1. Finally bought some shoes. This is a big deal. I've been wearing flip flops for the past few weeks. I looked at probably 4-8 different shoe stores without finding anything comfortable/Euro-fashionable/affordable (<100 CHF/$120 USD). Then I accidentally stumbled upon this place selling shoes for 30 CHF (unheard of really) so I ended up picking up 2 pairs for 70 (one super warm/soft pair for the snow).
2. Picked up my ticket for Sonny Rollins at FNAC. I knew I needed to bring the card I bought it on. Turns out I used a different card than I thought... a card which I had cut into pieces literally that same morning since we had some fraudulent charges on it. Luckily I found all the pieces and scotch taped it together. The girl at the desk was very nice about it and I didn't have a problem.
3. Jazz-I decided to check out the jazz school's jam session last Monday night (they have them every week, except this week since it's a national holiday here) with my friend Frances. It took about 20 minutes to find the place, but it's only about 5 minutes from the house. It was really cool, it was Afro-Cuban night. They didn't have a lot of different musicians playing (basically the same rhythm the whole time, one singer/violinist, a flute player, and one piano teacher who switched in a few times) but they were all outstanding musicians. We talked to a few of the musicians after, including the flute player (Ewan) who was very friendly. I asked him about the big band I found on their website, and although he didn't know much about it he told me to check with the office sometime. I ended up doing that a few days later.
When I stopped by the school again, I asked around about the jazz band. There were a few students outside and I saw a saxophone by them, so I asked them. They couldn't really tell me much but one girl talked to me about it for a minute (after laughing at my French a bit... not the first time that's happened). I ended up stopping by the office and getting some good news--the big band was cheaper than I originally thought, plus the cost was for the whole year and not just a semester, and even though I wasn't already a student there I could sign up. I got the number of the director and called him. He doesn't speak English but I got it established that I'm sitting in with the band this Wednesday night. I'm really excited about the opportunity, so I'm just hoping the band is around my skill level!
4. Classes started this past week. Not much to say except I like all of my teachers and all of my subjects. I'm looking forward to classes really as much as is possible.
Anyway, I went to Interlaken with a group of friends this weekend. It was so beautiful! We took a train Friday night and stayed at a hostel two nights. Turns out this hostel was one of the top 10 party hostels in the world and it's got its own club underground. The techno beats pulsing through the ground don't exactly help you sleep. Anyway, most of our group went either paragliding or bungee jumping, and of course they all had an amazing time. I ended up exploring the town, finding this nice little local cafe where everything was in German, going for a hike up towards the mountains, and going to a "chocolate show" at a local chocolatier. That was amazing, they fed us SO much delicious chocolate and gave us a voucher at the end. Plus we got to see how they make and decorate it (by hand). Sort of touristy but I'm ok with that. (Oh, by the way, if you were unaware, they like to make truffles with alcohol. Like whiskey. Seriously. I inadvertently took one during our sampling... absolutely the worst thing I've ever eaten in my life.)
Remember, you can click the pictures a few times to make them larger.
Anyway, the next day (Sunday) we went to Luaderbrunnen, this small town a 20 minute train ride away. We hiked a few miles to get to this river that carves its way through a mountain--it was amazing! It rained all day, but I enjoyed it all the same. The hike on the way was through the exact scene you picture when you think of Switzerland: lots of old gingerbread-house-looking homes, each with about a dozen cows and pastureland. It was absolutely gorgeous. We hiked up behind a waterfall after our first hike (I hope the picture does it justice). I got back to the house about 11 tonight, and since it's now 2 AM, I'm exhausted. Please enjoy the pictures, and I'll let you all know how the band goes on Wednesday!
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