Goodnight Switzerland

It is my last night in Switzerland. I still have to pack. It is about to rain, just like yesterday, the sky is swelling with a black wet. It is calm and quiet here. The family is asleep. Maddy is all tucked in, here little cheeks red from crying (we don't want to say goodbye). We read the Princess Knight before I kissed her goodnight. A book about a young girl who takes her future into her own hands. Who, even though she is afraid, does what she feels she needs to do.



This morning Audrey crawled into my bed, she curled herself up into a little ball and nestled against me. A few hours later, the girls and I were in my room and Audrey said, "Yep- tomorrow there's gonna be no more Marie." Maddy just gasped and exclaimed "YES THERE WILL BE A MARIE! JUST MARIE IN AMERICA!" It has been a very bitter sweet day.



Greg, Jill, Maddy and Audrey took me out to this Italian place for dinner. It was nice, Audrey was obnoxious and still adorable at the same time (I don't know how she pulls it off). She was wearing the napkin around her neck like a bow tie, then said to me, "Hey Marie- I have something for you." As she said this, she leaned over and said "tink, tink" as she made her eyelids blink in this really exaggerated way, making the sound match with her eyes. Meanwhile, Maddy sat there solemnly holding my hand and staring at me. Oh... I am sad to leave these girls, I really am.



It is amazing how God has brought me to where I am. Just before I left the States, I stopped over at St. Thomas to say "goodbye" to Luke. He hugged me, said "goodbye" and just as he was running off to class yelled, "Don't be afraid to change". What I didn't realize was how much I would have to cling to the bravery that comes with facing change. And lots it! I look back and can't believe that I have basically been Europe's ping-pong over the last 9 months. (eh...wasn't exactly prepared for that). Still, there as been no lacking whatsoever in God's grace. The rich outpouring of His understanding and patience and reassurance. In all of this I have felt His peace.

I can't wait to get home, just to see all of your faces. To hear your stories from this last year, to catch up on all that we have missed in each other's lives.

This has been such a beautiful, challenging, interesting and purposeful chapter in my life. I have no choice but to turn the page now, to move on to thousands of words that are yet to be read. How truly great is our God! I will never forget this family! This experience! Jill and Greg have been amazing and I have grown to appreciate their wisdom and friendship, just as much as I have grown to love Maddy and Audrey.








Goodnight Moon

In the great green room
There was a telephone
And a red balloon
And a picture of -

The cow jumping over the moon
And there were three little bears sitting on chairs

And two little kittens
And a pair of mittens
And a little toyhouse
And a young mouse

And a comb and a brush and a bowl full of mush
And a quiet old lady whispering hush

Goodnight room
Goodnight moon
Goodnight cow jumping over the moon
Goodnight light and the red balloon
Goodnight bears
Goodnight chairs

Goodnight kittens
And goodnight mittens
Goodnight clocks and goodnight socks
Goodnight little house and goodnight mouse
Goodnight comb and goodnight brush
Goodnight nobody, goodnight mush
And goodnight to the old lady whispering "hush"

Goonight stars
Goodnight air
Goodnight noises everywhere .....

Margaret Wise Brown 1947

Sunday at the pool...

Sweet Maddy and Me


Jill and Audrey soaking in the sun


Greg and Audrey reading :)

some roads aren't meant to be travelled alone.

I am excited to go home, I really am. I can't wait to see my family. People have been asking me, "Marie, what is your plan for when you go home." I say, "First of all, I am going to hug my Mom. Then, I am going to come up with a plan". Last night I a group of friends came over to my house for a special dinner. Carrie from Canada, Joanna from Poland, Marios from Greece, Reshmi from Britain, Fabio from Italy, Marc from France and Sally from the Philippines. I was so pleased to have all of them in my house. To be able to cook for them and just enjoy the company that I know is almost coming to an end. I did my best to make a meal that was tasty and satisfying and thought upon this quote as I cooked "Cooking isn't about impressing people, it is about making them feel comfortable". That is exactly what I wanted to do. To have my "Mon Amies" over for the evening so that they would know a bit of how grateful I am for their role in this blessed experience. It was really sweet.



This morning, Marios, Reshmi and I, had breakfast together, and then met up with Joanna to go to the top of Mount Saleve. I have been wanting to do this since I've been here, but procrastinated. I have spent most of my time jogging along the base of it, imagining how fun it would be to hike up at some point. But alas, I had to resort the ol' cable car which turned out to be just as well.

When we reached the top of Saleve, there was a crystal clear, bird's eye view of Geneva and the lake. I could look down and see where I lived (or at least the general area) and we saw the Jet d'eau whiched looked like nothing but a sprinkler. We walked a bit, trying to find a better view of the alps and had no luck. We did however, come upon para-sailors who were preparing to make the flight off of the mountain. I have watched these para-sailors from my bedroom window. On sunny days like today, there are clusters of them on La Saleve, these bright dots of color, like pollen in the sun. To see them up close, the count down, the whistle of air through the inflated parachute was so beautiful!







Just before leaving, we found a children's play ground, complete of course- with a slide. If I could not para-sail, this I thought, would be the next best thing.

Thursday Night (A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving- Lao Tzu).

(teresa, me, joanna, jess, carrie & evi)

It seems to be a common theme here in Geneva, that people stay, but they don't stay long. In that regard, I suppose I am happy to be the one leaving as it would be REALLY hard to have to watch my friends all go in different directions while I had to remain stagnant. To handle the separation that is inevitable, my friends and I decided to celebrate our "goodbyes" which has been a lot of fun. On Thursday night, a group of my Au Pair friends all got together to bid our friend Carrie (the Crazy Canadian) fair well. It has been interesting to see how so many people that I have met here are going somewhere else, and for all different reasons. Some people are moving on to new countries, to learn new languages and cultures. Other people are going home to get re-centered, with the hope of discovering a new place very soon. I suppose it all took a certain amount of bravery to leave the places we call home, and it is now the time to move on again. To muster up a bit more courage to do what we are supposed to in order to fulfill our individual purpose. eh! It gets exhausting sometimes to think about all of the changes that have and will take place. I suppose that is why we just have to be present, to laugh and enjoy each others company while we can.






(a guy at the club cracking himself up)

6 days B.I. (before Italy)

Fete De La Musique was on the agenda of fun the weekend before I went to Italy. It was great to see Geneva all lit up inside and out. With music of every kind echoing through the old towne. On top of the music there were the football fans displaying team colors and pride, making a fun menace in the streets. It made for a loud, energetic party, which is very anti-swiss. Hence, making me feel almost like a rebel, like one of the dirty dozen in a night club- it was fabulous!

Teresa and I met up with our friends Jess and Carrie and went from music genre to genre, listening to folk, a bit of flamenco, African drumming, rock (a concert put on by a friend's band), techno/trance and even a taste of classical. It was VERY FUN!




in Rome it seemed that no matter where we went, whether dark or light, inside or out, the guys would be wearing sunglasses- this was our silly tribute to there ridiculousness :)