There's no place like home.

Today was hard. I was overwhelmed, lost and all I wanted was home. I felt a little pit like Dorothy and wanted to click my heels, and say, “There's no place like home" and end up in my mom's arms. This feeling was only temporary, but it was strong. So strong that I didn't know what else to think. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love it here. I love my family - I like to believe that I have the best family in Switzerland actually. I don't want to ever come home, but today, was really rough. 

Let me explain myself a little bit more. 

Because I live really far away from the school I go to, I would have to wake up at 5AM in order to get to class on time. And for the time being I attend a German class in Basel every afternoon. I spend almost 5 hours a day on public transit (which is very efficient I must say) and by the time I get home it is almost 7PM. So because of my schedule with the German course, Rotary told me that I need not got to school until 8:30, so that I am not absolutely wiped by midday. Rotary told the school and I thought everything was clear with all parties. 

So this morning I took my usual route to school and arrived at 8:20, which is normally plenty of time to get to class before the lesson starts. Well today was different - very, very different. I had never been to this particular class before and therefore didn't know where the classroom was. I looked at the school map on the wall in the cafeteria to find the class. I read the map, knew where I had to go and was on my way - or so I thought. I got to the area of the school where I thought the room should be and to my surprise it wasn't there (have I mentioned that the school is hugeeeee - 4 floors, almost 2000 students, 200 teachers - ya, very, very big). By this point, the bell had already rang and the students were in class, so the hallways were empty. I continued to wander around for a little bit just to make sure I was in the right place - well I wasn't, but I'll get to that in a minute. 

After wandering for a little bit, I saw a man down the hall and ran up to him. I asked him in German "Where is room B103?" and of course he answered in German - duhhh. I do understand quite a bit of German, but when people talk very fast, it is often very difficult to understand them. So I then asked him in English if he spoke English and unfortunately he said "Nein". So I replied with "Ok, vielen danke!" and we both walked our separate ways. 

At this point I was beyond lost, very confused and very late. I could feel the tears welling up in my eyes, but I kept telling myself not to cry. I didn’t know what else to do, so I went up the stairs to the second level to talk to the Secretary in the office. I went up, walked into the office and started talking to her. I asked her were the room was and how I could get there and explained that I had been wandering around for a long time and couldn’t manage to find it. She took my schedule, saw the room number and the look on her face was not one of pleasure. She asked me where my friends from my class were and I explained to her that they are in class already, but I live far away from the school, so there was an agreement that I could come for the second period for the time being. She then explained to me that in Switzerland, it is very important to be on time for everything and that the class I was supposed to be in started at 7:35AM and lasts for 3 periods, so it was not alright that I was showing up halfway through the class. And I understand where she was coming from, but at the same time, my schedule was never explained to me, the agreement had been made and I had no idea that this class (drawing and painting) started earlier (the schedule is in German and might as well be in gibberish right now…).

The secretary then continued to inform me that the class I was supposed to be in is located in another building about a 10 minute walk from the main campus – more NEW and IMPORTANT news to me. She called for the Headmaster of the school who was in his office working. They had a conversation in Swiss German and I just stood there wanting to cry. I knew they were talking about me and they were talking a different language, so not only was I completely and utterly confused, I was also extremely overwhelmed and being an emotional person to begin with, it was hard to just stand there and listen. I wanted to cry and the tears began to well up even more. But I sucked them back and stood there.

After their conversation, the Headmaster said that he would take me – by car nonetheless – to my classroom. At this point all I wanted to do was go home (to Harkingen) and have my Canadian mom give me a big hug and tell me everything was going to be ok. And I knew that everything was going to be ok, but sometimes when things are overwhelming, I lose all rational thoughts. I could feel the tears rolling down my cheeks, but I quickly wiped them away so that the Headmaster wouldn’t see. In the car he asked me how I was adjusting to Switzerland and if I was enjoying my stay. I told him that I love the scenery and that I have an amazing family (both in Canada and in Switzerland), so everything together was making the adjustment much easier – well everything except for setbacks like this.

We pulled up to the other building and the Headmaster showed me to my class. I was so grateful to him for taking me there, but being so overwhelmed, I didn’t know what to do. We went upstairs to the room and went inside the room where my class just looked at me, smiled and then went back to work. The Headmaster explained the situation to the teacher in German and I could understand most of what he was saying which made tears roll down cheeks again. I took my seat, thanked the Headmaster and then started to cry. I didn’t want to cry, but I couldn’t do anything else. And if being the new exchange student wasn’t enough, I was now the new exchange who was cry during class.

One girl in my class Aline (my sort of friend), gave me a big hug and told me in English that it was ok. She was an exchange student to Arizona 2 years ago, so she’s been in my position and knows what being lost in a new place feels like.

This morning was tough, but I got through it. I might look like a fool, but I think my class understands for the most part. I have always wanted to get lost in foreign country, but for some reason it has lost it’s charm. I am thankful to everyone who helped me today. Sometimes emotions just get the best of me and I can’t do anything but cry.

Everything is better now though, and I look back on the situation and realize that every experience teaches a lesson. Some are big, some are small, but all are useful. The lesson learned today: where room B103 is located.

I hope all is well with everyone at home and all I could think abou today was home and my friends and family. I am so lucky to have such a great host family who listened to my story tonight and laughed with me (and at me).

Until next time,

Madi