Weirdest. Bunderspitz. Hike. EVER.

On the 14th,
my last full day at Our Chalet,
was scheduled to be the overnight sunrise hike,
and I was scheduled to go.
But then no guests signed up.
However, Katie Scales, is an amazing human and took me anyways.

So around 9 or so, Katie, Jess (summer Vollie) and I embarked on the first bit...
To the Cheesemakers.
We got there around 11 and sat for a snack,
and finally got snug into bed at 11:30-ish.

Then we woke up at 3 am!
We needed to be to the peak of Bunderspitz by 6:29 for sunrise.
About a half of the way there we stopped at a cow shed for a sandwich...
and to our surprise... we found a cat.
Not any cat, this is the same cat that hiked with us for about an hour and a half when we went to Kandersteg.

So we hiked on...
And the cat followed...
We arrived to the peak at about 6:20...
With the cat still there.

Our Kitty Cat friend and I on the TOP of a mountain.

On top of the peak we cuddled with our new kitty friend
and watched the sunrise.
As the sun was rising,
Katie signed the LAST points I needed for my Staff Challenge,
and she then proceeded to award me with my Staff Challenge.
I am the first staff to receive their staff challenge on Bunderspitz.

Receiving my Staff challenge from the same person who I received my guest challenge from 2 years ago.

We then ate some American candy, Sour Punch Straws, that Katie loves now.

American candy is the BEST hiking food.

And just before we hiked down,
we sang my newest favorite campfire song--Ocean.
It's one I picked up from Katie in 2010, and have been reunited with this summer.

It was by far one of the oddest mornings atop Bunderspitz,
but it was the BEST morning I could have asked for to end my Chalet summer.

I thought it would never end...

My time is coming to an end, my glorious Our Chalet time.

When I was seven years old I dreamed of coming to the Chalet for a full summer, and used to save all my pennies so that this dream would be a reality.

When I was sixteen, I came to Our Chalet as a guest, and learned about volunteering (Shout-out to Anna—Spring 2010 Vollie).

When I was eighteen I applied,

And luckily I celebrated my 19^th birthday in the Swiss Alps as an Our Chalet Vollie.

My 19th birthday at Our Chalet. 

But my time is coming to an end…

The reoccurring realization creeps in to my head often these last days…

As I sit in my super messy room in the staff house,

As I laugh with my fellow Vollies,

As I stare at my favorite mountain, Lohner,

And even as I clean the bathrooms…

I remember… I’ll have to leave soon.

Goodbyes have never been my strong suit.

I’m a crier, but not a hugger.

So when the end comes, in a week,

I will cry, and others will hug.

I’m actually tearing up thinking about it and writing about it.

My experience of Our Chalet cannot even be summed up in words.

My best experiences are the moments you cannot capture with a camera,

The things you cannot express in a brochure,

It’s the moments that will live with me forever,

But no one but my fellow Our Chalet friends will understand.

A wise Deputy World Center Mananger once told me,

“Remember to talk to people who speak your language”

I was confused at first,

But what she meant was,

Remember to talk to the people who experienced all these magical moments with me.

Because I can tell my friends back at home the stories over and over,

But, as hard as they try, they’ll never fully know what happened.

But my fellow Vollies, and the long term staff, they’ll always understand and remember.

Leaving the Chalet fills me with worry,

I’ve changed, so how will my home friends react?

How can I know I will for sure ever meet with my fellow Vollies again?

Will all my challenges and accomplishments go to waste at home?

Is it possible for my life to ever be better than it is now?

And will I ever be able to look at a person named Wendy and not think of a dishwasher?

These are all real worries that haunt me as I try to sleep my last few nights.

No amount of reassurance will calm these fears either.

Not all of my leaving is sad,

I look back on the fresh-faced girl who arrived here in Switzerland back in May,

And now I see a totally changed girl.

I once hated hiking, and I’ve now completed a hike to Kandersteg (9 hours!) and actually enjoy hiking.

I was rubbish at cleaning, and can now clean a bathroom like my life depended on it.

I used to struggle my way through my German homework, and I’ve now read a German book, and written a fluent summary on it.

These may seem minor to someone else, but to me these are amazing.

On top of the mountain on my way to Kandersteg International Scout Centre.

When I was a child Our Chalet was a magic place,

It’s no longer the same magic that filled my head as a child,

However, it’s still a magic place.

My favorite Girl Scout campfire song says,

“Magic did not fade away, it took a new disguise”

and I think that more than accurately describes my time here at Our Chalet,

and I think that as I leave the Chalet’s magic will again,

merely take on a new disguise.

That time our Crazy Uncle took me across the border...

The other day, Swiss National Day to be exact,
Christoph informed us of yet another Christoph adventure trip that would take place the next morning.
Be at his car at 9 am and you get to join in.

At 9 am I was at his car and ready.
And Christoph said
"Do you speak any French?"
I told him I didn't, and asked him why.
To which he informed me--
We were going to France...
And Germany.

Just another day, field trips to other countries.
So we drove a few hours to Germany,
and once there we stopped at a Grocery store to buy some bread.
Then we went to the parking lot and Christoph bought a half of a chicken for each.

So we got back in the car,
and drove to France...
Where we then pulled over and proceeded to eat our chicken halves on the side of the road.
And then we went to a French grocery store...

I'm not making any of this up...

After our French grocery store,
we proceeded on a drive through the beautiful Black Forest--
complete with a stop for cakes!

Then we went back to the grocery store in Germany,
to buy meat and tobacco...
and then we brought A LOT of meat and tobacco over the border...
More than you're probably supposed to...
But we hid it throughout the car...

This is all real.

I've proudly been on a meat/grocery tour of Germany and France.
Christoph is basically the Vollie best friend.
We love our crazy uncle...

80 years and you still look so fine.

July 31st was a BIG day.
Our Chalet turned 80!
The long term staff and the vollies put in a lot of work--
and the birthday turned out perfect!
We all basically thought it was our birthday.

Starting in the morning of the birthday you could hear yells of "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" to every staff member you came across.
There was an atmosphere at the Chalet that was fresh and new.
The morning was spent planning and setting up.
We were running all around the grounds,
and somehow I ended up on the floor of Katie Scales office making a paper chain...

Once the afternoon came, the party began!
There was a water slide down one of our hills, organized by Naomi (New Zealand-Summer Vollie)
We went down again and again in our staff uniforms not even caring that we were soaked!
There was also a cake stall,
in the cake stall there was Pavlova's, some Canadian dessert, cookies, donut holes, and cakes.
It was delicious.

Then there was RAPPELLING DOWN MAIN CHALET!
This was somehow, magically organized by the one and only Katie Scales.
We started from the attic,
climbed out the window,
and began our descent downwards.
Mike, the mountaineer guide that we work with often, was lowering all the girls down himself.
However, I got to lower myself down one time WITHOUT MY SAFETY ROPE!

That evening we gave a tour, and then had a huge birthday celebration out on the lawn,
with a cake made to look like the Chalet.

All in all, it was a magical 80 years for Our Chalet,
Cheers to the next 80!

I am 1 in 10 million.

Do you ever think for a second and realize that you are only 1 person in this huge world?
It can be a depressing thought.
Sitting back and thinking, "what can only 1 person do?"

When those thoughts creep into my head,
I am lucky enough to sit back and remember,
I am a Girl Scout,
and I am 1 in 10 million.

As a young Girl Scout living in Oklahoma I never quite realized this.
I went to my weekly troop meetings in the school year,
and when summer came I headed to Camp Kate Portwood for some Girl Scout camp fun.

Working at Our Chalet has shown me a new side of Scouting and Guiding--
We are 10 million members strong around the world,
which means I have 10 million people on my side,
helping to make the world a better place.

To illustrate this message to the lucky young women that visit Our Chalet,
at closing campfire we a song.

The song goes like this...
"I am one voice, and I am singing.
I am one voice, and I am singing.
I am one voice, and I am singing.
I am not alone..."
and on that, one person will stand up with them,
they will proceed to sing "We are two voices, and we are singing"
at the end of each verse another group stands up,
as we go threw 10 voices, 100 voices, 1 thousand voices, 10 thousand voices, 1 million voices, and then 10 million voices.
Then at the end, when the entire group is one large circle,
we revert back and sing "we are 1 voice, and we are singing"

At the recent campfire, two nights ago,
A fellow vollie stood up and sang the solo part,
and then I stood and was her second voice.
While singing with just my fellow Vollie,
I thought, "what if one of us messes up?"
Luckily, neither of us did,
however, about the time it got to 10 million,
my fellow Vollie flubbed a word,
I overheard this, because I was directly next to her,
however, the rest of the group, "the 10 million" voices,
were able to cover her small mistake without everyone noticing.

That just proves that when we stand alone, everyone notices our faults,
but when we stand up, with our 10 million voices loud, no one will notice 1 person's fault.
This is why I am blessed to be a Girl Scout.

When we stand together, who can stand against us?

Please let this be a normal field trip... With Christoph? NO WAY!

Christoph.
Oh Christoph.
Christoph is the grounds and maintenance man here at Our Chalet.
He's basically like a German Chuck Norris,
but better.
He's hilarious.
And odd.
And everything else amazing.
And every now and then,
he takes random trips and tells the vollies...
"Whoever is sitting in my car at 9 am when I go to leave, can come with"

So that's just what Jess and I did yesterday.
We were sitting in his car at 9 am,
ready for an exciting day of "Christoph Adventuring"

We ended up going to a valley two valleys away,
called Gasteretal.
It's a really special valley,
you can only enter from this time to this time,
and you can only exit from this time to this time.
Also, you have to have a pass to enter.

The road getting in is extremely narrow,
and slightly terrifying with Christoph's European driving.
But once in, you are struck my a beauty that you can't even imagine.

Christoph took us a to a Gasthaus and we had tea, coffee, and pastries.
And then we began to hike.
For anyone that knows me knows, I HATE HIKING,
however, this hike was at a slow pace,
we had nowhere to be at a specific time,
It was the most enjoyable hike I've ever been on.

We had an ice cream about two thirds of the way up,
and then continued up to this little spot off the beaten path and had our packed lunches.
Once back at the car, Christoph decided we would go to KISC,
so we went to KISC.
(P.S. KISC is Kandersteg International Scout Center)
It's AMAZING!
We saw Karin, a spring vollie of Our Chalet,
and then Jess and I basically wandered around.

All in all,
it was a perfect day.

Gasteretal Valley

Welcome to KISC

Klettersteig? Via Ferrata? Illegal.

Many days ago...
(sorry I'm late at writing this...)
These two wonderful people, Katie Scales and Alex Newcombe,
used their days off to take two bright eyed little vollies,
Me and Cate O'Donnell on this little adventure called Klettersteiging.

Klettersteig is the German word for it,
the rest of the world calls it Via Ferrata,
while America calls it... illegal.


A via ferrata (Italian for "iron road") or klettersteig (German for "climbing path") is a mountain route which is equipped with fixed cables, staples, ladders and bridges.
(and that kids was copied straight off Wikipedia!)
So basically, it's like hiking, 
but A MILLION TIMES COOLER!!!


You're strapped into harnesses, 
and you've got clips and hooks that keep you completely safe.
You also wear a helmet, just for those rouge rocks.
It's honestly the safest I've ever felt on a mountain.


And, even from someone who doesn't like hiking that much
(yes, I know I VOLUNTEERED to live in Switzerland and lead hikes...)
It's still a really fun activity, 
because it's pretty slow going.


So basically, to sum up Cate and I's Klettersteiging day,
We did the entire Klettersteig in about 3ish hours,
with Katie in front and Alex in back,
just to make sure we were safe.
It felt just like mummy and daddy were keeping us safe.
And I was pretty grateful to have experienced people along on the journey.


So once back at the Chalet,
and realizing how much I enjoyed this new activity,
I thought of how much I wanted to take my friends back at home,
maybe we could find some somewhere and take a long weekend road trip,
who knows?


Much to my dismay, 
as I googled them in the good ole US of A,
I found out...
THEY'RE ILLEGAL...
Permanent climbing wires,
such as the one's used on a Via Ferrata, or Klettersteig course,
are illegal in America.
There are only 4 Klettersteigs in the USA,
and they were built before the law was in place.


So basically this just means... I have four new places to visit.


Also, while Klettersteiging,
we saw the famous flower of Edelweiss,
I would like to take this time to publicly apologize to Katie Scales for calling her ALL TIME FAVORITE flower ugly...
it's not ugly, 
it's just different,
and beautiful in it's own way.

Katie and I on the Klettersteig

Bright-eyed and bushy tailed Vollies pretending to do the Lion King at the top of the Klettersteig.

Our fearless mum and daddy, Katie Scales and Alex Newcombe.
Love you guys!

Do youuuu know what a Bucket List is?

This summer has been all about the Bucket List for me.

I've managed to check 5 things off my Bucket List.

1) Live in Europe (preferred Switzerland)

2) Travel internationally alone.

3) Visit Auschwitz

4) Work at Our Chalet

5) Visit Chateau De Chillon

It's been a dream of mine since I was little to live in Europe.

I preferred Switzerland, however I would not have argued if the opportunity has arose elsewhere.

But lucky for me, it is Switzerland that I currently reside in.

I'd someday like to make it a longer stint of living here, but for now...

I can check that off my Bucket List.

Flying is the best time ever.

Your phone is off,

you're only with a few people you know (excluding school trips. ugh)

you don't have contact with the outside world,

and every one on that plane has an unheard story.

International travel, especially when going from the USA to Europe takes quite some time.

The time on the plane, alone, is a great time to think,

and just have a good solid 10 hours of "alone time"

So in May when I headed over to Switzerland I began to look forward to my alone travel.

I can check that off my Bucket List.

When I was a junior in high school I was in a play called-

"I Never Saw Another Butterfly"

The play took place in Auschwitz--the worst Nazi concentration camp of WWII.

Starting then I always hoped to someday visit.

That part of history, as grim as it is, fascinates me.

Just a few days ago I boarded a plane and headed for Poland... alone.

Not knowing a word of Polish or even how to get to Auschwitz.

I managed somehow and I got home to the Chalet safely.

One of the biggest things on my Bucket List has now been accomplished.

I can check that off my Bucket List.

The entry to Auschwitz.

I came to Our Chalet in 2010,

and it was explained to me then the different opportunities of volunteering/working here.

And it sounded magical.

I waited and waited until I was old enough to apply.

And finally I sent in my application.

And then I waited and waited to hear...

And finally I was in!

I can now proudly say "I work at Our Chalet!"

I can check that off my Bucket List.

Chateau De Chillon is a beautiful castle type thing in Switzerland.

I'd seen it online a few times and the images are breathtaking.

I wanted and wanted to see it for myself.

And knowing that I seem to come to Switzerland a bit

I would probably be likely to see it some day.

The other day, I was off work at the Chalet, and I braved the 4 hours of trains and the French speaking Swiss and I made it there.

And let me tell you,

it is just as beautiful in person.

I can check that off my Bucket List.

Chateau De Chillon

Awkward Salmon!

This past week was our first event week.
A group from Alabama came.
And a group from Colorado.
The girls were hilarious and overall a blast to be around.

We enjoyed event day after event day.
Long hikes, cold lakes, harnesses, and crazy moments all ensued of course.
Our time together was never dull.

To narrow it down to my favorite memories...
(in no specific order)
1. Waking up the departure morning to find a massive prank.
2. Being waved off at the train station by Hollon and Dailey.
3. Watching Hannah abseil into a gorge.
4. The pure excitement the girls had when I would walk over to them or sit with them.
5. Campfire.

To elaborate more...

The morning of the girls departure (the same morning I was flying to Poland, but more on that later)
I began to walk out of Stockli when I was stopped because our entire entry way had been saran-wrapped.
Upon walking out the girls were ready to take pictures of our shocked faces.
They proceeded to show me that they had also...
put shoes up the flagpole,
saran-wrapped a block of shoes and put it on the morning meeting table,
left us goodbye posters,
tipped the entire dining room tables upside down,
AND gotten Katie Scales help on the whole plane.
Those girls were good,
but Katie... payback stinks.

the staff house entry way....

On my day off during program week I decided to head to Chateau De Chillon in Montreux.
Once I boarded the train in Frutigen I saw two of the girls walk past--Hollon and Dailey.
Neither of them noticed me.
Hollon's grandmother then noticed me and loudly asked "Are you going to Poland?"
I, being inside the train, couldn't hear this.
Hollon, being outside the train, said she sounded crazy.
As the train started the leave and passed Hollon and Dailey,
they started jumping up and down waving.
It was the best way to be sent off.

The last full day that the girls were here we went abseiling in the morning.
Hannah is quite afraid of heights,
and I don't blame her,
she's a small girl--I understand.
I was sure she was going to end up not abseiling into the gorge,
(P.S. abseiling is rappelling... I speak British English now...)
However, as I was standing in the bottom of the gorge to help the girls unclick from the ropes properly,
I looked up and to my surprise her came Hannah.
Now yes, she was quite upset,
and by the time she got to me she was shaking a little bit.
However, I've never been more proud of someone in my life.
I don't have a fear of heights, and I'm still a little scared every time I jump down into that canyon.

I don't think you quite understand,
the girls who were here last week were FABULOUS.
Every time I would join their group,
or sit at their table for dinner,
they would get sooooo excited.
It was truly ego boosting to realize these girls truly adored me.

Campfire,
as always is one of the my favorite parts of any Girl Scouting/Guiding event.
and this time was no different.
We start off crazy and silly--
which involved me teaching The Nonsense Song
(FYI, NO ONE HAS EVER HEARD IT BEFORE!)
and then we begin to fade into our slower songs and reflect on the week we've had.
I, once again, sang my Canoe Song, as we began to wind down.
This song was my favorite when I was a child,
but then was banned at camp for quite some time.
When I came to Our Chalet in 2010, I taught the song at campfire,
when I came back as a vollie this summer, Katie Scales still remembered it.
This song has been with me since I was a little camper in Girl Scouts in Oklahoma,
and has followed me to Our Chalet as an adult now.
And apparently it has stuck in the minds of many.
Luckily, this time though, I didn't need to teach it,
because the amazing girls already knew it!
Campfire always has been, is, and always will be, pure magic.

The first event!

We are the Vollies that... were a little weird.

The 12 of us who make up the Summer Vollies of Our Chalet are not your average vollies.
This became obvious to the Long Term Staff on the first day of training.
We showed up with full backpacks and hiking gear on.
They told us we were the first group to ever do that.
That was the day we played a get to know you game and made posters...
We are the Vollies that were prepared to hike a mountain on our first day.

Not long afterwards we were given photos of all the Long Term Staff
and were asked to put them in order of who is the boss of who.
We put Skippy Storrow, the Chalet cat, as the head of this joint.
And it's true, she does run this place.
We are the Vollies that think Skippy runs the Chalet.

Katie Scales is the program manager here at Our Chalet,
(she was mentioned in my previous post)
and well the Summer Vollies basically idolize her.
It's bordering creepy.
According to Katie, previous vollie seasons have looked up to her, but not like us.
We often ask "What would Katie do?"
If Katie does something, we are more likely to think it's a great idea, and also do it.
The fact that we so openly (and loudly) idolize Katie kind of weirds her out...
(only on the outside though, she admitted to me the other night it actually flatters her)
She's British--compliments are tough.
I learned this when she told me my previous blog post almost made her tear up...
not my intention.
We are the Vollies that idolize Katie Scales.

This week we have been doing our program training.
The weather has been wet... and wet... and a little bit wet.
While hiking up Bunderspitz yesterday (approx. 8353 feet)
we encountered rain--which we were used to at this point.
sun--which prompted us to sing every song we could sing with 'sun' or 'sunshine' in it.
hail.
SNOW.
A few seconds before the hail hit we asked Katie if this was the worst training weather she's ever seen.
She replied with "no it isn't, now if it hails on us on this hike it will be"
not even two minutes later the hail began.
We are the Vollies with the worst program training weather.

If this is any indication of how the summer will go...
God bless the Long Term Staff.

Official Our Chalet staff now!

One million girls... and I met this lot...

I've been at the Chalet three weeks today.
So much as happened.
We came in as these new babies,
and though we're still learning,
we've gotten the hang of Chalet life.
Times are a changing here at the Chalet,
we've said goodbye to (most of) the amazing Spring Vollies.
Stef, Putri, Rachael and Eve have all gone home,
and left us the Chalet.
Karin leaves in a week.
We've barely met them, yet our friendships are true.

Same goes with the group of Summer Vollies,
and the long term.
I've known them a short while, but we're a family at Our Chalet.

This brings me to the point of my post this evening.
I want to highlight some very important people in my Swiss life.
1 Spring Vollie, 1 Summer Vollie and 1 Long Term Staff.
This is not favoritism, throughout the summer I'm sure there will be more posts about people,
however, these are the ones that hit me tonight.

Spring Vollie--Stefanie Ashlyn:
Stef was a Spring Vollie, and left to head back to America after a stop in Wales.
We bounded over our love of Corgis and hatred of Tomatoes.
Today the Summer Vollies moved in to Stockli, the staff house.
and I luckily got Stef's room.
So it's the smallest room in the house--it has this feel to it, one just can't explain.
Upon moving my things in, I found a note and a pin Stef had left as a gift to the next lucky lady.
The note said everything from what the pin was for (GSUSA 100th birthday)
to a tip to keep the curtain shut when I sleep.
This note was just a classic Stef.
In the few short weeks I've known her, Stef has shown such beauty and wisdom.
She is a such a strong woman, and I'm glad I got to meet a role model like her.

Summer Vollie--Cate O'Donnell:
I've connected very well with all my summer co-vollies.
But Cate has shown me many things in these 3 weeks.
To stand up for what I believe (like her feminism ways).
"To be a sister to every Girl Scout"--
I know that, even though she makes fun of me a lot, that I can always go to Cate if I need advice.
Cate is a true Girl Scout in my eyes.

Cate O'Donnell

Long-Term Staff--Katie Scales.

So maybe it's cheating because I've actually known Katie for about 2 years now instead of just 3 weeks like the other Long Term Staff,

However, I can truly say I never would have met the other Long Term Staff if it had not have been for Katie.

I visited Our Chalet in March 2010, and while here I was lucky enough to meet Katie Scales.

Katie made my Chalet experience beyond perfect.

Which in turn, made me choose to volunteer.

I would truly say I owe this all to Katie. 

Katie is one of the hardest workers I know, can always seem to dig up a smile, and is an important piece of Our Chalet.

I am beyond blessed that I am able to spend a summer with such a great role model--and I only hope that our friendship continues to grow.

The day I left Our Chalet in March 2010,

I hugged Katie goodbye, and never believed I'd be back.

Three short weeks ago, Katie ran to greet me with a hug at the Adelboden Oey bus stop--

I had come full circle. 

Katie Scales and I in 2010

Party in... die Schweiz?

Yesterday was my birthday.
My 19th birthday to be exact.

This year was a little different.
And when I say little, I mean a lot.
Because I live in Switzerland now.
My family and friends were all still in America,
but that didn't stop the good times from rollin' in.

I awoke at 6:30 am and began to get ready for my journey into Lucerne.
I went in to the kitchen around 7:20 to fill up my water bottle
(and grab a Balisto bar)
and Cate (a summer vollie) was turning on the stove.

I stared at her for a few seconds confused,
because absolutely NOTHING for breakfast prep requires the stove.
She saw my confused look and replied "How many pieces of bacon do you want?"
Cate had gotten permission from Katy (the kitchen coordinator) to cook bacon for me.
To make this story even better... Cate is vegetarian.

After that I rode my three hours to Lucerne and met up with Nadine (my sister)
We went and bought a new camera for me,
because I lost mine :(
And then we picked up her mom and went and had a lovely lunch.
It was so great to see them again.

Afterwards Nadine and I shopped all over the place and I bought so much,
but ya know what? It was my birthday so it's fine.

Once I got back to Adelboden the majority of the summer vollies and the majority of the spring vollies all went to Ham's Bistro which is just over the property line.
Ham made chocolate fondue specially for us,
he also opened the bistro last night just for us.
So we sat for hours having our beers and fondue.

A few summer vollies made me a card and got everyone to sign it.
It was a perfect birthday.

My, my, my, little sorority girl (and Girl Scout...)

I am a Girl Scout, and I am proud.

I am a Tri Delta, and I am proud.

You read that right.

I am a Girl Scout,

and all the glory that comes with that.

I am constantly covered in dirt.

I have little girls, with sticky fingers, screaming "TinKerbell" at me for my attention.

And I think Juliette Gordon Low is an amazing woman.

I am a Tri Delta. 

and all the glory that comes with that.

I can walk in heels, and I'm dang good at it.

I have fraternity men trying for my attention, while I try for the attention of other fraternity men.

And I think Sarah Ida Shaw is an amazing woman.

I'm not your average Girl Scout.

When the summer ends, I'll hang up my muddy hiking boots and trade them for my heels.

I'm not your average Sorority woman.

when the year ends, I put away my badge and grab my old camp shirts and head for the mountains.

However different, I've learned so much from both fabulous organizations I am apart of.

These two organizations don't realize how alike they are.

Both organizations are full of amazing women who change my life daily.

I have multiple role models in my life: 

Jenine Addison, a wonderful women who supports me every day. 

Jenine is a Girl Scout.

Jessica Lisenbee, a wonderful women who supports me every day.

Jessica is a Tri Delta.

My challenge is, for women, in both organizations to not be your average "Girl Scout" or "Sorority girl"

Girl Scouts are known for their cookies, but we are taught values that our founders found important.

Sorority girls are known for their skanky antics, but we are taught values that our founders found important.

Girl Scouts: Show those values, show every single person you meet that you are more than cookies. You are here to change the world, every camp you work, every meeting you have, and every World Center you visit, remember that is slowly but surely changing the world.

Sorority women: Be just that, be women. Show people that you aren't just drinking and sleeping around. Aspire to become a famous alumna for your sorority. No matter your letters, change the stereotypes. I try to show every person I meet that I am not your average "trophy-wife-in-training", and I hope that I do that.

Girl Scouts and Tri Delta are honestly two of my favorite things in this world, 

and I am blessed to be a member of both of these organizations,

and cannot wait to see how both change the world in years to come.

Sarah

"Why are there explosives outside the Parliament building?"

Yesterday was our first day off since beginning work.
The majority of us took advantage of us all being off at the same time and adventured into Bern,
the capitol city.

The trip took about an hour and a half.
Once we walked through a little market and bought churros.
We sat an ate our churros on the Parliament building and enjoyed the view.
We did a few other touristy things, such as hiked up a tower in a church and looked at the bear pits.

A few decided to head back early which left me, Cate, Mariam, Naomi, Heather and Libby.
We were starving, but nothing opens until like 5.30...
So we sat in a park...
and got approached by a random man asking for cigarettes.
We discussed books, politics and Hitler.
Finally, it was 5.30 and we could go eat.

We ate at a lovely little Italian joint.
The lady spoke no English,
so we had to communicate using our limited German and Italian skills.
We also learned what 'rahm' means.

Then, we hit up the bar.
I GOT CARDED FOR THE FIRST TIME!
and I handed over my USA passport...
Classy Sarah.

Finally it was time to head back,
we took the hour and a half journey like champs.
But then we had to hike a mountain in the dark...
Well we made it, at least.

Sarah

"Skippy runs the Chalet"

All the summer vollies have arrived.
First day of training was yesterday.
And it's snowing.

This is my life in the Swiss Alps.
We had a movie night last night, with the summer vollies and some spring vollies, in the conference room.
We watched inception,
and the top totally falls at the end, just saying.
Around 11 when the movie was over we had to take the five steps to the main chalet and found a glorious sight...

It was like Christmas...
that is, on the rare occasion Oklahoma sees snow on Christmas.
We twirled around and giggled like little girls.
Waking this morning to find it STILL snowing brought on exclamations of "OH MY GOD!"

So yes, my friends, it is the middle of May and I can currently look out the window and see snow falling.

Sarah

Our Chalet--the time is NOW!

Sorry, it's been a few days since I have written--I'll catch everyone up.

After I landed last Thursday I just basically hung around my room for a bit, and then decided to find lunch.
At lunch, I successfully ordered a delicious pasta dish and...
MY FIRST LEGAL GLASS OF WINE!
Ok, it was exciting--get over it.
I then explored the little town I was in,
and that evening took a train into Zurich and explored there and stopped for dinner.
Boring, I know.

Friday, I awoke at a decent hour and hopped the train to Zurich and visited the Swiss National Museum.
Truly, not that exciting.
Not a lot of griping history--
or maybe there is and my German skills just weren't good enough yet.
However, there was a slide in the museum, clearly marked "for children only"
but, I'm the size of a kid and ya know, YOLO.
(OMG My brother will kill me for saying that...)
That evening I had a wonderful meal of rosti with bacon and cheese--seriously my new favorite meal.

Saturday, I had planned to go to the zoo, but once I awoke, it was a DOWNPOUR.
So I rode the train into Zurich and explored the train station, ventured to H&M and Starbucks.
At one store, I was buying a pair of pants and the lady and I were speaking in German.
She told me she was from Kansas City, USA.
She almost cried when I asked back, in English, "Kansas or Missouri?"
For anyone who is wondering, she's from Missouri.

Sunday, I woke up, packed my bag and said goodbye to Zurich as I went back to the airport to meet up with Cate, from Colorado/Iowa, and Heather, from Canada.
Once we were all together we adventured the train system of Switzerland and successfully made it to Adelboden.
To say I was happy to be back at Our Chalet was an understatement, I am thrilled to call this place home for three months.

Miss everyone back home though!!
Sarah

This is my home.

"In case of emergency, continue breathing normally"

I. AM. IN. SWITZERLAND.
The adventure has begun.

I awoke at 4 am, Oklahoma time, got ready and headed to OKC airport.
Daddy and I made fun of every single driver on the road, because really, why was anyone else awake?

Flew from OKC to Dallas--your basic puddle jumper.
Up. Down. Done.

While at Dallas airport I concluded two things...
1) McDonalds in airports should really serve their full menu all day, because really all I wanted was french fries.
2) Airports shouldn't be playing the news when all it is talking about are terrorist attacks ON AIRPORTS. I'm sorry, that just doesn't help me fly...

Dallas to NYC was another perfectly simple flight--one I've done a million times.
Even though I knew I was heading to Switzerland, I never wanted to leave New York.
I seriously love that place.
There was awesome NY hipsters roaming all around,
Orthodox Jews, who I have always fancied, since I was younger.
I was clearly fascinated with other religions, because I was also excited to see two men take part in their Muslim prayers-- you just don't see all this in Oklahoma!

I never thought the flight from NYC to Zurich would end--I slept on and off, but it was never ending.
But finally WE LANDED and my adventure began...

It's probably one of the most nerve-wracking things to land ALONE in a foreign country--but I sucked it up and conquered my fears, because after all that's what this summer is about.
Thankfully my hotel allowed me to check in early and now I think I'll just lounge around until I go and find some lunch.

Also, their are small Swiss children playing outside of the hotel, and with my window open I can hear their joyful voices--and it reminds me why I do what I do--to change lives.

Weidersehen!
Sarah

FINALLY...

Well, my mum FINALLY bought my tickets today.
She likes to cut it to the last second.

I leave in 9 days.
7:15 out of OKC.
connecting in Dallas and New York City.
And finally landing at 7:55 am in Zurich.

I don't have to report to Our Chalet until the 13th,
so I've got three days to explore the country on my own.

Wish me luck!!

Weidersehen!
Sarah

3 weeks until...

I'm starting this blog so that people who want to can be kept updated on my trek through the magnificent country of Switzerland.

When I was 16, I traveled to Switzerland with the Girl Scouts, and on a whim Marce Bigham and I decided to apply as volunteers when we turned 18.

Summer of my 18th birthday came, and I sent in my application with high hopes--but nothing came of it.

I waited and waited. 

Eventually I began to move on; I applied to other camps in Arkansas, Texas, and Missouri, just something to break my normal summer routine.

And suddenly I was on a ski trip and I got THE EMAIL.

The email that told me I had been selected.

Better than that, my Twin, who doubles as my best friend, had also been selected.

The largest Girl Scouting honor was ours.

Sadly, my Twin will not be joining me in 3 weeks in Adelboden, but she's there in spirit.

And with this blog, you all can be there in spirit too!

Buckle up and enjoy the ride that is the Swiss Alps and my European adventure.

Guten Tag!

Sarah