Carol Anklan: March 2013

Last Sunday I went skiing at Splugen, with a van full of TASIS friends; it was great fun! I had tried snowboarding a few weeks ago, but I found it really hard with the steep terrain and the crazy fall lines. I had taken up snowboarding in the last several years, but only boarded about 10 times. It was easier on my knees than using the long straight skis I had from nearly 30 years ago. So I rented some short, shaped skis and hoped I could keep my knees from screaming at me. As long as I kept on the easier runs, all was good, YAY! The bright blue sky, contrasting to the brilliant white snow was magnificent!

I had a hard time ordering a brat with a bun, i.e. frustrating!

Dogs are everywhere in Switzerland! Look closely to see a child sleeping in the sled.
Can't believe how they take their kids down the mountain!

Thursday I headed off to the SGIS (Swiss Group of International Schools) Conference in Leysin. Alyssa drove a school car through the tunnels, onto a train, and around the tight switchbacks for nearly 5 hours. We stayed at a quirky, not charming, B&B! The first thing the owner said was, “Will you pay now?” She didn’t introduce herself, or even ask who we were. She had major “bedhead” all day. Her home was old and large. Instead of recarpeting, she just added old rugs over old rugs. There were signs and knickknacks everywhere. One whole wall in our room had a floor to ceiling curtain hiding her old clothes. I think it was dust mite heaven!

Les Airelles B&B

New experience- parking your car on the train and going though a tunnel!

Regular hard boiled eggs, not Easter Eggs!

"Here it's kind of lousy, but upstairs it's very pretty!"

Note the orange toilet paper!

The conference was wonderful. I had always wanted to hear Stephan Krashen, and here he was in Switzerland! He was an awesome speaker with great research. For you rock climbers, we also got to hear John Harlin III, son of John Harlin II, who was a famous American mountaineer who was killed while making an ascent of the north face of the Eiger in Switzerland. Amazing and inspiring story!

I would be negligent if I didn’t mention the incredible Swiss food we ate. While at a boarding school, it is a true delight to get to select what you want to eat! Thursday night was 100 grams of cheese fondue, Friday was shrimp Thai Pad, and Saturday was Rosti avec anana – crispy hash browns, smothered with melted cheese and pineapple. Good thing I brought my running shoes! I have to admit that running at 1400 meters, plus going up hill, was breath taking - literally and figuratively!