my current shelter

Since I have access to a computer...I must make the best of it and tell you more about my life here while I can.

I have been spending the past 2 weeks (just about) here at L'Abri. A community center in Huemoz. Community center sounds weird and creepy. I will try and explain better. "L'Abri" means shelter in French. Huemoz is a French speaking part of Switzerland. L'Abri is a Christian based community. It is meant to be a place for travelers like me...travelers who are looking for a place to meet other travelers and think about life, God and live in community with one another. There are several christians here, there are also several non-christians. It's an open community.

I have met such amazing people here. There are probably 30 people here right now. On a typical day, I do yoga every morning (almost) with 3 other women. Everyone eats breakfast, lunch and dinner together. We cook all the meals, help clean, etc. Half the day is study and half the day you do some sort of work (clean, cook, whatever). We have days off from work as well. You study whatever the heck you want. They have a whole library full of books. It's such an interesting way of living. It's not like college, it's not like just hanging out...it's a little inbetween. The community is intentional and thoughtful.

Particularly, I have made friends with a couple people. I feel so blessed to know the lives of these few people. It makes me wonder about all the lives of everyone in the world. We are all so unique and have our own wonderful stories.

I suppose I will expand on L'Abri at a later time...I have more good things to say about it. I am just tired.

PS--SWITZERLAND IS BEAUTIFUL. gorgeous. absolutely wonderful. I am loving it more and more every day. We played ultimate frisbee in the mountains last sunday...one of my fondest memories here. I taught non-american boys how to throw a football--my proudest moment.

I am walking up hills and mountains like it's nobody's business...but I am eating lots of good food that may distract from any body sculpting effects...

I am going to go climb down the mountain now...to go eat dinner :)

travel woes, but blessed.

oh goodness gracious, where do I start? I will go back a ways...

on Nov. 10, I left Norway and started my trek to Huemoz, Switzerland. Yikes. The reason it's so "yikes" is because I have a rail pass...and I need to utilize it. So, that means more train stations, more sleepless nights.

My train from Bergen to Oslo. Fine. No big. It was actually beautiful. I don't understand how people live in the middle of nowhere on the top of a mountain, however. That is curious to me. What do they do for a living? It's like the north pole in early Nov. What's Jan. like? Food for thought.

I took a plane back to Frankfurt. Frankfurt is not top on my list at this point...simply because of my complicated middle-of-the-night travel I have had to do there.

I arrived at the Frankfurt main train station at 10 p.m. My train to Switzerland was scheduled to leave at 2:22 a.m. I took refuge in a McDonalds (never thought that would come out of my mouth), as it was the only establishment connected to the train station open until 2:00 a.m. Around 12 a.m. I was suddenly aware that I was very nearly the only girl around--at least the only girl alone. Over my 4 hours of sitting in McDonalds with my eyes glued to my Time magazine (trying to avoid any strange encounters with others) I witnessed a drug dealer try and sell something to several guys. He made several rounds throughout the night. He was harmless, but his presence made me a bit uncomfortable. He didn't ask me. If he did, I don't think anything bad would have happened. Just saying.

I was a bit distracted as well, since, the only other lady that was by her lonesome in McDonalds was talking and laughing decently loud. She was talking to...no one. She was a bit crazy. She, also, was harmless. It was interesting though, because she was quite enjoying herself. Whoever she was talking to was making her happy.

Okay, what I am about to tell you are some of the reasons why the actual travel part of traveling is so stressful to me. Of course the odd people (drug dealers, crazies that sleep in train stations, and theives) all make my anxiety level rise. Here are some additional experiences...

• Got on train in Bergen, all situated. Some trains you need seat reservations, others you don't. You can figure it out by looking up online. I DID NOT need a reservation for this train. Just to be thourough, however, I asked the conductor as he walked by. He told me "you most definitely do need a reservation. You have 10 minutes to get one." Well shoot, I have to grab all my crap just in case I don't make it back on the train. Then, get a reservation, and run back. Fricken-a.
  

• Sometimes trains split during their journey at certain locations. Make sure you are in the "correct compartment" so you actually make it to the destination you want to.
  

• The McD's @ Frankfurt was connected to the train station, but also had a door leading to outside. I assumed the door leading into the station would stay open as long as McD's was. Nope. When I tried to open the door, it was locked. It was one of those moments when your heart starts beating rapidly and blood rushes to your face, and when you try to talk it's hard because you throat has closed up a bit. I asked them to open the door for me. They wouldn't. They told me to go around to the main door. None of them could speak English very well, so I had a hard time feeling confident in their suggestions. My train was leaving in 20 minutes. There was no way I was going to spend the night with druggy and Miss talkerson. Walked outside pretty upset. I was telling myself if this doesn't work out...then...SCREW traveling! I give up! I walked by a couple guys that looked me up and down...but by that point I was so mad, I probably would have had the adrenaline to beat them up all by myself anyway. The first door I tried was locked. Praise the Lord the next set of doors was open. Oh dear.
  

• Not long after I found my platform for my 2:22 a.m. train...it played over the loud speaker over and over that, "Train from Frankfurt to Aigle will be 25 minutes late due to persons on the track." First, that made me more mad. I am sitting in this cold station, and I have to wait even longer for my train?! Not only that...I was almost sure I was going to miss my connections. That meant, I had to go over to a self-serving train-router-machine to re-plan my journey. I was SO over this. I did what I needed to do, and then got over myself.
  

~~~I sat down my complaining-self and waited for my late train. I realized that the train is actually late because of "persons on the track"--meaning death, probably. And most likely suicide. I made friends with a 20-year-old German boy and he told me they are late because they have to "clean it up." Very sad. I was suddenly very grateful for my circumstances--the "person on the track" is much less fortunate than I. For that, I am thankful.

• You can't sleep on night trains in 2nd class. People talking, lights on all night, people getting on and off train, ticket checker walking through the cabins after every stop, each stop being announced over the loud speaker...in several different languages.

Are you through with listening to me complain? Good, because I am getting sick of it myself. No matter what has happened, I feel thankful for the experience. I have learned so much. I am thankful for the opportunity to travel, see more of the world, and meet people from all over.

I feel blessed. I just pray my anxiety doesn't get the best of me next time I have a troublesome travel experience...

my education in norway

Ooftah. Lots of posts, I know. There are just so many things to say on separate topics. Hence, my multiple postings in an hour. 

'Ooftah'--Let's start with that. I am now in Bergen, as mentioned. I am staying with my relatives. I said 'ooftah' the other day, and one of people I am staying with was utterly amazed that I said a Norwegian word. I told her it's Minnesotan too. Or, at least it's only Minnesotan because of the Norwegian immigrants. She absolutely loved it. We figured out that we use the word in slightly different cases. 

My great great grandfather (I think) came over to Minnesota. He and his brother came over together. Let's call my great great grandfather A and his brother B. Brother B decided to moved back to Norway, while Bro-sef A decided to stay. 

From lineage A, I am brought to life. The family I am currently staying with calls Bro B their great grandfather. If bro-sef A decided to go back to Norway, I wouldn't be typing this..because I wouldn't exist. Thanks Khristian! (that is actually A's name). 

But seriously, I have had an amazing time here with my family learning about my Norwegian roots. It's been very educational. Jorill and Paul (who I am staying with) have a wealth of knowledge. And not just about the family, but about the world and obviously particularly Norway. 

I swear Paul was secretly assigned to be my professor for the week. He and I have sat in front of GoogleEarth (his best teaching tool) for hours on end. He has introduced me to many parts of Norway. Including where Khristian is from (Rake, which in America he used as his last name, only changed it to Rachie--my Grandma Groth's Maiden name). Are you confused yet? It's okay, you don't need to remember anything of my ancestry, I don't know anything about yours. 

Paul is an accomplished photographer. He has thousands upon thousands of pictures! And, they are very beautiful. Many of them are on GoogleEarth, as well. I love how much this family likes to teach and talk about Norway. It's the best kind of family to stay with, because they are not annoyed to ever re-explain anything to you, they love it. 

I must come back to Norway. 

thank you over-worked german man

I traveled from Prague to Bergen, Norway. Want to know how I got there? Planes, trains, buses and my feet. Over 36 hours worth. This information might be boring, but it's pertinent to the point of my post (say that 5 times fast).

Overnight train from Prague to Frankfurt, Germany. Train to airport shuttle. Shuttle to airport. Feet to bus stop. Bus to another airport 2 hours away from main airport. Plane to Oslo, Norway. Bus to Train. Train to another train. Overnight train to, finally, Bergen. 

I am learning a lot about the actual travel part of traveling. Especially because I am alone. And, that leads me to my next point. I was alone. When I arrived in Frankfurt, Germany (at 4:00am, middle of the dang night), I found myself in a cold dark, empty train station. No one working anywhere, but a couple people sleeping against the walls. With no sleep myself, my awareness quickly got into gear. On the train, I had asked a man behind me to grab my heavy backpack from the shelf for me. I sort-of walked down into the train station with him. I asked him a couple of questions. Questions about a bus I thought I should take to the main airport. He didn't know about a bus, but knew about a train that took you there. Being skeptical of his answer, as one traveling alone should always double check things, I went outside to look at the bus schedules. For some reason this guy followed me out there. I asked him to come over and help me read the schedule. He did. I was kind of wandering, trying to figure out what to do, ended up talking to him some more, and he assured me that the train does take me to the airport. I looked around and he seemed like my best bet. 

Turns out he works at the airport. So, he would know. He took me on the train, then the shuttle (which I wouldn't have been able to figure out by myself, or at least it would have taken me MUCH longer), then he walked me to 'information' to find out where I catch my bus to the other airport 2 hours away. He had to be at work at 6a.m. yet he walked with me the whole way, even offered to hold my backpack. I didn't let him take it, I told him I need to get used to it--which is the truth. If I am doing this whole 'traveling alone' thing I need to know that I can handle it. 

Once the lady at info told me where the bus stop was, he walked me even there. Then, he said we should make sure and look at the time-table to see when the bus comes exactly. He did EVERYTHING for me. Literally.

About this helpful man:

• He is 25, but looks 30

• He hasn't traveled that much because he thinks he needs to get a good start on his career (he teaches airport employees how to use the airport technology)

• He works 12 hours a day. He sleeps 3 hours every night

• He said he works so much because of capitalism

• He's German

After I shook his hand and told him for the 12th time, 'thank you,' we parted ways. I went to the bathroom after that. If I had any inclination that he was helping me only because he thought I was cute, the mirror in the bathroom was quick to tell me 'no.' Mascara was all over my face, and my hair needed a good wash. 

Praha part II

Like I mentioned earlier, I got a job at the hostel. The Mosaic House (name of hostel) was having it's swanky opening party and I, along with another 16 year-old-boy, did the coat check. I can't remember his name because sometimes Czech names are hard. And, he didn't speak hardly any English. So, the whole night, we attempted to communicate with one another. He was the nicest kid. 

The funny part about doing this coat check was that we needed to bring the coats upstairs...so, 16-year-old would run them up the stairs...all night long. He actually wouldn't let me do it--out of courtesy of course. The best part about doing the coat check was that when I went into the party, everyone knew my face. I talked to a whole lot of people that I would never otherwise have had conversations with. That was a lot of fun. 

Funny story though, David, one of the managers, gave me 500 crowns plus tips for working. Which ended up being exactly 700 crowns in the end. The next day, I was taking the tram to the train station...and in walks the ticket-checker-guy (I never got bus tickets..shhh! because they never do check!). And, he asks me for my ticket. I don't have one. He pulls me off the tram along with one other delinquent to write up tickets for us. I start thinking, 'hmmm, maybe I can just walk away?' No. He calls over the police. Quickly, I do what he says. He asks for 700 crowns. What a coincidence, because I just earned exactly that much last night (otherwise I would have had no cash on me)! Oh God, how you watch over me, even when I rebel from the law. 

Prague was fantastic. Lauren has a nice community of people there. I got to know them especially well my second time around in Praha. How wonderful to get to know the people in her life. 

Speaking of fabulous parties in Prague...the night life there is happenin'. Even without parties, people just tend to stay up really late. So, if you know me at all, I hate that sometimes. I like sleep. But I am proud to report that I stayed out till 6:00am one night. Yes, that's right. 

Thanks Lo, for all your hospitality in Praha.