My trip to Africa ...

... can be followed on this blog. That one has some nice features for travellers. Have fun!

JubJam100

The three weeks in the Netherlands were interesting and I had a lot of fun. And now it's over :-s

When I arrived on the campsite, I was the only foreigner on site and everyone was talking to me in dutch. That's why I had to learn to understand that weird language. The preparations were going well, the people were very busy and did a great job. Specially after a storm, that destroyed a part of the constructions. Therefore not all the things were ready in time when the participants arrived, but nevertheless, they had a great camp. As in every camp, small or big, there were some minor troubles, but in the end, it was really funny. I met a lot of "old" friends and also made new ones.
My job was to write for the english camp newspaper, which was a lot of work, but with the help of some great crazy dutch scouts we managed to print two english pages per day.

And as usual, I did not take even one picture. Silvan was running around with his camera, so there was no need for me to take pictures :-) The things I need to remember are saved in my memory, where they will stay forever. Or until I forget them. As always.

The celebration camp of 100 years of Scouting in the Netherlands with 12000 participants. That was an interesting experience. And now I'm off to new adventures, next stop will be in Leiria!

Countdown

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Off I go

The travelling season has started. Friday I will leave for the Netherlands for a Scouting meeting. I'm really curious how this will be. It will be held in dutch, providing informations for the summer camp.

:-)

Should start practizing dutch and learn more words...

Waking up my blog again

It's about time to reactivate my blog. Soon I will go on a longer journey to Africa, and this seems to be a good way to keep you informed. But before I depart for Africa, I will go to the Netherlands and hopefully attend my big brother's wedding in Portugal. Keep your fingers cross that i can manage to get there, I would love to be there. Oh, and my big sister is pregnant and will get her baby in may.

Lots of things changed, and even more will change :-)

So keep on (or better start) reading and commenting if you like.

Long time no see

That was a very busy year. 9/11 2006 I started studying again. Thanks to my boss I had a lot of work, even too much, during my first year. I've started the second year two weeks ago. And due to loads of overtime I gained during the first half of this year I don't have to work again until February 2008. Oh, by the way, I'm studying to be a social worker. It's interesting, but also annoying. We have some Profs who have the same effect on me like a sleeping pill. It's really hard to be consequent and wake up in the morning early to go to university to sit there and listen to a sleeping pill without falling asleep. Nevertheless I'm a very sincere student and attend every lecture.

OK, besides studies and work there were a lot of other things going on in my life. Hmmm, let me think. Oh, yes. Last New Year's Eve we wanted to go on a hike in the mountains and sleep in a self-made Igloo. Unfortunately it was too warm so there was not enough snow for our trip. Well, maybe this year...

In summer 07 I went to England. Where else could I be in this historical moment than in the Jamboree? Silvan and I decided to walk to the Jamboree. 25 Scouts from Switzerland went on an Explorer Belt right before the Jamboree. We travelled to England by train, to be more precisely, to Poole, from where we went to Brownsea Island for one night. The island is really beautiful, very quiet and full of scouting's history. After a short night on the campsite the adventure started. Silvan and I went to Lymington by train, took the ferry to Yarmouth on the Isle of Wight and started walking. On the first half day we made it to Freshwater, which was 17km away. On the next day we went west to the Needles, the most western point on the island. Then back to Freshwater, this time from the other side of the hills, and then east to a camping close to Brightstone. 26km. When we started to build up our tent it started raining heavily. Great... But no problem for us. Next day we made it to Blackgang, where I made a false step and somehow hurted my foot. I did not yet realize it, so we kept on walking to Blackgang, Chale, Niton, Ventnor, Shanklin and finally close to Sandown we found a camping. The last two kilometres where horribly painful for my. When I took off my shoe, my foot got swollen at once. And that was it. Next day we relaxed, hoping my foot would be good the day after. But nothing changed so we decided to see a doctor. A nice couple working on the camping took us to Ryde. You can drive by car until the end of the pier where the ferry takes off. And there is a huge car park out there. Strange. We went to Portsmouth by SeaBus, which was really fast. And then by bus to the Saint Mary's hospital. British health system is for free and is wroth about the same. Sorry, I don't want to offend anyone but that was the impression I got. The doctor pushed my calves, asked me if it was painful, offered me some morphine, I denied, I got some more common painkillers, crutches and was told not to walk around. No x-ray, no diagnosis, and no good advices I didn't already know myself. And that was it. No more Explorer Belt. :-( We were pissed off and disappointed but that is life.

So we enjoyed the city for two and a half days and then we went to the Jamboree campsite.

If you want to read my Jamboree story you will have to come back later because now I should e a serious student and do my homework ;-)

Thinking Day

Dear sisters and brothers,

In closing his last message to us all, B-P wrote: "...stick to your
promise always, even after you have ceased to be a boy..." and obviously
nowadays a girl also.

It is the promise that makes our Movement so different from every other
youth movement and organisation in society, it is loyalty to that
commitment that makes us Scouts, rather that simply people dedicating or
having dedicated some time of our life to Scouting.

Today we commemorate the joint birthday of B-P and his wife Olave, in a
very special historical moment, as this date is also the 150th
anniversary of B-P's birth and falls in the Centenary of Scouting.

In these hundred years, hundreds of millions of girls and boys, women
and men have made the commitment to do their best to leave the world a
little better than they found it, and in many places and in different
moments in time, Scouts have really made the difference!

In the present times of increasing disparities, world wide tensions and
growing conflicts, where due to irresponsible life-styles humanity is
seriously putting our planet's environmental stability at risk, and so
grows the dramatic need for more, good Scouts.

Let the centenary year also be the occasion for a special commitment.
Renewing our Promise today, we should not only look at the past with
gratitude to B-P, and to all those who opened for us "the road to
success", giving us the opportunity to live the unique, exciting and
involving experience that is Scouting. We should also look with optimism
and courage toward the future, with the fleur de lys and our promise
firmly guiding us in the direction of creating a better world.

Yours in Scouting,

Eduardo Missoni
Secretary General

What about those who aren't married? I guess "mother" counts as well

Lahami Bay in Egypt

We went to Egypt to pass our summer holidays there. Finally I managed to go diving again...


The Nile valley. An amazing sharp boarder between green and brown.
























Silvan and me




Early in the morning


Late at night


In the desert

Camp in Hungary

With our youth we went to Lovásbérény to visit some friends. It was an interesting week that I really enjoyed. It was hard work! ;-)


Church in Lovásbérény


Playing in the water


The train


Shoot ...


... and hit!


Coocking the hungarian way


Working on a apricot plantage

Ufffffff...

Today is the day X. Today I have to post my diploma thesis. That requires the thesis to be written untill 5 pm because at that time the postman empties the mailbox.

My boyfriend was so friendly to wake me up at 8 o'clock in the morning so I could start writing on time. I spent two hours writing in the morning and four in the afternoon. And it's done! At 5 pm sharp I was standing next to the mailbox, waiting for the postman to hand him out my letter. It feels good to be releived form this presure.

Now I can go home and pack my stuff for the scout camp I'll go tomorrow. Germany, I'm coming! As last year I was invited by my big sis to join them in their camp. Unfortunatelly I don't know their language (german) which means, that I have to speak english for the whole weekend ;-) But I'm strong enough to survive.

Last minute

I'm sitting in the office, bored. Actually I should write my diploma thesis, I have 8 days left to finish it. Well, maybe I better say to start and finish it. That's what I always did. I postpone it untill the last day. Actually I wanted to change that habit and start writing my thesis early this time. I know I have to do it for almost half a year now. But I never had time for it. And even now that I have nothing else to do I don't start it. Maybe next week...

Hey friend, want to take a picture?

Smile!

Night in Trastevere

The Colosseo

Arco di Constantino

The broadening of the Roman Empire

La Fontana di Trevi

Vatican

Back to life!

Well, it's long ago since I last posted soemthing here. That has several reasons: First of all, I've been ill for a loooooong time. And after it I went to a scout camp and then I had another camp from work. Been busy as usual.
I'm getting better. Today I slept one hour in the office. Yes, during work. Bad, I know, but I didn't feel well and I had nothing to do.

This weekend I'm going to visit my dad in Rome. And I think I chose the best date for it because spring finally has begun. It's getting green here in Zurich, flowers are growing and everybody is smiling and enjoying the sun.

That should be it for the moment, I'll post some pics from Rome next week - for sure! Maybe just to tease you a little...

Enjoy the sun and the feelings that come with spring.

Snow in Zurich

Well, it's not unusual but this weekend it snowed a lot. Especially becuase it's march! It snowed for two days and now the sun is shining and it's already melting again. I'll leave you some photos to enjoy.

We had to dig out my bf's car about one hour ago. It took us half an hour. The front part was covered with snow, you could only see the top part of the car. It's really great.

My dream: 1 meter of snow in the city! Then nothing would work anymore. No cars, no busses, no trams, no nothing. No school, no work, no mail, just silence and people walking around and children playing in the snow. And Judith would be the first to beheva like a child ;-) Today I was lying in the snow. I love that. We've always done that when we were children. We fell down backwards and made angels. At least it looked as if. And of course we built snowmen and snowwomen, snow houses and went sledding in the backyard.


Yes, winter is my favorite season - but only if there's loads of snow!!!

Sun, fun and nothing to do

For all those who don't know this mountain: This is famous Matterhorn. We've been there for one week and it was great. Just that for the moment.
Although i was not working for several weeks this and last year I had no holiday. Or almost none. There were a few trips abroad and some camps but that was not really holiday either. My bf showed me his photos from Australia, a friend of mine is travelling in Ecuador and keeps me informed, my dad works in Rome now, my mum goes on holiday. It seems everybody around is leaving boring regular life for some weeks except me. I'm stuck in the office. My decision: I'll go on holiday in summer! Holiday means sun, sea, beach, diving, nothing to do, no duties, just the things that I want. Hopefully I won't go alone...

Home sweet Home

It feels good at home. I didn't have to work much lately and so it came that I had a lot of time to spend alone in my new home. I usually kept thinking about some "problems" I had. It's really nice to sit in front of the fireplace and to enjoy the quietness. I finally had time for me and I loved it. I must repeat that pretty soon.

About making important decisions: I've never been the person who loves it, but who does that? Sometimes I'd like to be a child again, a child doesn't have to take an important decision, life is so easy then. But on the other hand I'd not want to give up all the advantages I have as an adult. Life is never easy but anyway, I sometimes whis it would be different. Not easier but leading to another end.

Today I had an interesting discussion with my mother. I enjoy my independence, but sometimes it's nice to go home and say: "Hi mom, is lunch ready?"

Verwirrt

Bin us eme bestimmte Grund in letschter Ziit nöd so zwäg. Bin grad innere Lag, woni lieber nöd wär, aber da gitt's nix z'mache. Da mues ich dure. Sött ä Entscheidig träffe, aber die fallt mir überhaupt nöd liecht. Irgendwie wettis ebe doch nöd wahr ha. Ich hasses, wänn ich mich sälber nöd under Kontrolle han, fühle mich nöd gern hilflos...
Trucked mir de Tuume, dass ich das möglichscht bald chan kläre.

Home sweet Home

It was hard to leave my old home, but I also like my new one and I feel comfortable here. Have a look at it:

Happy new year!

The year 2006 started different. We were in the snow in the mountains and cheered with champagne. It must have been an interesting picture. 27 scouts yelling, shouting and jumping around. Two days later I had to carry all my belongings from one side of the Limmat valley to the other. Exactelly, I moved again. Until now I'm more or less installed, pictures follow as soon as it's done. Only that much: It feels good and the ambiance with the fire lit on is great!

Class reunion

Once a year our class meets for having dinner together. So last week we met in a Pizzeria in the City. Only 10 of 22 came. I was the second to arrive, nothing changed so far. We usually were late, that was one of our class' bad habits. When we all were there we started to chat. I was sitting opposite to Daniel, to whom I rarely talked during school time. We went along together but weren't best friends and never had long serious discussions. I was really surprised and dind't expect it at all but we were talking together during the whole evening and it was really interesting. That was the first surprise. Then I learned that one of us was uncle and one girl who moved to Italy might marry soon. The rest of us is still studying. One is a law student, two doctors, one dentist, one psychiatrist, two musicians, a banker, two teachers and many more. And one, we assume, is going to be an important drug dealer. He's not studying altough he goes to university but only for meeting former classmates and to smoke his joints. Nobody likes him anymore because he's so *aaarrrgh* (Sorry, can't write the word I have in my mind). That's my class. Not much changed except everything. And we are getting older and wiser. It's always interesting to see them all together.

Any interesting news?

Well, I spent 5 days in Portugal. Is that one?

I was invited by a friend to go to the Champions League Match Benfica - Manchester United. 65'000 people fit into the stadium. I was really curious about it because I couldn't imagine how it is when that many persons are together. And the impression was great. The spirit was great, "La Ola" worked. And the right team won. So it was even better.For further informations about the match check my friend's blog.
For the other days we had plans but changed them every now and then. But it was fun. We went north to Leiria and he showed me some places from his scout activities. The hills, they call it mountain ;-) are full of caves. I've seen two entries and was deeply impressed. Actually we wanted to go hiking but as I said, we chaged plans every now and then. So he showed me all those locations and specially the scout center they are building. It's a really nice place and it's continually improving. So if you are looking for a place to have a camp abroad I can really recommend you that one.
Oh, yes, and we pöayed laser quest. Actually I'm an opponent of the use of weappons but that was different. It was just a game. And I was not the worst player! After the game they raffled a free entry among our group and guess who was the lucky winner! Of coures it was me. Well, looks like I have to go back one day to play again.


The sea always fascinates me


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Cultural exploration


Castelo de Almourol


Ain't no sunshine when she's gone... The day before I arrived it stopped raining and we once had a maximum temperature of 25 degrees, ok, the car was parked in the sun, but it looks nice, right?