Ok, so let me get caught up...

Sorry again for my lack of updates...I'm busy!

Week 3...4? I don't even know at this point. So this week, the highlight would definitely be the Phone-A-Thon. Ok, are you like me, and hate when people call you trying to get money out of you around dinnertime? Well, for two nights, that was me! Actually, on Monday and Wednesday night, I called past and present parents from the school to touch base with them, update them about the school, and then try to suck money outta them. All week there were about 1600 people that needed to be called, and the goal was to raise $30,000. As of Wednesday night, I think we raised like $26,000 or so, and Thursday was the last night, so hopefully we hit our goal!

All of the money was put toward various things around the campus, including facility updates, hiring new staff, and other projects. Most of the people were nice that I talked to, and some in fact donated to the cause (thanks mom and dad!). Others, however, yelled, go mad, or just got to the point quickly and hung up. It was quite an experience.

The leader, Rachel, is sooo fun and nice. She reminds me of a compellation of the sisters! She provided lotsa snacks for us to stay energized. It was such a fun experience, and had its ups and downs -

up: I got paid 12 francs an hour (144 francs for the week!),
down: I worked the midnight-6am shift (so we could call the states at an appropriate time),
up: there were games that you could play if you got a pledge, and the two nights I worked, I won (the first was hangman, and the second night was random trivia. Thank God I knew Alan Alda, and that the 1980 Olympic games were held in Lake Placid),
down: I definitely missed my first class at 10:05 on Thursday (doesn't help waking up at 10:40...),
up: there were spirit days, and I so won Wednesday nights "swiss day" by dressing in all of my winter gear, a red bandana (or bandeezy for some), and a Swiss flag towel (the third in the set that I sent Ali) that I wore as a cape. Was I excruciatingly hot? Yes! But did I really wanna with that mini cereal variety pack? Heck yea! So fun!

What else about this week? Umm...lotsa studying (or attempts at it), reading, and walking. Oh, there was dance lessons on Thursday again - this week, sort of whatever we wanted to learn - tango, merengue, more swing/jive. It was very fun.

On Wednesday (I think) there was this career meeting that helped us decide what steps to do next in discover what we are going to do for an occupation. I really don't know anymore what I wanna do in the future...great.

Oh, and on Tuesday, about 20 of us went to a traditional Ticinese dinner (every Wednesday, there is an "Italian Family Dinner" where you eat in the dinning hall, sit at tables with other people, and get a phrase sheet to learn Italian.) This week’s dinner was held on Tuesday and was taken on the road. It was at a traditional Grotto (which kinda looked like a big shed), and was a dinner of this slowly cooked beef and polenta. There was also a mushroom one - both of which were served family style. It was sooooo delicious! It was such a fun time - sitting and talking about random stuff with an Italian Professor. So fun.

The reason that it was moved to a day earlier was to accommodate "German Family Dinner" so people could learn some German before venturing to that part of the country (about 4 days too late, guys...). We attended that (bratwurst, potatoes, and brussel sprouts...home!). The evening was finished off with this ridiculous man playing a dulcimer. He is a professional and makes them. It was very interesting, and his English wasn't great, so it made it even better!

Well, that's about it for the week... I think I am finally caught yup! Thanks God! I will let you all know tomorrow night about this weekend!

Ciao for now! Time to get some grub!