Today was very cool. Working in Kanderlodge (Assembling IKEA Flatpacks), I was called out by Geoff at 2:30, `Do you want to go do the highroaps course?` DO I EVER! `One snag, people will be taking pictures for an ad campaign.` Oh well, I`ll live. Heading out with him and Jean (South Africa, High Adventure Assistant), we played.....ahem, I mean worked for the whole afternoon zip lining again and again so they could get a good picture. Hard work. It was awesome- and classified as work, how cool is that?

15 May: Wow. I have exactly one month left. How scary is that?! While I miss my family, I really don`t want to leave here. I`ve made so man good friends, and I always have such a good time. I don`t want to re-enter society. Not yet at least. Today the stairs up to the staff room were being waxed, so we weren`t allowed to walk on it. In order to get in and out of the staff room we instead had to use the fire escape ladders out side, and climb through windows. Thankfully the stairwell will open up tomorrow, because it is very difficult to carry hot chocolate up a ladder!

18 May: Duty+Peg Game = Paranioa = FUN

Today I was on duty, and for it I introduced the peg game. The peg game is where you have to secretly peg some one with a particular clothes peg, if you get pegged you have to pass it on until dinner, where the person has a punishment for having the peg. The only problem was, come dinner time, I still didn`t have a punishment. I was just thinking there was`n`t one, and the threat was motivation to play, but Dave didn`t like this idea. Then, as we`re serving dinner, he comes up with a brilliant plan. When Felipe came in for dinner, he told me to ring the bell. I said `In a minute` he said `No, NOW!` Wondering who had it, I looked over and saw it sticking out of Chris` back pocket. BBBBRRRRRING, went the bell. Calling it to Chris` attention, I said Ìf you could please stand on your chair and sing us a song, it would be loevly.` and I sat down, waiting. Singing Ba Ba Black Sheep, I could not stop smiling, such a good game- and Chris` idea. :) The rest of duty wasn`t nearly as exciting, but the peg game made up for it.

19 May: Today I met up with Marth! Getting up with plenty of time, I stopped at the bank on the way to the staion, to find that my card wouldn`t work. Borrowing money from Lynsey, I missed my train, and caught another one, 30min later. Thankfully Martha wasn`t waiting late, but I was worried about my card. Meeting up with Martha, I was so excited to see her. After hugs and laughs, we got on the tram and made it to our hostel. The only ones in our room we were very excited. We dropped our stuff and headed out. Bee-lining for the water, Geneva was HOT! even so, we enjoyed our time walking to the end of a pier, got ice cream and made it to the Jet D`Eau. The tallest fountain, it was very cool: literally and figuratively. After this we lazily headed to the Old Town, relaxing in a park and looking at all the buildings. For dinner, we were hell bent on saving money, and opted for a loaf of bread and a jar of peanut butter. Good laughs, and all for until 10 CHF. After this we headed back to the hostel to find more people in our room, so we headed to bed shortly after.

20 May: Getting up this morning, we had breakfast, checkout and were ready to go. Following out map like proper tourists, we easily found the United Nations. Going around to the tourists enterance, we first stopped at the Red Cross/Red Cresent museum. Definately worth the vist. It was then on to the UN: This visit was particularily cool to me because together Martha and I also visted the UN in New York. It was interesting to learn the difference of the two, but the best part was being in the original part of the building which housed the League of Nations. I was so in to it. Then we caught the tram, gathered our luggage and went to the train station. Arriving in Kandersteg just after 6, we walked back to the centre as I pointed everything out to her. I was so excited to have her here, and to see what I do, even if she could only stay for 12 hours. Finally arriving at the centre, I took her to our room giving her the full check in and tour. Heading to a small party that night, we didn`t stay long, and instead played cards, chatting in our room. I missed her, but I`m very glad she could come.

21 May: Today was absolutely, positively, incredibly, amazingly cool. Possibly my favourite day yet, and the really cool part: it didn`t cost a thing! This morning, Martha and I work up at 4am to get ready and get her to the train station for the first train out. Getting back before anyone was awake, I cleaned the German Room (where we slept) and read in the staff room (so I wouldn`t wak up Lynsey). Meeting Adnrew at 9am, we got our gear and headed out to climb the via ferrata. OMG!!!!! I was under the impression it was a difficult hike: NO! It is a challenging (but horribly fun) climb, including helmets and harnesses. I loved every second of it. In the climb you pass over a waterfall (the one you can see from my room)- twice. The climb consists of pegs less than 6 inches long. They stick out of the mountain and you have to climb up. There are also ladders which go vertical, horziontal and twist. It`s so amazing. I am sore and covered in cuts, scrapes, bruises, but it was so worth it. I want to do it again asap. Unfortunately there weren`t a lot of places to stop and take photos (I only took two), but when I do it again, I`ll be sure to take more. After the incredible climb, we hiked back down, and had lunch. Shortly after we joined Dave and Mike at the recently opened swimming pool for a quick dip. After this we went and watched movies at Staff Flat. While that big might sound boring to some, I found it to be fun. Sitting around with my friends: one Australian and the other English, drinking beer. Getting back to the centre for dinner, I had a shower, and was in bed for 9pm. Hey, I was up at 4, and have been going to whole time. I`m beat. But oh so happy too.