A little something to tide you and me over until dinner..

So, I am working on a huge email/entry, but it isn't finished because I haven't had time to get the pictures off the camera. But I want to pull on your coat about something...

After I was introduced, the teacher said that we were going to start notes, so everyone should take out there paper. The paper was taken out, and it was neither college ruled nor wide ruled. It resembles graph paper with margins,
with darker lines for writing, and lighter guide-lines.Chapter One: Line functions, was written on the tableau (chalk board). Everyone wrote the title, and the I hear a universal unzippering of pencil cases: out comes 32 rulers. Every single student used their ruler to underline the title. As the notes went on, whenever a line or underline or a boxing of a formula was written, a ruler was used. Then the teacher asked the class to draw a circle, and what do you know 32 compasses appeared, and 32 perfect circles were drawn! To sketch a figure in France means to create a to-scale, geometrically accurate, straight-lined artistic masterpiece. -Zach, in France

This is also entirely true in Switzerland. It is really unnerving. In my class, all the kids have these felt tip pens in different colors so that they can EXACTLY copy what is on the projector. If the teacher writes something in Red, out come 24 red pens. If the teacher draws a line with light blue chalk on the board, it is also light blue in the notes.
I honestly just cannot work like that. My pencil case has one blue fountain pen. One magical fountain pen ink erasing pen. One pencil. A pack of lead. An eraser. I have only one tablet of paper.

Do some of you remember that lip piercing that I have wanted for a while but will never have the courage to get? I've seen three (female) classmates here who have one. Not like the goth kids either, normal people. And I just remembered my parents are reading this! Forget those last few sentences! Seriously mom and dad. No body piercings... yet. -Claudia, Spain

That is also true of Switzerland. Completely normal people with normal jobs have body piercings. When I got my Ausländerbeweiss at the city office in Baden, the guy who interviewed me and took my picture had an eyebrow, nose, and lip piercing. He was also in a Tshirt. I find it a little disorienting at times that you can see all these piercings by lawyers, doctors, government offices etc.

That is all I have for now, except that I am jealous of all you guys who are doing kickboxing, karate, and other insanely fun classes. I honestly have no time in my schedule for it.

Until my next big thing!
Alyssa