Checking In...

I just have to say, I love my job!

I know I've only technically been on the job for 3 days, but they've been great days.  The boy I'm watching, E, is the most mature, intelligent, and friendly 9 year old boy I have ever met.  He's very inquisitive; always ready with a question or observation.   He's become very interested in microchips at the moment, so we've been scouring the house for old electronic games (like ones that come in Happy Meals) for him to open up and remove the chip.  He hasn't yet decided what he'll do with the pile of microchips that has accumulated, but I'm sure he'll have a solution tomorrow.

I honestly need to start carrying my camera everywhere I go.  E and I went on a bike ride today to the soccer field he used to play at (he's made the top team, so he now plays at a different field, much farther away), and just simply gawked the entire bike ride.  I don't think I've ever been to a more picturesque place in my life.  Next week, E is in a camp all week, so I'll take out my good camera and get some shots to try to capture the gawk-worthy scenery.

As part of my job, I have to make lunch for (almost) the entire family, depending on who is home each day.  For those in Switzerland, and most other parts of Europe, you already know that lunch is the biggest meal of the day.  Breakfast is still the most important, but lunch definitely takes the cake for size. This means this poor family has left their life (yes, life) in my hands.  Luckily, I've been practicing (see here, here, here, and here) and I don't think the food's been too bad.  So far, I've made a Mango Chicken (borrowed from a friend, KN - THANKS!) and a vegetable spaghetti.  Tomorrow, along with lunch, I'll be making a Jello dessert for the family.  For those that don't know me, and my family, well, you probably might not be familiar with this REALLY HARD recipe to make.  It has a total of...are you ready for it?...three ingredients (four if you count water), and takes forever to make (less than an hour).  Wanna try it?  Check back tomorrow after I've made it, and if you've been really good, I'll post the recipe (although I might get scolded by my mother for that).

And surprisingly, I still haven't felt homesick.  Yes, I miss everyone, too much to even say, but I don't have any interest in getting a plane and heading home.  It just makes me want to get on a plane and go see more of Europe.  Speaking of which, I have made some travel plans with my friend KW who is studying in Berlin.  In two weeks she'll be in Geneva, so we get to hang out.  Then we plan on going to Interlaken for the weekend (aka the most beautiful place on Earth - I promise to take too many pictures).  Then at the end of September, we plan on meeting in Munich for Oktoberfest.  If you've happened to check out my bucket list, you'll know this is something I really want to do.  Thankfully, so did KW, so I won't have to go solo.

I can't believe my first week is already half over.  Time is just flying by!  Excited to Skype with some of my friends back home and my parents on the weekend.  Miss you all, and chat with you soon!

Until tomorrow, thanks for checking in and have a great day/night!

PS: In amazing news, learned that there's a Bibliobus (Library on wheels) that drives right through the village.  I am obviously more than excited.