Going back in time, it wasn't too long ago that I would literally lie in bed all morning because my life had so little meaning.  Unemployment and a lack of friends in a foreign land rendered me helpless and incredibly depressed.  Although there was the occasional ray of sunshine, it never shined brightly enough to prevent the inevitable self-destructive behavior and decision making to which I am unfortunately prone.  Life felt so hopeless that I would have given anything to trade mine for someone else's.

This current chapter of my life, however, happens to effing rock and has most definitely made up for all the unhappiness I endured just months ago.  But how did I get here? Is it risk taking and perseverance, or did I end up here by pure chance? After all, this position did more or less fall into my lap. Yes, I mailed a CV, a couple of letters of reference and had a lengthy telephone interview, but I still believe that it's all thanks to a friend that I am even in Switzerland.  Whatever the reason, I'm here and I am in love with life.  It's a temporary euphoria, though, for I know that life won't be nearly as thrilling or rewarding once I leave this beautiful country.

So, I guess what I want to say is that life is full of highs and lows and you've got to learn to appreciate both.  This place would be amazing regardless of the situation, but after having been so miserable earlier this year, I have valued this experience more than words could ever say.  My coworkers are fun and mostly drama-free; my students are brilliant, motivated and kind; and the kids in my dorm hug me, love me and open up to me on a daily basis.  Basically: I feel loved, needed and appreciated.  My heart is being allowed to work at near maximum capacity, which, for me, represents the most important aspect of happiness.

Check back in a few weeks and I guarantee that my joie de vivre will have calmed down quite a bit.  

Despite recent comments from a couple of friends, my life is not a perfect fairytale.  I'm merely trying to appreciate genuine happiness while it's within my reach.  We've all got our own problems, worries and insecurities, but if you look closely, beauty is all around. 

So, early this morning we took a two hour + bus ride to the town of Zermatt to see the Matterhorn.  And, oh my God--it was unbelievably beautiful.  At one point while hiking down the slope, I stopped, gazed admiringly at the snow-covered mountains surrounding me, and nearly cried.  I still can't believe that I am actually here, because this is seriously the most beautiful place on earth.  After somehow managing to hold back my tears, I literally sang the first few lines of that song from The Sound of Music. You know the one.  It was totally a Fräulein Maria moment.

The Matterhorn

Le paradis

A few of my kids from class

Henrik--my crazy but quite lovable ventriloquist "son"

Arisa--my 10 going on 30 Japanese "daughter"

More of my darlings

Today was the first official day with the kids, and, boy, was it interesting.  Definitely fun, but I did have my eyes opened on a number of occasions, especially by one 12-year-old Russian girl. (If you want to hear stories, all you have to do is ask.) At this particular school, students are grouped into families, and my eight "children" come from: Russia, Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Italy, Germany and Japan.  Such a diversity has the potential to create quite a few misunderstandings, but I'm hoping that my kids will overcome any issues to become the closest family on campus. Mais on verra. . .

I'm tired and don't feel like writing much more, so I'll leave you with some pictures instead.  In posting some photos, I'm also secretly hoping to lure a certain someone back to Europe. Wink, wink, nudge, nudge.

View from a boat on Lake Geneva

This was our view for over an hour. Absolutely breathtaking.

OK, so maybe it's wrong to have favorites, but these are two of mine: Melina and Alice--the cutest little Italian girls in the world.

Needless to say, Switzerland is quickly becoming one of my favorite countries.

A bientôt!

This is the funniest thing I have read in a very long time.  I heart The Onion.

For me, life is incomplete until you:

*love someone or something passionately
*laugh so hard that you can't breathe
*live in a foreign country for a minimum of six months
*travel alone
*disclose your deepest feelings in a love letter despite possible rejection
*"let go" completely
*rock a baby to sleep
*fall asleep and wake up in the arms of your lover
*allow music to bring you to tears
*frolic in the ocean
*help someone without expecting anything in return
*attempt to play a musical instrument
*go skinny-dipping
*stroll through the streets of Pah-ree
*take a road trip
*sleep under the stars
*make love in the great outdoors
*attend the concert of one of your favorite bands/singers
*forgive those who have done you wrong
*see the Pyramids
*read all the classics
*make a difference in at least one person's life
*spend an entire night drinking sangria and salsa dancing
*have a dance party with your girlfriends
*learn to say "I'm sorry"
*accept yourself for who you are
   

I just answered this Featured Question; you can answer it too!

with my new favorite song. . . and memories of falling in love. . . over coffee.

Même si c'est en vain qu'elle s'efforce de pousser des brins magnifiquement épais, l'herbe sera toujours plus verte chez le voisin.  Ou, dans mon cas, chez la voisine.

C'est une jalousie douloureuse qui me ronge et me tue au plus profond de mon être. 

Et je ne sais pas la combattre.