I have arrived in France!!! Where do I even start?!

The Journey:

The security was much friendlier in Paris than in ATL and Memphis! In paris, they were smiling, patient, and welcoming. In ATL and Memphis they like to make you feel like a common criminal. I had my first pat-down in the Memphis airport and they were not nice about it. I might have expected a pat-down when approaching an international flight but memphis to ATL?  Come on. I am little blonde girl with a hot pink back pack full of adult coloring books…. better pat me down and slam me through a bunch of extra monitors! Haha, I jest! The only reason I got a pat-down was because I accidentally left a pack of gum (that I bought in the airport) in my back pocket. You cannot have anything in your pockets when you go through security. Still, after my little pat down they took my bags aside and scanned every item by hand! I have never seen that happen. They found the cowbell I brought as a gift and said, “a BELL?!” and gave me a rather dirty look. Yes, a bell. Yeah. 

Anyway. All was well except for the fact that when I landed in Paris the wifi was not working so I could not text anyone. I asked a young man (I say this as if I am an old lady…) nearby who was also using WhatsApp if there was something wrong with my phone and he said I would be lucky to get the wifi to work. He said it took him an hour to get his phone let him text through whatsapp and that I shouldn’t worry. So, I didn’t worry until I landed in Geneva, Switzerland and they didn’t have wifi at all! I calmed myself and made my way to the baggage claim. My bags were some of the first to come across the belt but to my dismay TSA tore one of my bags and my items were falling out! My brand new Vera Wang cardigan was hanging out of my bag being dragged on the dirty baggage belt!! I pulled my suitcase off of the belt to find my Giani Bini shoe halfway hanging out. I tried to stuff everything back in but they ripped the zipper! In my 3rd bag, also brand new, there was a HUGE tear on the outside… How does that even happen?! I literally fell over 3 times trying to drag my luggage to the exit zone where my new family would pick me up. People were staring at me. I had clothing falling out of my ripped baggage, I was sweaty and tired, I was trying to roll three suitcases with a big backpack on my back and I probably looked just as distressed as I felt. To top it off, I stopped in a corner to try and re-stuff my bag and an asian lady walked up and (I guess) she wanted to stand where I was standing because she completely ran over me!! No joke. I am standing there hot, sweaty, almost in tears and trying to stuff clothing into my torn bag and she rolls her luggage over my stuff and acts as if I don’t even exist! She is lucky I think murder is a sin or else she would be dead right now. Speaking of rude people, in the Memphis airport an older couple wanted my seat so they literally tried to sit on me I had shuffle out from under them. Again, as if I am invisible. 

Anyway, where was I?  Ah yes, claiming my baggage in Geneva! I finally found a place to sit and wait. In all honesty, I wanted to collapse in the floor and cry! I was choking back tears and I felt lost and abandoned. I was having thoughts such as, “why did I come across the world to live with a family I have never met?!”, “maybe this was all a trick” and “if I don’t let Toby (my boyfriend) or my family know I landed they are going to freak out and worry!” Actually, the last thought is legit. I promised to text everyone when I landed so they would know I was safe but i had not not been able to text since I was in ATL. I was scared. I speak some French but I was surrounded by multiple different languages and no one was concerned about my distress, they only stared. I probably didn’t look as distressed as I felt or I am sure someone would have tried to help. I didn’t shed a tear although inside I was completely destroyed. I decided that I would wait two hours before I let myself cry. I sat down and prayed. I asked the Lord to let the family find me amidst the chaos. I may have not known where I was or what to do, but God did. So, I sat and waited. After about 45 minutes I spotted a couple shuffling through the crowd looking and just as worried and confused as me. We made eye contact and both smiled. It was my family!! 

They brought me to their lovely home in Contamine Sur-Arve, France. They gave me a tour of their amazing chalet in the Rhone Alpes, we had lunch and I slept until 8pm. We had dinner and afterwards I read the babies a bedtime story and then came down to my floor to unpack and have some wine. So, here I am. I am in the most beautiful place I have ever been in my whole life and I don’t have to leave anytime soon!

Our front yard

What I am doing now:

I have a couple of weeks free before I begin my duties as an Au Pair so over the past few days I have explored Geneva and Basel and now I am in Zurich visiting my boyfriend.

On Saturday morning Emelie and I took the kids to Geneva, Switzerland to take a walk and buy some chocolate. 

Watching the swans on Lake Geneva

Geneva is only about 20 minutes from where I live in France. Around noon I took the train from there to Basel to meet with my boyfriend and his family to see the Basel Tattoo , which is a military music festival. It was really cool but I did not like the city! 

Can anyone guess what this is? I am pretty sure America does not have these! Its an official street marking for a Prostitute corner! #Basel

Swiss Top Secret Drum Corps

Amazing Bagpipes

On the train I sat next to a musician/DJ named “Dandy Jack” who was on his way to perform at a music festival in Strasburg. He was very nice and made sure that I did not miss my connecting train in Biel. I was very nervous because I had never been on a train before and there was only 5 minutes in-between my two trains! 

After the show and dinner we went back to Besenburen where Toby’s parents live. We spent the night there and the afternoon on Sunday before taking the train to Zurich, where Toby lives and works. 

I love these trees!

Toby's Parents' house in Besenburen