This week has been phenomenal.
Saturday night, Elisabeth, Hans Peter, David, Mel, Maya and her fiancee and I all went to Hotel du Peyrou, a very fancy establishment near downtown, and had dinner to honor David getting his Masters. It was this incredible experience of tastes, sights, and culture like I'd never experienced before. We spent six hours eating exotic foods and struggling to use the right silverware, trying everything from raw fish to vegetable flavored sorbet. It was incredible. My entire host family has been so welcoming and kind, I couldn't be luckier.
I started track and field this week with a local club. They have been very welcoming and offer insightful help on my jumping, as well as providing challenging workouts. It's perfect. On Monday we went to a track that is about 10 minutes outside of Neuchatel, and is right on the water front. It was the most stunning place I've ever seen. It was clear enough to see the rugged Alps from across the water, and vineyards snaked up the hillside behind. Everywhere I looked was beauty. Tuesday and Wednesday were at a different, more traditional track (this one wasn't woodchip, had a pit, and a grandstand), but the same kids met and I felt very good to be working out. I was also asked by a man if he had seen me in the Olympics, and if he could I have my autograph. I gave my best "confused tourist" face (one I have been perfecting), and trotted off.
My online classes began this week, and I am just beginning to figure out how to work it. So far we have had assignments like "tell us about yourself" and "why history is important", but I'm sure I'll be very busy with them in no time. In addition, we had our first "French as a second language" french class on Thursday. It is a very long class that ends at a quarter to 6, but I met several of the kids there and they were all very nice. It was a relief to finally be able to connect with people that I could engage with on a deeper level than my rudimentary french skills. My comprehension is increasingly better, and I can now follow along in class (with a little concentration), but my speaking still lags. "How are you", "What did you do this weekend", and "Do you like this class" are all very wonderful things to talk about, I'm sure, but I've found its a bit easier to get to know people when you can respond and participate in conversation a bit further.
Guys this place is indescribable.
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