What a Week

Since Wednesday life here in Switzerland has been a blur.

Thursday was honestly boring as all get out. All we did was listen to people talk. It didn't help my sleepiness factor. It fact, I'm falling asleep thinking about it...zzzzzzz

Friday was kick. ass. We went to Lausanne, which is the international capital for the Olympics. It was just soooo sooo cool! I was bummed because they only gave us like 45 minutes in there to walk around and see everything. I think there were four floors...I only got halfway through the second. Damnit.

We also we NOT allowed to take pictures inside of the museum, which was totally lame! There was all of this interactive stuff and a ton of things from the ancient Olympics of Greece. I did take some great photos outside of the museum though.

I know it's hard to see but there is a bar that is the height of the world record high jump. Let's just say it was taller than the tallest guy on out trip...he's 6'5".

Yes these are abs, and yes when I saw them I said, "Daaaaammmmnnn." lol! They move too to make different shapes of awesome.

After the shortest museum visit of my life we went to this huge tower. And yes we climbed all of the steps. It was sooo beautiful.

I was soooooo out of breath after walking up these stairs. It was also hilarious that while walking up the steps, Milo looked at me and said, "Ellen, these steps are slippery. Hold on to the railing so you don't fall and hurt yourself again." -Glad that my clumsiness has made it's mark. :D

I got sooo many pictures. I like this one of me!

After the Tower, it was lunch time! Yay fondue! It was delicious. We literally just ate bread and cheese. And you know that I can't go anywhere without spilling something, so I spilled my tea all over my plate of bread. Don't ever eat bread soaked tea. You'll want to puke. Trust me. Don't do it.

Near the fondue place was a magnificent cathedral. It just took my breath away. I walked in and just stared. Then I took a bazillion photos. And yes I had to take them in black and white. It was an old church. It needed to be done.

Then we went to the castle. Yes. A castle. It was flipping awesome. I couldn't believe that I was in a castle. A CASTLE. I'm sorry I keep saying that. I'm redundant. BUT A CASTLE?!

Ok, I'm done saying that now....I promise. No I don't. Ahhhh.... This trip is just too much. Lol! But without any further ado...this is the Chateau de Chillon. Oh! And there is this old dude named Oliver that lives there. Wouldn't it be the coolest thing to say, "Yeah, I live in a castle. Whatevs."

I bonded with some of the girls on Friday night, which was just so much fun. We laughed and we cried. We talked about our ex's and how crappy they are. I just feel so close to these people already and I love it. Especially Adrianne and Alyssa. We're going to be travel buddies when we get out Eurail passes, which will just be soooo awesome! And it works because we seem to want to go to the same places. Wooottt!!

Yesterday night was CA-RAZY. We went to Spring Brother's, which is an Irish pub over in Old Towne that we all went to on Thursday night. It was so much fun. We were talking to locals and drinking and talking. I don't want to think about all the stuff I heard that went down though. All I know is that it was weird and that it was hilarious. This is going to be an interesting semester to say the least.

Glittery lights outside my window!

Geneva is seriously the most beautiful city I've ever been in. I've been to many different cities across the United States, but it just cannot compare to Europe. Especially since it isn't a billion years old with a ton of cranky foreigners yelling French at me.

Today out little family went on a walking tour of Old Towne, which I explored a bit with Paul yeserday. The history of it is really cool and the buildings are for realz spectacular. Like holy crap! spectacular. I was just snapping photos. Like this one!!

And this one!

Plus, look at this church. I mean, gorgeous.

We also went grocery shopping today. That was an experience. The stupid store had like no order and I wanted to scream at the ninnys who set it up. So after walking the store about five or six times I decided I had everything. It was difficult though, to say the least. Everything was i French. I mean, I know I'm in a French speaking country, but come on. People speak English here too, right? haha...

It was a stressful day. Lots and lots of walking and freezing my non-existant tush off. I needed chocolate and a beer. Both of which a got, so huzzah!

And I got to talk to my mom so that was good since I hadn't spoken to her since I left. I miss that lady.

All in all, good day numero 2. Just long and tiring. Looking forward to my cozy bed with the three pillows I took. :) hehe...I'm awesome like that. Girls gotta have something to cuddle with, right?

It's here! It's here!

I've been wanting to write for DAYS but I've been so flipping busy preparing for my trip that I just couldn't and I'm sorry. But...drumrool please...it's here! And I cannot believe it. This past week felt like forever and yet extremely fast at the same time. My days were filled with so much organizing and packing and I just didn't know what to do with all of it that I stated hyperventilating like six different times. *breathe!*

Seriously though, I just don't know what to do with myself. I'm currently sitting in this group room in Newark, New Jersey and I feel like the airport has decided that we Kent students are icky and need to be sequestered so as to not bother the normal people. But hey, we're cool. And we don't bite....much. ;)

The flight from Cleveland was pretty good. However, the airport itself was-i guess the word would be- oy. Yes, oy sounds good. I got to the airport a little late so that was stressing me out on top of the pure exhaustion that I was experiencing. Then I sat at the airport cafe with my mom and brother. Which was weird because the brother was being grumpy and my mom was quiet in anticipation of my departure ( I think ). It was weird leaving...

So after a tearful good-bye, I got in line for security with my monumental amount of crap that are my carry-ons. I had three, yes three, of those gray bins PLUS my rolley bag. Too much stuff! But I did have only one checked bag so that was an accomplishment. :) I got throug security with no problem until I had to go through AGAIN. Apparently carrying water in a waterbottle is a no-no. My bad...

So after being escorted out of the security area so I could dump said bottle of water I had to go through security again. BAHHH! I was annoyed and the woman checking my ticket for the second time commented on my annoyed face. Guess what lady, you'd be pissed too if this were you so look away from my face so I don't punch you in the nose. Thank you.

The flight was good though. Not too bumpy and I actually had a good seat. I got to see downtown Cleveland AND Manhattan. It was cool! I got some pictures out of my window, I'll post them later.

Talk to you when I'm in Geneva!

Look away!!!

So I just had a revelation that I haven't written a 30 Days of Truth post in for.ev.er. BUT I just can't think of something good enough to blog about for the next one...it's just so...UGH....

So I'm just going to avoid it. Again. Because that's what I'm good at. Avoiding. HA.

Aaaaaannnyway, I can't believe that my trip is seriously six days away. SIX! Six months ago it felt like it wasn't ever going to be here and now it is and I'm just kind of freaking out!

Speaking of freaking out...my mother is freaking out more than I am I think but she just isn't expressing it well. I get you're freaked out there mom, but seriously, no one likes to be yelled at for telling you she's going to a movie after work. Seriously. Chill pill. You. Now. Thanks.

I need to get some of this packing done. Procrastination just sounds like such a better plan though. I mean, keeping everything strewn across my bedroom floor just sounds like such a much better plan. Although, it makes me not want to walk in there. I literally walked in there to get a book for a friend earlier and I wanted to just turn around, close the door, and pretend that didn't happen. Instead I forged the massive mountain of crap in front of my dresser on the way to my overflowing bookshelf and hoped that I wouldn't fall and get lost in the dark abyss of newly acquired business clothes (BORING!) that would consume me saying, "haaha! You bought us out of pity because you need us to work but really don't want us. It' payback time." I need a maid...any takers? I don't pay but I'll give you cookies!

It's sad but my room scares me. Is that wrong? I mean, I shouldn't be afraid to enter the sacred space of Ellen. It should be my zen space right? Instead it's my "pen place." (hahaha! oh...pun. I kill myself.)

Hmmm...this ties into the avoiding thing that I started with. Avoiding my room/cleaning it. Ahh how life just comes full circle sometimes. :)

ZZZZZzzzzzz.....

The holidays are always a blast in my family. They are ALWAYS loud and ALWAYS full of laughter. Sometimes they end in major blowouts of ohmigod-ANGER! luckily that hasn't really happened as of late...PHEW! This year was pretty darn great sans a few incidents on the parental level and I was very grateful since I'm leaving and who the hell likes to leave for a long period of time with bad blood EWW blood! in the air? Although I am kind of leaving with some but that one isn't entirely my fault and it's sucky but I can deal with that and get to it later because YES I'm a procrastinator and an avoider which is why I have my stupid problems with depression, anxiety, and all my other crap....

All I have to say is that I got some pretty flipping spectacular gifts for Christmas this year. I know what you're thinking, "Dang Ellen, isn't this supposed to be the season of GIVING not GETTING??" Why yes, annoying voice in my head that always makes me feel guilty for everything, it IS the season of giving. I DID give things to people *dirty* just not as many things as I usually do because I be broke but people understand my poorness and aren't too offended. Especially the ones that tell me they'll hurt me if I buy them something...love you too Aunt Anne... But I'll, hopefully, be able to buy them all something from somewhere in Europe. Not to self: make a list of people I like enough to buy them presents.

So back to these awesome gifts. For realz I can't decide which one is my favorite! Like I said the other day I got a Eurail travel book for secret santa. It's pretty much awesome. Then I got a snitch locket. YES, I said a SNITCH locket. I about died when I opened it because who has, let alone makes, Snitch lockets?! OMG it was sooooo AWESOME! Well, still is because I still have it. I looooove it! Thinking about it makes me want to jump up and down. THEN my good ol' (no, not old, ol') friend Denise bought some cool stuff, my favorite of which is the spoon ring. I've wanted a flipping spoon ring for YEARS and I could never ever never find one so I was always sad but now the sadness can end because I have a spoon ring and she found it for me, awesome.

My momma got me lots of clothes, which I actually liked which is somewhat of an accomplishment because I literally NEVER like what she buys me. We have mucho differento tastes in clothes. Ironically though, most of them didn't fit. Too big...damn you weight loss only not because I really like it. But we went to the store today and we returned and got some new stuff. So, YAY!

I also got some books double YAY and some movies. lovelovelove!

So onto the 'drama' side of my holiday season. My fatha. *drum roll* *end drum roll*

He's a poo-poo head!! OK! I'm sorry for my crass language...

I don't even really know where to begin so I think I'll say it quick. I wasn't invited to his side of the family's Christmas party. BOOHOO. I was sad and everything but it was kind of a relief because I really don't like going there anyway because I don't know anyone on that side of the family because he NEVER invites me to any of the family functions. And no, I'm not exaggerating. Ask my mom. :P Anywho, he sent me some money for my trip, and no, not $20...which is kind of surprising because my dad is a cheapskate. But I'm grateful so that' all that matters...though I really don't know if I'm going to use said money because I just don't know how I feel about it...oh therapy, how I need you so...

BLAH!

Sorry, I was feeling it so I said it.

I enjoy the holidays, they just make me tired. Plus I don't think that playing 'Just Dance' on the Wii for like three hours helped AT ALL. But the shopping and the family time and the cookie baking...when does it end?! AHHHH!

And on top of it all, I now have packing to do. And shopping. I hate shopping. BLARRR!!!! Luckily I have people who want to go with me to spend time with me, but really, I call it, watch Ellen shop and keep her sane time. hehe ;)