From Canada to Switzerland!: When the language barrier diminishes even for a second.

Yesterday started out just like any other morning here in Switzerland. Up super early and running to the bus stop. I got to school a little bit early, so I sat in the cafeteria and read the German grammar books my beautiful mom sent me. As I was sitting at the table, I noticed two girls coming towards the table and couldn't figure out why they were coming to MY table when there were a hundred OPEN tables. Well, it turns out the two girls were my classmates and had noticed me sitting alone and invited me to join them at their table where a couple of other kids from my class where sitting. I was so relieved that they made this gesture. Even though it may be a small gesture, it speaks volumes when I feel so lost because of the language barrier. I sat at the table as they talked and worked on math, and even though I didn't really understand anything, the fact that I was part of something now made me smile from ear to ear. I have never really understood the feeling of inclusion until now, and it definitely is one of the most satisfying feelings I have ever had.

When class actually started, I sat through a lesson in History on the French Revolution (or at least that's what I think it was about...) and then it was off to a lesson of German. My German class is really interesting right now because they are reading Spring Awakening and have debates on certain topics that arise from it. And even though it is in German, I understand something every so often and when I piece it together it can be quite comical.

I didn't have my language class in Basel yesterday so I went to Caroline's host family's house for out 3 period lunch break. Caroline has the sweetest host mom ever (NEXT TO MINE OF COURSE) and she made an amazing lunch!

When we went back to school after lunch, my class was SO confused when they saw me because I am usually never there in the afternoon. We had Physics and Chemistry in the afternoon. If Physics doesn't give you a headache in English, try sitting through Physics in German (I swear my head was pounding...). Chemistry was actually the best class I have had in yet here in Switzerland. Some of the girls in my class invited me to sit with them, so I was elated. I introduced myself to the teacher and he said to me in German that he would only speak to me in German because that way I will learn faster - gotta love him! They started Organic Chemistry yesterday in class and I was able to understand it completely! I had taken it twice in school (once in class and once in an upgrade), so even though it was in a completely different language, it actually all made sense. So much sense, that my headache from Physics subsided and I was able to fill out the worksheet in no time. I was so happy to FINALLY fully understand something, so happy that I emailed my high school chemistry teacher just to thank him for teaching it so well. Here is the email I sent:

Hello Mr Hatala!

I hope all is well with you, Stacy and your new baby!

I know you said at the end of the semester that you wanted to hear from us and wanted to know how and what we were doing with our lives now. Well that was less than 8 months ago and already so much has changed. I am currently on Rotary Youth Exchange in Switzerland for a year. I arrived at the beginning of August and will return to Canada at the end of July 2012. This country is absolutely beautiful and I love everything about it...well almost everything. They speak German here which is a very difficult language to understand. I go to high school here although it doesn't count for anything (obviously) because I have already graduated and will attending University when I come back home. All of the lessons are in German, so by the end of the day I have a huge headache from concentrating so hard...well almost everyday. Yesterday was a little bit different. I had Chemistry yesterday afternoon and of course they were learning Organic Chemistry (just my luck), which is one of the reasons I am sending you this email. I just wanted to say thank you for being such an amazing teacher last year that I was able to understand everything the teacher was saying even though it was in a foreign language. I sat there with the biggest smile on my face and nodded along to the lesson because finally something in German made complete sense to me. And when the teacher handed out the worksheets, I was able to answer all of the questions - for once in my German school career. So thank you, thank you, thank you for helping me feel a little bit better about the language barrier I am currently facing!

Good luck with the new Biotech class, nothing can live up to us!

Madi

It may be a little corny, but it is the truth!

After Chemistry, I left the class really fast so that I could catch the bus to go into downtown Solothurn. As I was walking in the hall, a girl in my class Nadine came running after me and asked if I was going to the bus. When I told her I was, she asked me if I would wait for her and then that way we could go together. I obviously said yes and we walked to the bus together.

Once on the bus I met up with Caroline because we were going into downtown to look at possible phone plans and buy some stamps for me. When we got to the post office, I waited in line and when my number was called I walked up to the desk and asked the lady in German if she spoke English. Unfortunately her answer was no, and my nerves escalated ten fold. I warned her that my German wasn't very good but that I would try anyways. She smiled and nodded. Turns out, I made sense, she was able to understand me and everyone and everything turned out a-okay. This was one of the best feelings I have had since I've been here in Switzerland. When the language barrier diminishes, even for a second, a wave of pride and confidence washes over you and you can't help but smile and give yourself a pat on the back.

When I got home from Solothurn, we ate dinner and then headed over to our neighbour's house for a party. It was Beald's birthday and there were quite the festivities underway. It was a fun night, but I was exhausted when we got home. I didn't get to bed until almost midnight and man was I ever tired when I woke up this morning.

Today was just like any other day. School in the morning, Basel in the afternoon and a hell of a lot of public transportation mixed in there. Today at school I had sport (gym) where we did high jump - definitely a unit I failed. I looked like a complete and utter idiot, but hey, I already stand out, don't I?! One thing that is different here is that the gym class in co-ed because they same group of kids have the same schedule every single year. After Sport, I had Biology. And once again, thanks to Mr. Hatala, I actually understood what was going on. Well thanks to Mr. Hatala AND the fact that the text was in English and translated to German...

Then off to Basel it was. Thankfully Caroline has recovered from the flu and was able to be my side kick once again. We also discovered the world's largest juice box at the station today, caught up on lost time and had a few laughs.