First Week

So I made it.

I arrived close to on time at the Adelboden bus stop and was picked up immediately by one of the Summer Volunteers and Ben, the maintenance assistant and driver. And then proceeded to be thoroughly turned around by all the curvy roads up the mountain. I had no concept of where I was going, but did know exactly where the "oh shit" bar was and where the road ended and dropped off the side of the mountain. Good times...

Once at Our Chalet, I was informed we wouldn't be moving into the staff house just yet because the Summer volunteers were still there. And then I was shown where I would stay for the next week - the Squirrel House. And that I would need to haul my big ass suit case up the big ass side of a big ass alp to get there. (see picture) I think they did that just to torture us. I made it up though, only turning over my suitcase 3 separate times.

But everyone was very nice and welcoming and it was a great first night meeting my future "family."

Since then we have been training. We've been shown how to do laundry, work in the kitchen, give tours, and clean. And we were introduced to the programmes we'll be working and the Juliette Low Conference we'll be a part of. All very exciting. But I am having flashbacks to apprentice orientation at Imagination Stage where it is a total information overload. But because I had that experience, I know I'll get it and do just fine. I know this also because I'm fabulous.

All in all it's been a great week. The weather is amazing. I don't know the temperature because it's in celsius, and I have no concept of that. And I don't know how far we are from things because the distances are in meters and again I have no concept of that. But regardless it's absolutely the most beautiful place I've been yet. And it will only get better.

It is so clean here. The air and water is so clear. And people care about keeping it that way. It's nice to know that humans are capable of getting it right.

Also, we've been told that soon the land that Our Chalet is on will be fenced in for the cows coming down the mountain for the winter. Apparently, we own the land but not the grass. So each farmer owns a plot of grass for their cows to eat when they are traveling up and down the mountain. One morning I will wake up to hear bells, and walk out the door and be greeted by a few cows and maybe a goat or two. All wearing bells around their necks and chomping away at the grass. We've already seen a few "herds" traveling down the roads headed for their respective grass. It's very cool. And you can always hear the cowbells. So it's like constant windchimes. And I've found the hardware store that sells them without the cheesy tourist crap attached to them. And I've decided I must buy a lot. So don't be surprised if you get one for Christmas.