Dumpling Factory

Friday, Yann and I will continue our dumpling education with another Chinese student. Here is hard evidence of the first round of our hard work for the going away party last week.

After 4+ hours, we successfully made over 60 dumplings. I have no way of telling if this is an efficient method or not, but they were definitely crowd-pleasers.

Hikes and more hikes

These days have been filled with lots of outdoor activity. While Nicholas works away on his international projects and applications, I am hiking around Switzerland.

Here are a few of the photo-highlights :)

Tuesday Hike: La Cure with Daphna and Margrethe

Hiking through many contraptions that were at times the gate and at times not the gate.

gate

not-gate (we still managed to get through)

Hiking to the top of the mountain and then going back down "the same way" and ending up in France.

How did we get here? 

Crossing the border sans ID, saying a little prayer. 

Well, hello France :) 

Wednesday Hike: St. Croix with Jenny and Yann

What a gorges day!

Yann couldn't resist being a monkey and climbing on rocks and large trees.

Normal

Look closely, he is on the tree over the river bed

We even found a sign from God.

Dieu vous aime- God loves you

Getting my fill of nature before the year ends and loving every second of it!

Happy Birthday to You, Mom

Happy Birthday to the woman who taught me how to read, one Dr. Seuss book at a time.

Happy Birthday to the woman who taught me how to have fun and not take myself or life too seriously.

Happy Birthday to the woman who taught me that even when you don't have a lot, you can still give a little.

Happy Birthday to the woman who taught me to take advantage of every moment and to make the most out of them, one rainy beach day at a time.

Happy Birthday to the woman who showed me the importance of staying connected with family, friends and hobbies by her own crazy-packed personal agenda.

Happy Birthday to the woman who taught me how to compete, always encouraging me that I could do and be more. She is the reason I won that 2nd grade reading contest.

Happy Birthday to You, Mom. I love you!

Going Away Party

"Congratulations" and "Bon Voyage!"

Last night we had a going away party for our neighbor who will head back to China to have her baby girl due in January! Yann and I prepared homemade dumplings that she taught us how to make and made signs in perfect chinese, according to all the Chinese students (Dad, that makes 7 languages ;). Lots of people showed up to congratulate her and her husband and wish her a safe journey home.

The maternity shirt we gave her "it's for January" :) 

This will conclude my Chinese cooking lessons and also all the great moments that Chunguang and I have shared during her time here. Can't wait to see her in China and meet her new addition in the future.

Sailing or Monday came a day early this week :)

Sunday, Nicholas and I had the opportunity to go sailing with a bunch of the students. Since neither of us have ever sailed before, he thought it would be a good idea for us to go without an instructor, as we both like a challenge. Yep, yep.

similar boat to what we sailed

We got into our Laser 3000 sail boat and after a brief lesson in French we were off...Sort of. We had a few close calls with the beach and rocks as our little sail boat didn't seem to want to go out into the water. Luckily, a Zach Galifianakis-look-alike-vagabond with a lot of knowledge of sailing was very helpful. 

The vagabond minus baby and beard, in a speedo

So these first few moments were a bit frustrating for the both of us, but more so for Nicholas. I decided that if we were going to spend an hour or two sailing, I was going to have a good time, regardless. He snapped about me not being any fun and then, miraculously, we seemed to finally be heading to deeper waters. When we were finally deep enough to put the rudder in the water (see picture below), Nicholas told me to do just that. 

I admittedly paid no attention to the instructions and had no idea what I was supposed to do with this board. Nicholas at this point was quite tired from jumping in and out of the boat to help navigate it, and frustratingly told me to "please put it in!" repeatedly. "Put it where?" I asked. He again repeated the vague instructions with even less patience this time. Okey dokey, I thought. I guess it goes in the water. I checked for some rope on it to ensure it was attached and noticing some, I tossed the rudder overboard. 

me with the rudder and our little boat

Yes. I tossed. The rudder. Into the water. Guess what? It was not attached. That rope i saw was not secured to anything...The rudder had gone by the board. The next few minutes are a bit of a blur as I was still confused why we would want this board out of the boat, but figured he knew best. 

This is where the adventure began. Nicholas saw the rudder floating away and jumped out of the boat frantically chasing it. Once he successfully had it in his arms, he started swimming towards the boat. Although, at this point, the boat had finally caught some wind. As a new first mate,  I had no idea how these boats worked and was just going with the wind. Away from Nicholas. No one at the helm. Oops. 

From the  water, a panicked Nicholas started yelling for me to steer the boat. Only the vagabond witnessed all that was happening and was swimming behind Nicholas who was chasing the boat and me :) I wish I could have taken a photo, because this was priceless. 

At this point, Nicholas tossed the rudder and started swimming faster and faster to catch the boat. All the while, yelling instructions and anger in my direction. 

Finally he catches the boat, the Galifianakis-look-alike grabs the rudder and gives it to us and the instructor from the rental place zooms over on his speedboat to find out what has just happened. Nicholas tells me again to carefully place the rudder in but this time to be careful that it doesn't slip through again... 

Slip through?... 

I realize at this moment what has just happened and also that no one witnessed my momentary lapse of reason. He is now pointing to a very obvious hole in the boat where this should go and I am starting to realize the hilarity of it all. 

I quickly tell him through enormous laughter what I had done, just in time for him to relay the  message to the instructor. I was laughing so hard tears were streaming down my face. Once Nicholas realized what I had done he stares at me in utter disbelief and then bursts into laughter. 

The sailing going forward was spectacular. The winds picked up and we were zipping around the lake like pros! We even went a little too far that the instructor had to race to us to tell us to turn around. We cannot wait to get back on the lake and do it again. This time, keeping all the necessary pieces in the boat. 

Latino Party

Last night the Latin students and their supportive partners hosted a party for the students, alumni, professors and guests. It was a smash hit. The entertainment line-up included a Mariachi band courtesy of the Mexican student, Capoeira dancers courtesy of the Brazilian students and Sevillana dancers courtesy of the Spanish students.

The Mariachis! 

Along with food and drinks from Colombia, Chile, Argentina, Paraguay, Spain, Mexico, Brazil, and Peru. I still have to pinch myself when I am in situations like these. Sharing an evening with a group of people who are sharing a piece of their culture and life with us. It was really cool. I even learned how to make arequipe and milhojas to represent Colombia. Many of my latina friends were impressed, but not as much as Nicholas. Success! The dancing went to the wee hours of the night and needless to say, an amazing time was had by all.