ICH LEBE NOCH...ICH VERSPRECHE ES!

So I hope no one has been holding their breath since my last post, because let's be honest...I'm a blogging fail - welcome to the life of an exchange student.

SO much has happened since I last blogged, that it's almost embarrassing to admit. And because of that, I'm going to break down the last 7 or so weeks into a few different posts so I don't bore you to death. I'll start with my brother's arrival and go from there...

I know I promised to update my blog as soon as I picked up my brother from the airport, but I failed again...wipe that surprised look off your face, we both know you're not kidding anyone. I'm not sure I've ever updated my blog when I said I would. In this day and age, it's not cool to do things on time anymore, or at least that's my excuse...

Anyways, after only a few hours of sleep, I woke up on February 2nd and anxiously headed to the airport. My train was running late and my brother's plane early, so I was really nervous that he would clear customs and I wouldn't even be there yet. But after running through the airport, I arrived at the terminal, and luckily he hadn't come through quite yet. The more I thought about seeing someone from home, the more overcome I was with emotion. I was so excited to see a familiar face and to have no choice but to speak English that my eyes started to water, but I never did let myself cry. When Jacob and his friend Eric finally came through customs, I couldn't help my smile and wave as I ran up to hug him.

After grabbing a bite to eat in the airport and sorting out their train tickets, Jake, Eric, their 10000000 pound bags and I headed on the train from the Zürich airport to St.Gallen. It was so funny to see them on the train because they were taking pictures of things (houses, trees, highways, railway tracks) - that to me, have all become a part of my everyday life and second nature. Thinking back to how excited they were about the smallest things just really goes to show how settled I am into my "new home".

The 2 of them "mesmerized" by the scenery on the way to St.Gallen

When we arrived in St. Gallen, there was lots of snow to greet us! The sidewalks were covered in snow and it continued to snow throughout the day. We had to walk around the city with their huge suitcases and backpacks for a little bit while we tried to find the University's Housing Office to pick up the key to their apartment. When we found the office, they didn't have Jacob's set of keys for some reason, but we were able to get into the house with Eric's keys - thank goodness. 

Walking to the house!

Jake and Eric

Proud new owners!

After dropping off their luggage at the house, we walked up Mount Everest to the University to get things sorted out with Jake and his key...unfortunately for us (me), the Housing office was closed for the lunch hour. We decided to head into the city to get thing sorted out with Residency cards and cell phones while we had time. Jake started speaking English in every store we went into and more often than not, he got looked at like he had several heads - so I turned into a translator for the better part of the day! :)

After buying some lunch, we headed back to the University and managed to get everything sorted out with Jake's keys. We then headed back to the house and shortly after, I headed back to Niederbipp and let them catch up on some much needed sleep! 

You'd think that having my brother here in the same country - and not too far away either - would be awesome...and it is! But to be honest, I've only seen him one other time since he arrived because he is always off on some other worldly (European) adventure - I'm not going to lie, I am very jealous. 

Anyways, that's all for this post! My goal for the next few days is to catch everyone up on my life over the past month and a half, so check back for more posts soon! 

Liebe Grüße aus der Schweiz,

Madi <3