Christmas visit in Switzerland(Biel and Pre-christmas dinner in Burgdorf)

What I love about coming back to Switzerland is that I meet those lovely people again. What always surprises me is that I understand more and more Swiss German for each time I come back. This time I could even order sandwiches, or even make a conversation in Swiss German! It is sort of strange, because I never practice this language in Norway... I am so thankful for the gift that I have. Now I feel a bit special. Haha...

My third day I met one of my friends, Nathalie, in Biel. We went through the Christmas marked and after that we had a great time in a backery with pie and coffee. I was so busy talking to Nathalie about things that had happened since last time we met, so I sort of forgot to take pictures from the Christmas marked. Thanks to Nathalie for treating me the apple pie and coffee!

The Christmas tree in Biel. Isn't it beautiful?

Angels made of glass.

My friend, my letter-exchanger, Nathalie

A friend from my hostfamily invited us(me and my hostfamily) to eat dinner at their house. During my stay in Switzerland as an exchange student, I have been there some couple of times. So I know those people quite well already. It was, as always, really nice to see them again. And the dinner was very good as well. I had a great time there, eventhough I felt a bit tired from travels, sightseeings and so on. Thank you for making the pre-Christmas time so wonderful. I will always remember those moments with you!

In Burgdorf.

A cute table decoration for me and my sister.

The men to the left and right side are the host, actullay father and son. In the middle you got me and my hostfather.

The boy(left) and the woman(right) are host, mother and son. In the middle there are my hostsister and my hostmother.

I hope you enjoy this entry. Sorry for my English mistakes... Right now I am languages confused! Tomorrow I and my hostfamily are going to ski. I am so exited that I am going to die... Or no, I do not want to die. I want to ski! Well, I see you in some couple of days. Enjoy your holidays!

-Dancerwithoushoes

Christmas visit in Switzerland(Montreux -Christmas Marked)

There are reasons why I wanted to buy a Swiss Youth Pass so bad. First of all I was thinking of travel around during three weeks. Secondly, it is probably the cheepest way to use the public transportation. And the last but never the less, I do not need to rush to the station to get a ticket before the train leaves... I paid about 400 CHF for this ticket, and I can travel almost everywhere in this awesome country for 22 days. I would recommend the Swiss Youth Pass to those who want to travel around. Click >>HERE<< to check out other tickets.

On my third day I and my hostsister, Fiona, went to Montreux to experience the Christmas marked. I checked out their website and I read that their Christmas marked is probably the best one in Europe. To check out their website, please click >>HERE<<

It was about 5 p.m. as we arrived there, so it started to get dark already. There were a lot of lights everywhere we went. The weather was cold and snow, so we really got into the Christmas mood. I really liked it there esspecially by the lake. As I walked there the waves hit the land and I got a really relaxing and peaceful feeling inside me. It felt like I was walking beside the sea.

The Christmas tree from the distance.

You can actually find a bunch of gift ideas for people in all ages.

Nobody used that, because of the weather. But I find the light so nice.

The singen reindeer, speaking ice-bear and me.

Look at the decorations!

The wishing tree from La Redoute.

I like the way they decorate their shops.

Fiona did wish too.

We had macrones. The best once, probably homemade too! Yummies!!!

In the mall.

Outside the mall by the lake. Is that not lovely?

So christmas-ish.

The statue of singer of queen.

After we have been walking around we started to get cold. We went to a pizzaria, where we had a delicious Italian meal. There was very good service there too. So I would like to recommend you to go there, if you are keen on Italian food. Click >>HERE<< to visit their website.

Fiona's meal. Her Calzone was huge! Much bigger than a chihuahua dog, I promise you that.

And my pizza was huge too.

An alternative moose.

Ok, I understand that they wanted to show people the Lapland, where the Santa "comes" from. But this is far from the truth... I had to laugh!

-Dancerwithoutshoes

Christmas visit in Switzerland(Twann-Chapfweg)

If you have read  the last entry, you would know about my entire dramatical journey from Oslo to Zurich. If you have not read it, >>click here!<<

So the Christmas Eve is over, I hope you had a wonderful day with your friends/ relatives. I spent the Christmas Eve in Twann at my hostfamily's house and we had visit from my host grandmum. She is 85 years old, but still fit. She is a very nice and kind lady. I am so glad to see her again! I will post an entry about Christmas eve later on. So please keep following this blog.

As an exchange student some will experience that the hostfamily does not really fit together with oneself. For 3 years ago, I arrived in Zurich for the first time and my hostfamily was waiting for me at the arrival part of the airport. My both host parents are teachers and I expected them to be very strict and so on. What I realized as I met them was they really are nice people and the judging-wall just fell down. I had great luck that I got such a great hostfamily, and I cannot thank you them enough for what they have given me. Yes, as you can see, I do love them a lot. Also the cat, which is lying on my bed and having siesta... What I wanted to say is that I am glad that I am always welcome to leave here whenever I want to come to Switzerland.. I feel a bit like their daughter and that is a good feeling! I thank you AFS for bringing a life-time-memory.

The day after the arrival I did not really do something special, exept from taking many pictures around the house and I went to Biel to see the Christmas market. So there is not a lot to tell, but just showing you pictures...

Someone is waiting under the Bonsai tree.

A fine, fine day with snow!

That is... I do not really know what that is..

The Pumkin Family

Cira. The cat.

She is cute, isn't she?

And she does that everytime I come home. She likes to sit on/ in my suitcase.

I found something Christmas-ish, just outside our door.

A perfect red star!

View of Twann.

The vines.

 Dancerwithoutshoes

Christmas visit in Switzerland(The Arrival Day)

The whole trip started at 7 a.m. from Kringsjå(where I recently live) to Oslo S. My boyfriend wanted to follow me to the trainstation, so I at least do not have to carry all my lugage all alone. My flight supposed to take-off at 9:45 a.m., but I am the person who really hates stress. That was the reason why I wanted to start so early. And I knew I was right! I really needed all that time.

As I arrived to the airport, Gardermoen, by Airport Express Train. I went up, checked in, got the flight tickets, went through the security check and also passed the International departure. As I walked in there I realized that my phone was gone! Oh. My. God. I felt terrible and stressed. I asked the security guy if I could go out and try to find it. First he shaked his head and said no. Then I almost started to cry. So he asked me what I have lost. After I told him that what I have lost, he gave me a little coupon to show the other security guards that I can return back. And I ran almost all the way out. I went to found and lost, they have not received anything yet. I went up to the table where I was writing name tags for my bags, but it was not there either. And I am so glad that I went there because I left a precious gift on that table. Suddenly something poped into my mind; Why don't you call your number?! So I did and there was a man who picked up the phone. Oh, my whole body has almost run out of energy. The man in the phone told me to go to the "platform N". First of all I did not understand a lot because there were so much noices around me. I asked him if it is underground in the parking lot. He said yes. I hung up the phone and ran like hell through the whole parking lot named "N". But the "N" did not exist. I ran, again, to the exit and tried to find the way out. I pick up the phone once again, called that number and the same guy told me that he is waiting at the "platform 1", in Norwegian we say en = 1, and "N" is also pronouciated like "1". I hung up. Ran as fast as I can back to the platform one. There was a guy who worked on the Airport Express Train who found my pinky LG mobilephone. Oh dear, I was so, so, so glad. He really did my day! First thing I did was to call my boyfriend to tell him everything about it. He just laughed, because he knows me that good. And I almost cried, because I really found it in the end.. I thought about that 40 minutes running like a mad girl all over the airport, that was crazy! In addition I did not even have breakfast before I started the trip. I do not recommend running with an emty stomach, you will feel so weird afterwards! I am so glad that I wanted to wake up so early.. If I did not, I would probably have missed the flight. That would be too bad, though.

After I, again, went through the security check and so on. I phoned my best friend to tell her this crazy story and wishing her good luck for her last exam on the next day. Eventhough I have god my phone back and everything seems to be OK, I still could not relax. I could not sleep on the flight, as I usually do. As we "arrived" in Switzerland we could not land at the first place. We flew over Zürich in about 30 minutes, because there were a lot of delayed flights and lots of traffic. Fortunately we had enough gas/bezin! And because of the delay I had to wait for my train for an hour at the airport... Luckily there were not so many people in Starbucks then, so I ordered a Frappuchino. I sat down listened to the music and just tried to relax.

Here you have my 2010's first Starbucks!

On the train everything went just fine. My hostmum came behind me as I arrived in Biel. I was so shocked, because I was not really expecting to see her there. With my bad and rusten German I told her all about my dramatical trip. I spoke too much within 10 minutes. Why? Because I have not had any conversation over 6 hours, and that is pretty bad for me.

I hope you enjoy this entry. Keep following this blog. I will soon post about the trips I have already been in Switzerland till now.

-Dancerwithoutshoes

Mariestad-Sweden

A week ago I and my boyfriend, Justin, traveled together to Mariestad to celebrate Christmas together. His parents allowed us to stay at their holiday apartment, so at least we did not need to find a place to sleep.

It is funny to think that Swedish is quite similar to Norwegian, or is it? For me I could hardly understand a word... Luckily my boyfriend understands Swedish. Otherwise I would just use English, the first foreign language that pops up in my mind. I do not know a lot about Mariestad, but it seems to be a little cute town, with a shoppingmall, bakeries, kebab shop, cinema, library, sweet store... There is also a trainstation and an outdoor bustation.

Our travel started early in the morning. We traveled by bus from the Swedish bus company named Swebus. We had to change the bus just once and the whole journey was just about 5 hours. In some buses you can find plugs, which means that you can entertain yourself with your PC or whatever. I was so addicted to The Sims3 game on my boyfriend's DS... It is so funny to control somebody`s life, you know..

As we arrived in Mariestad, we went to ICA to buy some food and after that we could head to the appartment. My feet were so FROZEN as we arrived into the appartment, I have to tell you that my mood was pretty bad too. Poor Justin who had to go through it! It was really good to get inside a house, but it would be even better if the house was a bit warmer. So we turned on the oven everywhere we could. I remember that evening where I just sat infront of the oven with a plaid wrapped all over me... Oh, that was sooooo good, so good to feel the warmth again!

Frozen branches on the way to Mariestad

Outside the window.

The next day I was a bit ill, so we did not go out anywhere. But we did decorated the appartment for his parents though. I hope they will like it.

It is so nice to have a boyfriend who does not matter washing dishes.

And on the 3rd day we went into the town to buy some more food. And then we just realized that the last bus for that day just past for an hour ago. So we walked to the town instead. Or I mean, that we tried to find a way to town. It was not easy, but some how we arrived after half an hour of walking. And the way back was not that complicated at all. That evening Justin made a very good vegan Christmas meal for us. And we then we could open each other's gift. I got a fluffy little panda, a FAB frame and a Blu-ray DVD(Shreck- Happily ever after). Justin got a cardpocket, a sweather and a frame with a picture of me. It seems that he likes them very much.

Mariestad.

A store with a lots of lamp!

Me and the christmastree.

Justin and the christmastree.

I love this picture so much...

On the next day we had to head back to Oslo, because I had to pack before I go to Switzerland for another holiday for 3 weeks. Since that there is not bus running on Sundays in Mariestad, we had to carried all our luggage into the town. Luckily the weather was good, so we could at least enjoy walking. From the town we took the bus to Karlstad and then we had to wait there for another bus in 2 hours. We played Skip-Bo to make time go faster, and I finally won this time(for the first time). Haha..

I am in Switzerland by my hosfamily's house. I am safe, eventhough we flew over Zürich for about half an hour before landing. I will get back to the journey to Switzerland in a few days, because it started very dramatically. So, do not go anywhere if you do not want to miss that dramatic part of the journey! I hope you will enjoy your Friday. I am soon heading out to meet my sister and we all are going to Montreux today. I am very exited to see the Christmas market there, I hear that there is the best one in Europe!

-Dancerwithoutshoes