The Practicality of a Nun

The Practicality of a Nun

Today was by no means what I would label a “productive” day, but it was productive if compared to my weekend. I went to German class this morning at 8:30am, then Marketing at 9:40am. I checked my mail and received two wonderful letters from Oma and Mr. Middlebrooks, so I was very excited about that. I think they actually arrive on Friday or Saturday, but I hadn’t checked my mail since Thursday. So that made my day.

After Marketing I read my letters then went and had lunch at North Campus. More pasta, surprise, surprise. I’m really hoping they serve lasagna sometime; I tried their lasagna at the “Taste of Switzerland” buffet and it was super. It’s nice to have a food to look forward to. I just hope they serve it soon. It was delicious. After lunch I went back down the hill to Girasole, where I spent some time reading e-mails and writing letters. I need to figure out the Swiss post system. I’m assuming it’s going to be very strange and confusing and dominated by a strange, neurotic need to control. I guess that’s why I’ve been intimidated by the idea of purchasing postage. I’m probably going to do something wrong and then they’re going to speak to me in furious Italian, which I won’t speak a lick of, and then I’m going to say “Lo siento. Yo hablo espanol y ingles solamente.” And then they’ll be like “oh you poor sap, you’re in Switzerland, we only speak our languages. If you want to communicate, learn one of them.” But really they only speak Italian in Lugano. I’m going to get on that post wagon tomorrow and hopefully figure things out with too much eventfulness.

Keely came and knocked on my door and we left to go grocery shopping around 3:00pm, even though we were planning on going shopping with a few other girls around 4:00pm. Whoops. But Keely wanted to go into downtown to get groceries since she needed to buy paint and they were just planning on going to Paradiso. Hopefully they won’t be upset. In any case, I did purchase a few groceries, including: eggs, arrabiata sauce, granola bars, 2 packages of soup, milk, bread, and cookies. I’m planning on buying more meat/produce closer to the weekend, when I’ll have to provide more for myself. Plus meat and produce are both super expensive here. That reminds me! Deniz, Alyssa, and I found both a Turkish restaurant and a Persian restaurant last night in Lugano. Actually we don’t know where the Persian one is, but we saw a sign for it. We actually found the Turkish one. So we’re going to get Turkish food next Saturday, methinks.

Now that I’m back in my dorm, I should probably do a smidge of Western Civilization homework. Then I’ll probably go up and get dinner around six-ish. Let us all keep our fingers crossed for lasagna. And does anyone know why the Swiss don’t sell ground pepper?! I can’t find it anywhere, and it’s getting rather frustrating.

On another note, Angi is planning on sending me measuring cups & spoons and an apron, and Erin is also planning on sending me an apron. So those two are covered. I was also thinking that a box of plain old Chips Ahoy would be delicious… Or goldfish crackers. The Swiss don’t seem to believe in snack food. They do have lots of potato chips, but I don’t really like eating those regularly.

Oh and another note! If you are planning on sending me food, don’t mark it as “food” on the customs clearance form. I know that they will send cereals back home. Just mark it as “gift.” From what I’ve heard they aren’t overly suspicious and probably don’t actually care what’s in the box so long as you don’t tell them. I was talking to an upperclassman here and he said to make sure you mark everything as either used personal clothing or “gift” depending upon which category it fits better. That way they won’t return it to sender or tax me. It’s almost ninety degrees today. Thanks for listening to me ramble!

I miss you!!

PS I totally forgot about the title I put on this entry. So I have a tendency to walk around in my hiking boots with my NorthFace backpack, which pretty much labels me as a non-Swiss. (But it really is the most practical way to do things; eventually I’ll get better at dressing myself and being Swiss-like, I promise. And it’s not just my problem, most of us Franklin students stick out from the meticulously manicured and groomed Swiss-Italians around here.) Anyway, that’s all beside the point. I finally found someone else wearing a backpack and solid walking shoes today: a 70something nun.