My departure date came and went...

Just like that, kind of.  I'm still a little sad that I didn't leave on the 23rd, but also a little grateful.  I get to go to Leslie's wedding now, get to spend my favorite season with the family, get to meet Graham before I go, and hopefully go to Seattle before I go too.

It'll all work out in the end, but I'm still a little bummed.  Oh well.

Sigh.

So I am no longer leaving on the 23rd.  Katrin said that her agency is not issuing any more work/resident permits for this year, so I may have to wait until January to go.  She's looking into other agencies to see if they have any left, but it's doubtful.

I'm a little relieved and a little bummed at the same time, but it'll work out in the end.  If I stay until January, then that just means I have more time to prepare and save money.

Whatever will be, will be!

27 days until I leave

Holy. Moly.

Only 27 days.

ONLY 27 DAYS.  

Only 27 days!!!!!  Woooohoooooooo!!!!

Or, if you're my mom..."Only 27 days?  Oh.  :/ "

Hahahahahaha. Anyways....


I will be buying my luggage by the end of next week.  My Visa is still processing.  Katrin is going to send me the train ticket from Zurich to Bern.  Mom's getting me a plane ticket from Pittsburgh to JFK.

I still need to:
1. Pack up my room
2. Find a home for Wicket. (Anyone?  Bueller?)
3. Get as much debt paid off as I can
4. Work like crazy to make money to pay said debt off...lol
5. Learn more French.  Or German.  Although right now I'm working on French.  "Je suis une femme americaine."
6. Um, I don't know.  I know there's more but I can't think of anything right now.
7. Oh wait, I remember.  Plan my going away party.  It's going to be on Saturday, September 18th.  That's all I know so far.

Ok, that's all for now.  PEACE.

Some interesting tidbits about Switzerland...

The Swiss franc remains one of the world's strongest currencies with the lowest inflation rate.

Switzerland is responsible for half of the world's production of watches.

They have a direct democracy system, meaning the federal constitutional initiative allows citizens to put a constitutional amendment to a national vote, if they can get 100,000 voters to sign the proposed amendment within 18 months.  Parliament can supplement the proposed amendment with a counter-proposal, with voters having to indicate a preference on the ballot in case both proposals are accepted. Constitutional amendments, whether introduced by initiative or in Parliament, must be accepted by a double majority of both the national popular vote and a majority of the cantonal popular votes.

Switzerland has not been in a state of war internationally since 1815 and did not join the UN until 2002.

Around 3.8 million people work in Switzerland. Switzerland has a more flexible job market than neighboring countries and the unemployment rate is very low. Unemployment rate increased from a low of 1.7% in June 2000 to a peak of 4.4%, as of December 2009.

 Many Nobel prizes were awarded to Swiss scientists, for example to the world-famous physicist Albert Einstein in the field of physics who developed his theory of relativity while working in Bern. (Where I'll be.)

Electricity generated in Switzerland is 56% from hydroelectricity and 39% from nuclear power, with 5% of the electricity generated from conventional power sources resulting in a nearly CO₂-free electricity-generating network.

Switzerland has four official languages: German in the north, east and center of the country; French to the west; Italian in the south, and Romansh, a Romance language spoken locally by a small minority in the southeastern canton of Graubünden.

The most popular alcoholic drink in Switzerland is wine, with the two most common grape varieties being the red Pinot Noir at around 30% and the white Chasselas at around 27%.


Just some things I found interesting on Wikipedia.  Also, Roger Federer is a Swiss native.  Handsome guy...maybe I'll meet him?

1 Month and 10 days

Sooooo, it's Friday the 13th. Creepy.

Anyways.Here's an update to my list of things to do. I still have a ton of things to get, like luggage and such.

I'm trying to add this map thing to my blog that shows where I've been and will show my pictures from each place, but I can't figure out how to edit the html to get it to show. Anyone know?

Speaking of pictures, I might also need to get a new camera. I have one but its so bulky and it doesn't really travel well. Plus, I can't find a rechargable battery for it, and it only takes like 10 pictures before the batteries die!

I called the Embassy and they got my Visa application. They said they'd call me if there were any problems with it. So hopefully I won't hear from them until it's been accepted.

Attention Janelle and Emma

and the rest of my family.

Hear this:

I have no intention of meeting a man, much less marrying one, while I'm in Switzerland. Not even if he's wearing  lederhosen*. Not even if he looks like this:

And especially not if his name is Sven.  So PLEASE stop worrying about this! 


*In fact...lederhosen are not even from Switzerland!

So there. 

Luggage?

Ok, I kind of like this one, but I don't know if that's going to be enough room.  That little 5th piece toiletry kit is stupid.:
http://www.luggage.com/Samsonite-44064-2154-FE1444.html


This one is pretty but I don't know how sturdy it is:
http://www.luggage.com/American-Flyer-85600-5-Metallic-Red-XR1082.html

I want a set with a duffel bag so I can take that on weekend trips.

I like this one a lot, but it's sold out...of course.
http://www.luggage.com/Travelers-Choice-TC6500N-UD1030.html

I kind of hate the design on this one, but it looks like a good price for the pieces you get.  I think it's the same as the American Flyer Budapest one...the second link I posted.
http://www.luggage.com/American-Flyer-85400-5-Red-XR1080.html


I don't know. I guess I'll keep looking until I find something.  I've got a little bit of time left, right?  1 month and 14 days...