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