Babiessssssssssssss. Thoisday.

Swiss Princess Selina.

I will be in Liverpool in less than a week and I can't wait to get over to the U.K.

Here is a short life update: Friday December 3rd went to a company Christmas party with my friend Boris.  The kind of company that gives all their employees, and their employees' guests ipods as a Christmas gift.  5th generation nanos all wrapped and sitting on a table up for grabs as if they were boring goodie bags. Score!  (I thought about sliding a few extra into my purse, but then I thought about karma.)

Friday December 10th went to farewell dinner for my beautiful friend Elyse Van Herk.  Just her and I took the train to Zurich and after perusing the Christmas market for camel figurines, spontaneously decided on a pub called 'The Lion'.  Quite the classy place despite the name, honest.  We drank and ate and talked about Elyse's 7 month backpacking adventure through Asia.  Thailand was her favorite place. I MUST visit Nick and Lisa! Elyse talked it up so much.  She also spent a lot of time in Australia, New Zealand and India.  She's moving back home to Canada for a while and will be back in Europe in mid March.  Only this time she'll be living in Holland :(  So we had to have a goodbye weekend.

After dinner we went to a hostel bar in Zurich called Zic Zac. So much fun!  Hostels are great in general, of course, because you are meeting people from all over the world.  So a really happening hostel bar peaked my interest and it ended up being a great time.  I'm going back very soon. 

If you're looking for a good Christmas movie watch 'Love Actually.'  It's a perfect movie any time of the year but especially great during the Holidays. Watch!

I feel like I'm going to have a 'Love Actually' feeling this Christmas, seeing that I'll be in England, not to mention with a gorgeously handsome, charming, british man; Oliver Jones, whom in no way asked me to describe him using those adjectives. 

I hope you all have the best Christmas! I'm sure London will be spectacular and Oliver and I are going to have a blast in our Christmas sweaters at the pubs!

But if can borrow a quote from Dave Matthews for a moment, "turns out not where but who you're with that really matters."  So enjoy your families, I'll be missing mine.  

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooooo

Trying not to slip and bust my hip, zing!

It has been snowing here in Zug for about a week now.  I have a love/hate relationship with my new found weather situation.  Of course being from Florida it is nice to see snow.  It's so pretty, but it is obviously freezing and there is the constant threat of injury (I haven't bought snow boots yet.)

I am trying not to spend too much money at the moment, as I am going to London for Christmas and I know it's going to be ridiculously expensive. Therefore, sacrificing my well being with sneakers instead of proper boots will have to suffice. 

It's Christmas Time in Zug and I'm Thankful to be a European.

Hey guys :)  I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving in the good ol' U.S.A.

Mine was surprisingly perfect. I had dinner with my friend Jamie and her host parents Mads and Genia.

They are a really cool couple, they met in law school at Boston University, and after they got married they lived in New York City for a few years before moving here. So they've had a good few Thanksgivings.  Genia is an amazing cook! The four of us had a nice little grown up dinner after Sasha and Sofie went to bed.  Red wine, turkey, and all the sides you'd come to expect at a proper Thanksgiving. Not bad at all considering I originally thought I would spend that Thursday in my room after work. 

I don't think I can say it enough but I feel incredibly lucky to be living the life that I do.  I haven't done anything specific to deserve the people I have in my life, but they are there none the less so I chalk it up to sheer luck.  

Not many people can say that they picked up and moved to a different country at the age of 22.  Though I do get to say, "I live in Switzerland!" That sentence would not be coming out of my mouth if it were not for Jen Cowan.  J, I don't think I'll ever be able to express enough gratitude for the wonderful situation you've put me in!  I'm really thankful for you and this experience. Thank you thank you thank you!

Allow me to elaborate on what I mean when I say I am so lucky.  What I am most thankful for in this life is my ability to meet the BEST of people and form lasting friendships with them :)  You guys all mean so much to me! My wonderful group in Pensacola who have remained close all of these years.  All the amazing friends I have in Jacksonville!  I find that I have been exposed to some of the most kind hearted, genuine, and hilarious people one could hope to be friends with. 

Each and every one of you bring so much to the table, you have all enhanced my life in so many ways :)  And Zug has been no exception. 

Tonight I had dinner with some good friends, Tom, Michelle, and Matt.  Tom and Michelle are the kind of people who instantly make you feel welcome.  After all, they have only known me a short time and yet they have invited me into their lives and have quickly made me feel like Zug is my home.  I was skyping my parents this afternoon at starbucks when Tom called me and said, "Hey we want you to come over for dinner, we're making fondue so just head over soon."  They are so sweet and so hospitable.  

Some authentic swiss fondue + white wine + good people = a perfect Sunday evening. 

It's just such a warm feeling to know that no matter where I go in this life and no matter what I do, it seems there will always be amazing people around who offer their friendship to me. And for that I am truly thankful!

(A parting note:  Get ready for some serious travel blogs coming your way!!

I am headed to Liverpool and London for Christmas!  Spain in February and Ireland in March!

Also I am moving out of the convent and into an apartment with my soon to be roommie Matt in January!!)

 

All you need is Italy.

My Favorite statue in Florence

A view from the top of the hill at sunset.

8 euros for an authentic Italian Pizza, a glass of beer, and if you're lucky a nice view.

I LOVE ITALY! I was debating on what to title this blog and my mind was racing. There is so much I want to say about Italy, how do you boil down an amazing experience into one sentence? I did my best because truthfully I think Italy is perfect and if I had died on the train ride home, you all should know I would have died happy.  

I was in Florence for 5 wonderful days. So much happened so I'll try to condense it into a short blog with only the best details, though I think that will be next to impossible because as I said, the entire experience was just perfect. 

FOOD: Phenomenal, and all other adjectives that mean extraordinary. I don't think I will ever be able to eat pizza or ice cream again. I've had a taste of the real thing and now no other imitation will compare. 

(Side Note: The food tasted that much better because Switzerland prides their food selections on being flavorless. The blander the better! Unless of course we're talking chocolate or cheese, but that's it!)

We had gelato for lunch every day...no big deal. 

Favorite Dish = Tiramisu and Latte...Oh My God...Best. Ever!

SIGHTS: I myself could easily spend an entire day roaming around a museum. I'm that person that likes to read every description of the painting or sculpture that you are looking at.  And I am happy to report that we got a ton of sight seeing done. We saw "The David", Michelangelo carved it out of one giant piece of stone in 1502. That was probably my favorite thing that we paid to see. Just to be standing in front of something so historical. I mean Michelangelo carved it! It was so surreal! The detail on the statue is insane, we all stood in front of the David, and walked around it for somewhere around 20 minutes, just marveling over it's beauty, this one work of art!

 I'm so happy I left Florence checking that off of my list. 

We also went to the Medici castle and palace. Jamie is obsessed with the history behind the Medici Family. They ruled over Florence in the 1500s and it was so cool to see the beds they slept in, the sinks and fire places they used, the paintings and statues they collected.  I loved seeing these places with Jamie because she was like a personal guide, she knew a lot about them and I love that kind of stuff.  I have a serious passion for the the Kennedy family, so I really enjoyed learning about the Medici's from her. I made a mental note to pick up a book about them and further my knowledge. 

The Duomo: Skip it.

Seriously, I was so unimpressed. Not much to it.  A couple of murals, nothing comparable to the others we saw in different buildings. 

NIGHT LIFE:  We were fortunate enough to have Jamie's friend from high school, Stephanie, showing us around and taking us out each night. She is in Florence studying photography for the semester.  Florence is packed with Americans studying abroad. I never realized how comfortable I had become with being in an area where all you hear is German, until I got to Florence. It kind of annoyed me that everywhere we went we heard Americans speaking English. Come on, we're in Italy! But that's just a personal pet peeve I developed while there. 

It was great hanging out with Steph and her friends because we went to bars and night clubs every single night and had many intense flip cup competitions at the hostel, which served as our pregames for each night. 

(Always in my heart Team Cola!)

Steph was such a great sport when we dragged her around for shopping, dinners, and asked her annoying touristy questions. Thanks for the hospitality Steph! You are such a cool girl, I loved getting to know you, you made my first Italian experience that much better!

Something I didn't expect to get out of this trip: The realization of a culture, and I'm not talking about Italian.

Our first night in our hostel we met a girl from Canada named Stefanie. She was back packing through Europe by herself. This was my first time staying in a hostel and I haven't met many backpackers. I thought it was both weird and brave of her to be doing something like that on her own. She kind of looked at me like I was crazy for thinking such a thing.

As the week went on I realized that most people who are backpacking are doing it alone. And it's a funny concept to think that someone who is backpacking solo is alone, because in all actuality they couldn't be further from it. 

At one point in our trip my new friend Elyse (also a nanny in Switzerland, from Canada) said to me, "Don't you feel above all of the backpackers? We actually LIVE in Europe!" 

I agreed with her, I love being able to say that I am living in Switzerland. Especially when I meet an American who is just passing through.  But as I became more aware of the 'backpacking culture' I decided that I didn't feel so lucky.  These people are out on their own wandering around the world, meeting new people, making new friends, and experiencing new places every single day. 

WHAT A LIFE! 

I was jealous, I am jealous. 

It planted a seed in me that I know will only continue to grow the longer I'm here; I MUST KEEP TRAVELING! I want to find a way to travel for the rest of my life. The best plan I have thus far, is that I will go back to the states and become a teacher; save money during each school year, and spend each summer break backpacking in various parts of the world. Done! 

Gelato..or should I say Heaven

First Night/Dinner in Florence

Happy Saint's Day!

Halloween is not really celebrated by the Swiss. Thankfully though, they do give you the day off for All Saint's Day. November 1st, conveniently right after Halloween, so if you do celebrate then you have the entire following day to nurse your hangover.

My friends and I went to our local watering hole, Pickwick's an english pub. Here are pictures from Halloween festivities that my good friend and fantastic photographer Matthew James Byrne took =)

papa paparazzi

Me and Jamie

Ha, these two pics I just love! Oh Jamie... ;)

Matt, Jamie and I are leaving for Florence, Italy in two days! I can't wait to eat real Italian food. 

Hopefully I will have a nice blog post to share with you all when I return!

Sending LOTS OF LOVE to YOU (Jacksonville, Pcola, Otown. And other various areas of the country in which my family lives)

xxxxxxxxxxoooooooooooo

Holy Water, HOLY bike riding, and Nora =)

This is my new friend Nora, or as she likes to refer to herself as, my 'swiss momma.'

I first met Nora, a few weeks ago when I moved into the 9 century old convent that I now live in. (No men allowed, and no talking after 10:30pm).

Nora, offered to take me around town so I would know where things are.  She is such a sweetheart :)

Since then, she will come into my room from time to time to chat or inform me that we are going out.

Today was one of the 'going out' days.  She suggested we go for a bike ride. She is actually moving back to the states after being in Switzerland for the past 20 years and has generously offered to give me her bike. So of course I agreed to go on a bike ride with her today. 

Here's how it went:

Now I have had some physically straining days in my lifetime, not since high school, but I have definitely been pushed to my limit before. I once had to run a 5k on the hottest recorded day of the summer and ended up collapsing on the pavement and vomiting in front of my high school football team. I know, tasty...But that's neither here nor there. The point is, I thought I'd never see a day like that again. 

I was very wrong.

It took us about an hour to bike to the outskirts of Zurich, I had no idea we were going that far.  I also was not aware that the ride to Zurich would consist of going up one hill after another. 

Nora was gliding up hills like her Tour de France medal depended on it. Meanwhile, I am fighting to breathe, repeating the phrase "mind over matter" to myself, and doing that maneuver where you try really hard not to pant because you don't want people around you to think you are ridiculously out of shape. 

By the eighth hill I couldn't fake it anymore, mostly because Nora kept saying things like, "Oh isn't it just so beautiful out here?" And it was getting way to hard to answer with a five word sentence that didn't include me pausing in the middle to gasp for air. So, I hoped off of my bike and walked it the rest of the way.

Talk about feeling like a total failure.

I neglected to mention that it was 41 degrees outside today, so I was wearing a sweater, gloves, and a heavy jacket. When I stopped to walk my bike I took my jacket off because I had gotten very hot.  My sweater was drenched in sweat. Disgusting, yet true. All the while Nora is still pedaling away, smiling, talking...breathing normally.

This is a picture of me, post death ride, with some pretty trees. 

Nora and I like the way the leaves are changing color, photo opp! 

It's truly a blessing that you can't see me very well. At this point my heart was 

beating against my chest so hard that it felt like it was going to rip its way right out of my body. 

Our destination was the home of a very nice older lady. I didn't catch her name, or probably

I just can't remember it, I have a really bad habit of doing that.  She is the mother of a very

good friend of Nora's.  Mrs. Nora'sfriend'smother invited us in for coffee and biscuits. She doesn't

speak English, but I really liked that. We hung around for about an hour and I listened to the two

of them speak German and understood about 10% of the conversation. Just give me time, I will

learn. 

In an attempt to relate to Mrs. Nora'sfriend'smother, I noticed a picture of the Pope on her wall

and informed her that I am also Catholic. She immediately leaned over and picked up 

what looked like a bottle of hairspray and sprayed it on to my head. 

"Ah, this is holy water", said Nora, "She is a very spiritual woman." 

"Yea, and that wasn't the slightest bit odd", I said inside my head.

She also gave me a rosary, showed me a picture of her grandson receiving his first communion 

and told me to sleep each night with the rosary wrapped around my thumb... religion :)

In all seriousness, I genuinely enjoyed being there. You know the opening scene of 'Inglorious Basterds',

the country side of France in the 1940s? That is what this house looked like, it was out in the middle of no where, on a beautiful green farm.  I had one of those in the moment realizations that just make you appreciate your existence. 'Wow I am having coffee with two nice ladies in a gorgeous old farm home, in Switzerland. Is this real life?'

Graffiti wall in Baar we spotted on our bike ride. 

Woody was my favorite.

Oh Katja...

Four year old Katja, is both the devil reincarnated and a 

sweet little angel. It really just depends on what hour of

the day it is.  And what type of mood she is in. Then there are

those gray areas, certain hours of the day when Katja is neither

angel nor devil, but just...insane?  

Age, Sex, Location?

22, Female, In route to ballet lesson via the Zug bus.

Katja says, "Brittany, can you now stick your tongue on my tongue?"

Very calmly and in a whisper I respond, "No, Katja we're not going to do that."

"But why? Why not?" (starting to shout, mind you) "Brittany put your tongue on my tongue!

It will feel so funny!"

While she is saying these things, she is trying with all her four year old might to 

stick her tongue in my mouth.  Now it's becoming a scene, people are staring

at me. And I'm trying to smile in a way that says,

 'I'm not a pedophile. Kids?! Ha, what are you gonna do?'

But that message isn't really getting across to fellow bus passengers

and Katja isn't really calming down any. How do you explain to a four

year old, that you can't make out with them? Awkward...

It was a bit of a struggle to turn her around and tell her to be quiet.

In retaliation she said, "Fine, BIRTHday!" (I should have never told

them that they are not allowed to call me that. It's now their favorite

thing to say when they want to be spiteful).

But I must say, that was the first time I have been happy to be called

'birthday.' Because to her, the thought of annoying me far outweighed

her desire to experiment with me on a bus full of people.

Thank God.  

Basel is Lovely in October

And by "lovely" I mean rainy, and by "rainy" I mean sleeting.  To say it was freezing outside is more than an understatement.  I think we would need a new word for freezing. My Florida-temperature-adjusted body is not made for these conditions.  But it's OK, I did not let that ruin my Sunday :)

Mmmm I know that looks extremely appetizing. 

Today, Karah, Jamie, and I went to Basel for their

Autumn Fair. We decided to try these fried apples

while we were there because they smelled really good and it seemed 

like everyone walking around the fair had some.  They were 

delicious! Covered in cinnamon with vanilla sauce on the side. 

They don't look so great in that picture 

but hey, I'm no food photographer. 

Don't get too excited by this picture.

I am sad and embarrassed to report that while in

Basel, we skipped the Andy Warhol showcase at the

Kunstmuseum.  However, the exhibit will be around until 

January and I plan on getting back out to Basel to see it. So 

just consider this a little teaser of far greater pictures to come!

Not embarrassed to admit that I've been pulled into the european

influence of techno music. I was a Daft Punk Fan anyways. 

I fed my new Passion Pit obsession yesterday by downloading 

every song of theirs that I could get my hands on. I think they're

fantastic =)

Since I am very new to this blogging thing, I haven't been

able to figure out how to post videos...Sad face...but either

ways here is a link to a really popular song I've been hearing

everywhere I go. "We No Speak Americano."

 I have no idea if it's big in the states but people

love it here. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PityurWHMNE 

I have a procrastination problem...

What did you do at work today?
I played with play dough and was called an asshole by a four year old.
Specifically she said "arschloch", which means asshole. And then she flipped me off. I now know that you shouldn't inform a four year old that she's not allowed to cheat in the game of monopoly.

"What do your sisters call you?" Asked the girls ten seconds after the above incident took place, as kids like to move on fast, and 90% of our conversations are about my brother and sisters, Thomas, Sabrina, and Molly.  I guess because it's the most relatable topic I have to discuss with them; they're children and I once had a childhood.
"They call me Britt."
"Britt? But why?"
"Because it's short for Brittany, you know like a nickname?"
"Well we want that your nickname is 'Birthday'."
"Birthday? No, you're not calling me Birthday. That doesn't even make sense."
"Yes it does, Birthday and Brittany sound so much a like in english, and they are nearly spelled the same."


In between my busy schedule of holding a 6 month old for 11 straight hours, and insisting that the girls stop calling me 'Birthday', I went outside and took a picture of this mountain on Zug Lake. It was such a clear and beautiful day today I couldn't help myself.  Zug's weather is tricky like that, it's normally extremely foggy and you can't see the mountains. But every once and a while you will get a very clear day and you'll be able to see ALL of the town's gorgeous scenery from up in the hills where my Swiss family lives.

The one regret I have of things I left behind in the states, is definitely a high resolution camera. I don't actually own one, but now that I'm here taking in all these wonderful sights, I could really kick myself for not having saved up enough money to buy a good nikon. My camera just doesn't do this mountain justice...  As you can see in my previous and only prior post, it has taken me quite a while to get this blog thing going. I think that camera may have motivated me to start this a lot sooner...

My First Week in Zug

At the Orlando airport, Saying bye to mom and dad.