Only this morning-this morning for me-I flew all the way to Zurich, Switzerland to meet the family and friends I’d be with for the next year. As I got onto the plane from Atlanta to Zurich, I thought to myself, “What am I getting myself into?!” I felt my chest tighten when the plane took off from American soil as I realized that there was no backing out at this point and I’m really doing this… I heard the German spoken over the loud speaker, by the older couple next to me and by the family sitting in front of me. This was just a taste of what I was going to experience.

            After the long, tiring eight hour flight, I was so excited to land. I’ve never felt so many emotions at once: anxiety, stress, fatigue, excitement, nervousness, fear and joy. I am in Switzerland. For the year. It still really has not hit me yet. Anyway I was so overwhelmed at this point because I am following the masses through the Zurich airport to go to Baggage Claim and Customs surrounded by a new language. Surprisingly, it was easy going through the airport and I was so lucky to meet another Rotary Youth Exchange Student who happened to be on my same flight. It was nice to see that familiar blazer. We accompanied eachother to the exit.

            I was so excited to be greeted by my family, Alex and Fraser (two Aussie exchangers in my same Kanton, Sankt Gallen) with posters!! It was such an exciting moment. After giving hugs all around, I called my parents to let them know I was safely with my family. We then got a coffee and had a nice chat. They spoke English with me, but I would do my best with German. Everyone else would speak German to eachother and then would either translate or speak to me directly in English. Mama Claudia told me she would only speak German with me after today which I appreciate. Papa Bruno knows very little English, so most of our exchanges are through translation, simple German sentences or smiles. He is making a nice effort to communicate with me. Rebecca and Leandra are my sisters. They are very nice and helpful. Manuel is funny and nice too.

           Fraser and Alex-my Aussie oldies-are very cool. They’re also very funny and nice not to mention the best accents ever!! I was so tired, hot and overwhelmed at the airport. I was in shock because it’s actually happening. I felt like a deer in the headlights… We travelled home in their cute German/Swiss Scenic car. I took it all in and it was more silent understandably due to the language barrier. It is such a beautiful country. I am so blessed to be here with the Cozzios. I then got a tour of the house: it’s a small size, but not any bigger than what I’m used to. It is very clean, homie (lots of photos everywhere) and modern. I love my bedroom-my bed is so comfortable, good amount of storage, a nice desk. There is this awesome blind contraption that makes it pitch black in my room (perfect for my nap that I took). They also had put up some cute Swiss things, like a map, lights, a coffee mug full of chocolate yummy!! After I took a shower, I unpacked a little bit. Then I left for the Super Market, Migros, with Leandra and Claudia. It was a lot of fun even though I was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooo tired. It was excruciating in the car ride home. They kept asking me what I wanted and to pick out all this food even though I don’t know what anything is and I’m interested in trying what they like. It was so sweet!! They kept praising my German, though its basic, it was way more than what their first two exchange students knew. It made me feel good considering the low expectations I had for myself.

            Later that evening Claudia, Leandra and I prepared the meal: Roesti, a typical Swiss meal. It is a potato dish with a sausage. And for dessert we had fruit salad with ice cream. It was delicious- Sehr Gut!! Jürg Jent, a Youth Exchange Officer, and Silvia Brumann, my counselor came over to share the meal with us and so I could meet them. Silvia gave me my GA and cell phone. WOOOOO so exciting!! We originally planned to cover a lot of Rotary stuff, but they thought I was so tired and it was all going to go over my head (and they thought right). At dinner they spoke to me some in German, English and through translation, but mostly I sat and listened to the German dinner talk. I AM EXHAUSTED!!! So after I gave them some pecan pralines, I was allowed to go upstairs and hit the hay. I then thanked my host parents and established I would call them mom and dad. I love them and predict a great year!

Main lesson from today: SO glad I worked on my language before, I knew I would know little about what was going on and that’s okay!