School Days

A friend's daughter attends the American International School here in Switzerland. She was telling me about her school "routine" last week, and I thought you might find it interesting.
They are on a 7 day schedule over here, the reason being is for Winter; each Friday from November- March is mandatory ski day. That's right.... each student from K-12 has ski class every Friday!! If they are just learning, their on the bunny slope but if they know how to ski, they can pick their trail, the hours? 8:30-2:30 of course! Now why didn't I have a class like that in school?
This is just another example of what is open to Foreign Service Students, they are given great opportunities to accomplish wonderful adventures. It's really a shame schools in the States have such limited funding' we all should be able to provide the best in Education for our children. I also wonder if programs like this were available- would the children be more eager to learn? Or would it even make a difference?

First day of work

Yesterday was my first day of work at the US Embassy. I went in early in order to get my new badge and number codes, my office is located between the FBI and the DEA; I was given "the talk" and then it was time for my first job. I was to take a Swiss worker up the elevator shafts and watch while he did maintenance. All the while I was climbing- in my head I kept hearing the theme from Mission Impossible ....LOL thinking to myself; "I'm a Mother of three wonderful grown boy's, I have two grandchildren with one more on the way...how in the hell did I end up here; doing this! "so much for take your Grandchild to work day". But on the other hand- it was quite exciting, I like being able to know things that no-one else can know although being in the elevator shaft totally blew my perception to the way they can come crashing down in the movies. {My disappointment of the day}
After returning home to spend a few minutes with Mikey, I took off to get my hair done "all of you ladies know what I'm talking about when I say" new job/new style! Now I fit the job. I'm already looking forward to Monday to see what plays out next.
Rich and I went out to the local restaurant last night with friends. We had such a wonderful time! Must do that again soon!! Now for all of you Stateside please make a note that we are doing our time change tonight: setting the clocks back one hour.

Aliens

This had to be my favorite place of the day. I'm a big Sci-Fi, horror movie buff!! And this museum didn't disappoint. 
We began walking through a beautiful old town complete with cobble stone streets and buildings with history....

The oldest house in town built in 1789 such detail

We were greeted upon our entrance

the artwork was.....different

and meetings were uneasy but interesting...

A Bust, I think every home should have one!

My favorite of the day, dining table with six chairs. Wonder where I can purchase this set?

And if you go, don't forget to stop off at the local Bar for a drink. 

so fun!

It was like being at a convention for space people....FUN!
Alright..beam me up Scotty, time to go back to Earth.

Cheese

The "one of many" cheese factory's we went to was quite a bore, however they were having a craft show with a few people selling some of their talents. Now I didn't purchase anything- but it was interesting to walk though.

here is the one photo that Rich took of cheese being made

cute but small, I saw them as dust collectors

must not forget the bells Swiss is famous for

wood sticks had threads attached.She would move them around

 to make photo

Choclate Factory

Well, who doesn't love chocolate?! Our trip to the factory was "bitter/sweet"; although small in size and production, the smells and taste were amazing. A place worth taking the kids to!

when you walk in, your facing a wall of chocolate bars

looking around- it's chocolate,chocolate everywhere!

we begin with the candy man...

the chocolate then comes out in long strips

cut in pieces

covered in chocolate.....

after going through the cooling machine,

the pieces are wrapped,

packaged, and ready to send out.

then we entered the tasting room

soooo much chocolate!!!!

could "YOU" taste it all?

 By the time we made it back to the gift shop; I couldn't even "LOOK" at any chocolate to purchase.! If you go...buy your chocolate "before" touring the factory!!
GYM.....must go to the gym!

Word is in

I received an e-mail from the Bureau of Diplomatic Security yesterday; I've been granted clearance to classified information at the SECRET level. Top secret will have to wait until they finish their investigation. I also just received a call from the Embassy, informing me that I could begin work as early as Monday. I have already been introduced to my new Boss and he showed me my new office. Now getting into my office will be a little iffy at first; at least until I can memorize the code to get in. "I was never good at remembering numbers!!!! IE: locker combination's, phone numbers, addresses...and without my GPS I would be lost 90% of the time"!!! And let us not forget that people call me Lucy...{from I Love Lucy} so I should be bringing a lot of color and excitement to the job! You should wish my new co-workers well!!!! As soon as I'm up and running I'll send out my State e-mail address. Rich and I will be working in the same building, on different floors---which reminds me, I'm going to be decorating Rich's Office for the Holidays beginning Mid-November...I've decided on the theme: The Grinch Cave. So if you can help by forwarding me any web-sites selling good Grinch Items Please do!

Temperature dropping

Yesterday we awoke to frost on the ground and this morning the car was iced-over. That being said, I love this weather! I had my German class yesterday- took the strab into the Baunhoff and decided to walk to the Embassy from there. The air was so fresh, crisp and snappy; I just loved the cold air on my face. Wonder if they have a job for me in the Arctic's? Or Iceland? "now that would be my dream job" LOL It's already beginning to warm up out there, the temp is up to 30 right now. I'll have to finish up so I can get out for my morning walk before it gets too-warm.
You can all look forward to my Blog this weekend...we will be going to a cheese factory, Chocolate Factory and the HR Giger Museum. Containing the biggest existing collection of sculptures, furnishings and film sets. Giger is best known for his visual effects in the film Alien. We'll also be having lunch in the Alien Restaurant! Since I intend to get a lot of pictures...I'll write a separate blog for each site. Humm...wonder how fun it would be to have an Alien Dining Room?!