It's Thanksgiving, kind of. It's Thanksgiving back home and everyone is at my grandmother's house. I miss them, I miss Louisville, I miss all of that. Even though Switzerland and surrounding areas have been preparing for Christmas for the past two weeks or so, now it's really in the home stretch. This weekend I am going to a Christmas Market in Montreux, Switzerland on the lake. I plan on getting a lot of gifts for people and sending boxes over.
I haven't been able to think straight all week. I don't know what's gotten into me.
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
no. 34
Well, the first real snow of the season has arrived. There is a good two to three feet on the ground right now and last night it got down to -6 C. A few runs opened in the resort last weekend, but I think during the week they're just keeping them closed because there aren't any tourists here yet. That's okay, I still have to get my season ski pass... and find boots for my snowboard hah.
I'm really happy because I will not be spending my Christmas alone! Rosie and her mum invited me over to their place for Christmas. I'm really, really grateful for that. I'm so happy and excited about this! Even though I'll have to sleep in East Midlands airport on Christmas night... oh well! So worth it. I'm still going to miss my family back in Louisville so much, an incredible amount, really. But I really am so glad that I will not be spending it alone.
I'm starting to feel pretty detached with everything lately. I've also realized a lot about my plans in life. I'm terrified I will get back to the States and won't be able to find a job. I really hope that being over here is a good boost on my resume. I suppose it would have been better if I was fluent in Spanish, just because of how common that language is there. But I love French, so I'm glad.
I just realized that I am missing all of NCAA Men's Basketball. What a huge bummer. I hope someone here will want to do a bracket with me... or Jack can fill out my bracket at home for me.
And yet again, I have so much to say but I don't have the courage to do so.
I'm really happy because I will not be spending my Christmas alone! Rosie and her mum invited me over to their place for Christmas. I'm really, really grateful for that. I'm so happy and excited about this! Even though I'll have to sleep in East Midlands airport on Christmas night... oh well! So worth it. I'm still going to miss my family back in Louisville so much, an incredible amount, really. But I really am so glad that I will not be spending it alone.
I'm starting to feel pretty detached with everything lately. I've also realized a lot about my plans in life. I'm terrified I will get back to the States and won't be able to find a job. I really hope that being over here is a good boost on my resume. I suppose it would have been better if I was fluent in Spanish, just because of how common that language is there. But I love French, so I'm glad.
I just realized that I am missing all of NCAA Men's Basketball. What a huge bummer. I hope someone here will want to do a bracket with me... or Jack can fill out my bracket at home for me.
And yet again, I have so much to say but I don't have the courage to do so.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
no. 33
So yesterday I got my hair cut and colored. I really, really like it. I feel like it makes me feel older, which is what I need/want. I'm sick of people being surprised that I'm 20 (because they thought I was 17. Depressing, really.)
My mom told me yesterday that I will be getting a lot of Christmas gifts. I'm pretty excited about it. I think that means I'm getting a whole new wardrobe sent to me. Good deal! I'm going to be a depressed puppy during the holidays. I'll be the only Wilson family member not at Christmas this year. I'll also be missing one of my favorite cities in the world.
Lately, I've been getting up really early. I mean, I have my alarm set for 6:55 am and I somehow am always awake to hear it go off. I don't understand why I'm up that early. I also don't understand why I'm having really odd dreams. Like how somehow Geneva's train station looked like the one in Florence and how I was on the news for the pants I wore. I don't know, don't ask me.
Anyway, I'm getting pumped for the snow to come this weekend. I'm also getting pumped for my ~season pass!! I need to save up money like MAD.
My mom told me yesterday that I will be getting a lot of Christmas gifts. I'm pretty excited about it. I think that means I'm getting a whole new wardrobe sent to me. Good deal! I'm going to be a depressed puppy during the holidays. I'll be the only Wilson family member not at Christmas this year. I'll also be missing one of my favorite cities in the world.
Lately, I've been getting up really early. I mean, I have my alarm set for 6:55 am and I somehow am always awake to hear it go off. I don't understand why I'm up that early. I also don't understand why I'm having really odd dreams. Like how somehow Geneva's train station looked like the one in Florence and how I was on the news for the pants I wore. I don't know, don't ask me.
Anyway, I'm getting pumped for the snow to come this weekend. I'm also getting pumped for my ~season pass!! I need to save up money like MAD.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
no. 32
The theme behind this post is "Change."
No, I'm not talking President Elect Obama... but that is some awesome change that definitely needed to come to America. Instead, I'm talking about a personal change within myself.
Last week, I came to the realization that I just turned 20. I know, a few weeks late. But really the realization wasn't that I was 20 years old, I had just realized that, "holy shit, I'm not a teenager. I'm TWENTY. I don't feel twenty..." So suppose that there are two parts of aging. One being the physical, real change that your body goes through. The other being your mind.
My revelation is that I need to start caring like I'm twenty. I realized that I am lazy about getting ready and taking care of myself. Realizing that made me feel 100% frumpy. So, now I'm going to give myself a makeover. I am getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow. I am in the process of completely revamping my wardrobe. I found myself looking at heels online, completely terrified, forcing myself to think, "Well, those don't look that hard to walk in. I could definitely do it."
I'm also really starting to contemplate the decision I have to make by February next year. Where will I go? What will I do? Do I go back to uni? If so, what for? Will I really be able to find a job in this economy? The list of questions seems never ending. Right now, what I'm banking on, is going back to school at University of Louisville for a double major in English and French. I will get an apartment, either by myself or with someone else, and I will get a kitten. By doing this, I would need to take out a student loan. By taking out a student loan, I will give myself a reason to do well. (Because I'm fucking paying for it.) I am going to Louisville because that is where my family is and where my heart-roots are planted. I'm at a time in my life where I need to take in everything my grandmother has to say before it's too late.
After I get degrees, who knows what I'll be doing. Who knows if that's what I'll even be studying. I suppose no one really ever knows what exactly will happen next, but the point is to have confidence in something so you have a pretty good chance of getting it done.
I need to have confidence in myself. I need to realize that I can do this. Yeah, it'll be hard. I'll probably want to drop out again. But the most important thing I need to do is take myself seriously.
No, I'm not talking President Elect Obama... but that is some awesome change that definitely needed to come to America. Instead, I'm talking about a personal change within myself.
Last week, I came to the realization that I just turned 20. I know, a few weeks late. But really the realization wasn't that I was 20 years old, I had just realized that, "holy shit, I'm not a teenager. I'm TWENTY. I don't feel twenty..." So suppose that there are two parts of aging. One being the physical, real change that your body goes through. The other being your mind.
My revelation is that I need to start caring like I'm twenty. I realized that I am lazy about getting ready and taking care of myself. Realizing that made me feel 100% frumpy. So, now I'm going to give myself a makeover. I am getting my hair cut and colored tomorrow. I am in the process of completely revamping my wardrobe. I found myself looking at heels online, completely terrified, forcing myself to think, "Well, those don't look that hard to walk in. I could definitely do it."
I'm also really starting to contemplate the decision I have to make by February next year. Where will I go? What will I do? Do I go back to uni? If so, what for? Will I really be able to find a job in this economy? The list of questions seems never ending. Right now, what I'm banking on, is going back to school at University of Louisville for a double major in English and French. I will get an apartment, either by myself or with someone else, and I will get a kitten. By doing this, I would need to take out a student loan. By taking out a student loan, I will give myself a reason to do well. (Because I'm fucking paying for it.) I am going to Louisville because that is where my family is and where my heart-roots are planted. I'm at a time in my life where I need to take in everything my grandmother has to say before it's too late.
After I get degrees, who knows what I'll be doing. Who knows if that's what I'll even be studying. I suppose no one really ever knows what exactly will happen next, but the point is to have confidence in something so you have a pretty good chance of getting it done.
I need to have confidence in myself. I need to realize that I can do this. Yeah, it'll be hard. I'll probably want to drop out again. But the most important thing I need to do is take myself seriously.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
no. 31
I am seriously missing my friends and family and the holiday season is going to be painful. But on the bright side, I'm going to Toulouse in a few weeks. I'm also going to a gypsy bar in Geneva next weekend. I am in an extremely nostalgic mood and I want to say so much but I just can't bring myself to do it.
Monday, November 10, 2008
no. 30
Well, it's my 30th post. Congrats me...? Hahah.
Anyway, I have been super upbeat since I had all the weekend to relax and revitalize myself.
Tonight I had my first French lesson in Switzerland. It went pretty well... except our teacher goes really fast and I kept trying to fill in answers and because I was doing that I wasn't paying attention and I would get confused. But next time I'll be uber focused. I'm pretty excited about it. Practically everyone in my class is from Germany or Austria except for one girl who is Portuguese. Maybe I can learn some basic German while I perfect my French? Hahah. I can dream.
I feel pretty at home here in my little studio. I am getting used to everything and finally have everything where I want it. It also helps that I have my ukulele and food and water and wine. You know, life's essentials (that does include the uke.) I don't understand how anyone could NOT like the ukulele. It's so small, and cute, and you can make it sound either really happy and fun or utterly depressing. It's awesome. I've been getting a lot better at it, too. I want to have someone to make music with. Viet said that he has a piano and a guitar at his place, so I might have to hang with him one weekend in Genève.
Anyway, my weekend trip to Toulouse is a go ahead. I am pretty much going out of my skin to see Gogol Bordello and rage so hard. It should be absolutely life changingly fun. So pumped!
Um, I don't have much else to say I suppose. I still miss the people I've been missing. I've been here for a full four months and I've got nine left. I can't wait to see my brothers again (and this includes the one from anotha motha brother E) and I can't wait to see Eron and ride bikes around Madison with Michaela again and go to Escape and drink so much Bike Fuel and listen to jazz on the loudspeakers and watch the crazies come and go... but I am really glad I'm here and able to experience everything.
Jacob Borshard has a new album out called A Glow in the Dark and it's seriously pretty incredible. You should all go download it (it's free!) It's also filled with ukulele goodness and cute lyrics that will make you go, "awww." Click here, dudes. Scroll all the way to the right. You can also download his two previous albums (I highly recommend doing so)
Anyway, I have been super upbeat since I had all the weekend to relax and revitalize myself.
Tonight I had my first French lesson in Switzerland. It went pretty well... except our teacher goes really fast and I kept trying to fill in answers and because I was doing that I wasn't paying attention and I would get confused. But next time I'll be uber focused. I'm pretty excited about it. Practically everyone in my class is from Germany or Austria except for one girl who is Portuguese. Maybe I can learn some basic German while I perfect my French? Hahah. I can dream.
I feel pretty at home here in my little studio. I am getting used to everything and finally have everything where I want it. It also helps that I have my ukulele and food and water and wine. You know, life's essentials (that does include the uke.) I don't understand how anyone could NOT like the ukulele. It's so small, and cute, and you can make it sound either really happy and fun or utterly depressing. It's awesome. I've been getting a lot better at it, too. I want to have someone to make music with. Viet said that he has a piano and a guitar at his place, so I might have to hang with him one weekend in Genève.
Anyway, my weekend trip to Toulouse is a go ahead. I am pretty much going out of my skin to see Gogol Bordello and rage so hard. It should be absolutely life changingly fun. So pumped!
Um, I don't have much else to say I suppose. I still miss the people I've been missing. I've been here for a full four months and I've got nine left. I can't wait to see my brothers again (and this includes the one from anotha motha brother E) and I can't wait to see Eron and ride bikes around Madison with Michaela again and go to Escape and drink so much Bike Fuel and listen to jazz on the loudspeakers and watch the crazies come and go... but I am really glad I'm here and able to experience everything.
Jacob Borshard has a new album out called A Glow in the Dark and it's seriously pretty incredible. You should all go download it (it's free!) It's also filled with ukulele goodness and cute lyrics that will make you go, "awww." Click here, dudes. Scroll all the way to the right. You can also download his two previous albums (I highly recommend doing so)
Saturday, November 8, 2008
no. 29
So I literally spent this whole weekend as a hermit in my apartment and I am very, very glad I did so. I slept so much and relaxed and played my ukulele. I also began planning my three day weekend to Toulouse, France. Allow me to explain in a different paragraph...
So I found out earlier this week that I have Monday, December 8th off. So, of course, I want to go somewhere. I was thinking going to Amsterdam or Spain or something like that, but I stumbled on the Gogol Bordello website and found out that they are going to be in France that weekend. So I was like hell yeah! I'll do that! So I plan on hanging out in Toulouse for the weekend and then ending it with a huge gypsy punk party and after party. I am so amped, really. I can't wait to go. I guess there are cool markets to go to in Toulouse, and it's a Mediterranean climate so it doesn't get too cold (at least compared to the mountains hah)
Anyway, I'm going to go see Quantum of Solace tonight while it's still in English. I love action movies. I also just now started watching Black Cat, White Cat. It's a film from the Balkans, it's pretty funny actually. I need to finish it later tonight. A quote from it: "Cards are like whores. Fickle."
So I found out earlier this week that I have Monday, December 8th off. So, of course, I want to go somewhere. I was thinking going to Amsterdam or Spain or something like that, but I stumbled on the Gogol Bordello website and found out that they are going to be in France that weekend. So I was like hell yeah! I'll do that! So I plan on hanging out in Toulouse for the weekend and then ending it with a huge gypsy punk party and after party. I am so amped, really. I can't wait to go. I guess there are cool markets to go to in Toulouse, and it's a Mediterranean climate so it doesn't get too cold (at least compared to the mountains hah)
Anyway, I'm going to go see Quantum of Solace tonight while it's still in English. I love action movies. I also just now started watching Black Cat, White Cat. It's a film from the Balkans, it's pretty funny actually. I need to finish it later tonight. A quote from it: "Cards are like whores. Fickle."
Thursday, November 6, 2008
no. 28
"This Is the Impossibility of the Existence of Anything."
I fear I have become apathetic. I feel absolutely under stimulated. I feel like I need to read more books. That new English bookstore in Lausanne will probably be really good for me in the winter. I'll plan on taking my Wednesdays to go read / get a new book / hang out in Lausanne. Maybe I need to slap myself in the face (metaphorically speaking) and get some motivation to go out and do something with my time and energy instead of run around the mountain. I wish I lived in a city, I really do. I have always found a lot of comfort and inspiration in cities, whether that be Madison, Milwaukee, Louisville, Geneva... you name it. I wish I was able to be closer to the friends that I have (who are amazing and I love them dearly).
And now I need to stop myself from going any further. You can always wish for something else that could be easier, be potentially better, to be somewhere else. Wishing that something was different and actually acting on what you want and need are two different things. I need to make use of my time. I need to get off this damn computer and read what books that I have. I need to steer away from the weekend norm, I need to get out and explore what is around me. I need more random night adventures. What I really need is a good discussion about books, philosophies, reality. I need intellectual stimulation.
What I really need is sleep.
I fear I have become apathetic. I feel absolutely under stimulated. I feel like I need to read more books. That new English bookstore in Lausanne will probably be really good for me in the winter. I'll plan on taking my Wednesdays to go read / get a new book / hang out in Lausanne. Maybe I need to slap myself in the face (metaphorically speaking) and get some motivation to go out and do something with my time and energy instead of run around the mountain. I wish I lived in a city, I really do. I have always found a lot of comfort and inspiration in cities, whether that be Madison, Milwaukee, Louisville, Geneva... you name it. I wish I was able to be closer to the friends that I have (who are amazing and I love them dearly).
And now I need to stop myself from going any further. You can always wish for something else that could be easier, be potentially better, to be somewhere else. Wishing that something was different and actually acting on what you want and need are two different things. I need to make use of my time. I need to get off this damn computer and read what books that I have. I need to steer away from the weekend norm, I need to get out and explore what is around me. I need more random night adventures. What I really need is a good discussion about books, philosophies, reality. I need intellectual stimulation.
What I really need is sleep.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
no. 27
It has been a long time since I have posted. I was on a 2 week vacation with my mother to Paris, Venice, and Florence. It was a lot of fun and extremely sad to see her go back "over the pond". I don't feel like talking about it much, I have pictures up on my Flickr.
Anyway, my little ukulele is now accompanying me in Switzerland. It feels good to have it back... and that sounds incredibly pathetic and lame. It is extremely nice having something to do besides wasting time watching YouTube or Stumbling Upon things. I want to have people to make music with... cough cough Rosie...?
A new English bookstore opened in Lausanne a few weeks ago and I guess they're organizing some sort of book club / cocktail night. I am pretty excited about that because then I will get out of the house more often. It will be cheap too, seeing as I got the "Voie 7" pass on my demi-prix card... meaning I get to ride the trains and buses for free after 7pm.
I am also going to do my own version of Beirut's "Rhineland (Heartland)" on the uke. "Life, life is alright on the... Rhone..."
Anyway, my little ukulele is now accompanying me in Switzerland. It feels good to have it back... and that sounds incredibly pathetic and lame. It is extremely nice having something to do besides wasting time watching YouTube or Stumbling Upon things. I want to have people to make music with... cough cough Rosie...?
A new English bookstore opened in Lausanne a few weeks ago and I guess they're organizing some sort of book club / cocktail night. I am pretty excited about that because then I will get out of the house more often. It will be cheap too, seeing as I got the "Voie 7" pass on my demi-prix card... meaning I get to ride the trains and buses for free after 7pm.
I am also going to do my own version of Beirut's "Rhineland (Heartland)" on the uke. "Life, life is alright on the... Rhone..."