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