little kathrin discovering the big world

Reasons...

2008-05-12T22:22:00.003+02:00

I know it's been a long time since I last informed you about my daily life here!

It's not that nothing is going on, every weekend is packed with travelling, during the week I attend school extremly regularly and go to the gym, meet friends, go out, watch movies, have chats, etc

And every time I've experienced something great such as my Rockies trip one week ago or the Tofino trip (small town on Vancouver Island) I want to write about it immediatley.

But then again, I read the newspaper and something shocking happend such as the earthquake in China or a boy being shot near my hometown because he had a teenage fight with another boy. Well, whenever I read those stories I don't feel legitimate writing about my fun time here but I get angry about the problems around the world!

Back in Switzerland, a major political party is fighting whether one of it's federal counselors should remain in the party or not while the problems Switzerland is facing are far more important! We do have a immigration problem which need to be faced - but not with the solutions provided. We cannot just open our bondaries for workers and companies but we need to develop a integration plan for them and also for us!

In a world of globalisation and emigration, we cannot longer remain in our own little world. Especially in Switzerland, where the neutralism is so important.. Only because the political system does not participate in the E.U. mustn't mean the people cannot interact with eachother!

Well, yes, here you go - that's the reason for not updating the blog!

Anyways, I promise to improve myself at least for the next five weeks =)

First Week

2008-04-08T00:15:00.002+02:00

Unbelieveble but I've already started my second week in Vancouver! Time flies by - but honestly, it feels like years!! Everything around here seems so familiar, so common, so usual!

It's a whole other world around here (just a few examples):

bus drivers acutally are talking to the crowd in the bus "make this old lady a place to sit" or "move closer, then there can be more people getting in" But is the bus is full, no-one is getting inside anymore and they just drive by the stop, unless someone wants to get out!
Free morning magazines (like 20 Minutes in Switzerland, etc) are being distributed by workers to people!
Starbucks, etc is just everywhere! Everywhere! No block without one Coffee-Place!
Parties at night start at 7 p.m.!

Ever since I've arrived here it feels so right!!

I just love the city and its inhabitants, etc!!

Vancouver - I'm here

2008-03-30T19:11:00.002+02:00

So here I am, just arrived a couple of hours ago, in my new so-called home for the next few months:

Vancouver

I've waited so long to finally being able to write this post =)

I've arrived yesterday afternoon, being welcomed by two assistants of my school and many blossom cherry trees!

Arrived at my host family's place, I was again welcomed by my new family: Luigi and Shirley (hostparents), Kianna and Maya (9- and 6-years old host sisters), and three other english students which all live here with me!

After my arrival I didn't do much, just unpacked my stuff, had some dinner and fun conversations and sleeping for twelve hours!

Today I'll go downtown to check out the city! Can't wait!

More news follow soon - promise!

My year 2007

2007-12-29T18:17:00.000+01:00

Well, I guess since everybody is doing a annual review (TV, radio, newspaper, friends) I also take the oppurtunity to remember all my activities in the - almost - past year!

January:

New Year's Eve party in Slovakia with Mirjam, François, Simon, Dänu and Kate;
first University exams ever;
Election for VPF (AIESEC)
turning 20!!!

Feburary:

Holidays in Egypt with my dad;
moving into a flat with Paul!

March:

Starting transition for my EB term;
WENA LDS in Wales

April:

Starting my EB term;
Coordinator for the National Conference of EYP in Münchenstein;
lots of office - pizza - parties =)

May:

Kick-Off, National Conference of AIESEC;
Chairing a national Forum of EYP in Thüringen (De);
Chairing at the National Conference of EYP in Munich, Germany;
Career Days 2007 in Bern, me as VP Logistics

June:

second term exams - haha =)

July:

Trip to Helsinki for EB team days;
Meiere.. =)

August:

ScaLDS in Finland;
Trip to Poland to visit two EYP friends;
some "national" duties;

September:

still some "national" duties going on;
ACT, National Conference for EB and PM (AIESEC)

October:

start of my new University term;
EYP planning weekend in Italy;
EYP Prep Weekend near Zurich

November:

Do-It, National Conference (AIESEC);
WeGrow, International Conference in Greece (AIESEC);
Starting the Career Days 2008 project with a new team;
attending the Zibelemärit in Bern at 0600!!

December:

EYP Christmas dinner;
AIESEC Christmas dinner;
Election of successors;
Exams - hm...
booking a Canada trip for 2008;
celebrating extremly fun Christmas;
leaving for Madrid to celebrate New Year's Eve over there

Guess as much as this year was a huge fun - next year can be even greater =)
Thanks for François, Oli, Simon, Paul, Mirjam, and so many more for this amazing year!!!
Love you guys and have a wonderful New Year!!!

A new start

2007-12-22T15:31:00.000+01:00

A new chapter of my life has begun last Wednesday - at least out of my definition!
Last week I've finished all my exams, nothing unusual normally, but for me these exams were the last till December 2008!
A couple of weeks ago, I've decided to take a break from University and go out into the world. That means I'll spend about 11 weeks in Vancouver next spring! I simply can't wait!
Talk to you later!