Rave!

Ok so start off, in my last post I should have written "pieces" not "peaces". I hate when people do that and even more so when I do it. So just so everyone knows, I do know the difference. Coming up on my 8th month marker just blows my mind! At times I feel like I've been here forever because I'm so comfortable with everything but other times I look back and see how quickly time flies!! What an experience this has really been! There is not much I would exchange it for. I've learned so much about myself and life in general. I see how young I really am and how much I want to do with my life! I can't help but be a bit excited about the coming months and going home. Tons of family members to meet. 5 nieces, a nephew and a sister-in-law! It sucks being the one abroad because although people don't forget about you, their lives still go on relatively normal, where as mine is completely different and I notice how much I miss out on. I wish people would send more pictures!!!

One major thing I will miss about Europe is the guy to girl ratio! For example the other night I went to a single adult western theme dance... odd. But afterward I went to this club with two other girls and 5 boys and then not to mention how many boys were there waiting ;D. So nice! One of the boys that went with us was extremely attractive with his shaggy fro! I was pretty much drooling. It was an interesting place. You know the floor is dirty when you practically walk out of your flipflops because they stick to the floor. My feet were absolutely filthy afterward. The sun almost beat me to my bed but I took a quick shower and was in bed by 6 am =D. It was a good night. Spent pretty much the whole night with people who spoke only french. Great practice.

So I started filling out my mission papers yesterday. Scary. That's the plan for now. I'll keep you updated on the interesting doctors appointments I'll go to. Peace out!

"Mother EFF!!!" =D

I have to admit that I'm updating this blog with a bit of regret in my mind, I'd rather be reading... But at least this way I get to listen to the newest additions to my music collection. My passion for music has become all the more apparent to me. I had written a poem one day when I was feeling inspired and I related music to ecstasy without really thinking about it. But I was reading it to a friend and she says, "Wow Hannah you really are passionate about music." This caught me off guard at how much she would notice that. She explained that she could tell because I was relating it to one of the most pleasurable drugs. I guess I'm learning more about myself everyday. I listen to music almost constantly. When I'm in the car, going to sleep, at my computer, walking to school, laying out etc. Maybe like Kate Hudson says in Bride Wars, "People with iPod are afraid of being left alone with their thoughts." That could very well be true but it brings such pleasure to my whole soul. And finding someone that shares that same passion for music is very important to me. I want to find my "musical soulmate".

On to the real update. My mom and Renee came to visit me on the 9th and stayed until yesterday. Saturday night I took Renee out for her first night of clubbing in Europe. Quite entertaining... The Monday after they arrived we drove down to Marseilles and stayed there for the day and laying on the beach was pure euphoria for me. There were indeed some topless tanners, always the ones you wish had a top on! Especially the 500 lb woman with thong bottoms on. Yeah talk about disturbing!!!! We met some interesting guys to talk to all due to Renee talking so loudly with her headphones on about the other people over there with a football and her being almost as excited as a kid with a Popsicle!! After our afternoon at the beach we drove to Nice only to get lost for hours upon arriving in the city, looking for our hostel. The hostel was nice and we were shortly joined by two Australian boys ;D. After breakfast we walked around the town down to the beach, this one being not as enjoyable because no one really likes to lay on little rocks. The Flower Market grabbed our attention on the way back to the car. Once our stomachs were full of Kebabs we headed to Monaco. What a beautiful place it is! We found out that you actually have to have an invitation to live there. Crazy! The traffic was a bit unbearable due to the Rolex Masters going on there. From Monaco we drove to Milan, Italy. It should have only taken us about 4 hours but due to bumper to bumper traffic it took at least six. Mom sleeping with her feet out the window inspired Renee to hang out her window and reach around the back to tickle Mom's feet, entertaining the other poor and bored drivers in our traffic jam. At least no one seemed to notice us changing in the car... Milan was nice. We checked into the hostel and then went hunting for dinner. The next day we walked along the store fronts of Armani and other prestigious stores. Gelato is what captured our direct and immediate attention-other than the HUGE picture of David Beckham in his undwear of course! We stayed in the square and walked around the church after getting a picture with a really attractive guard. Crazy girls we are. Between the laughing and laughing uncontrollably we had an awesome time!! It was sad to watch them go but today is my 7th month marker of being here in France. I only have 3 months and 11 days til I return to the States and have to move on with my life doing God knows what (litterally). A future of a milllion and more possibilities is both invigorating and terrifying! We'll see where the peaces fall. Anyone up for giving me piano lessons? This is the life!

Sunshine and painting

It has been sunny for over a week straight! Shocking, I know! I even laid out on Tuesday afternoon in my swimsuit! This valley is extremely beautiful when the sun shines. Well Ariadne and I did a project together that she had been wanting to do ever since I started painting. She wanted us to paint a picture of the mountains that covered two canvases, one for her and one for me. We actually had a lot of fun doing it too. Oh and last Sunday (almost two weeks ago) I stayed for the CES fireside and met a bunch of french singles. And a really cute returned missionary haha who served in Provo and speaks perfect English. (One of these days people are gonna find out I'm writing about them and I'm gonna be really embarrassed haha!) Anyways, last Thursday I went to institute in French and that was an adventure. I understood a lot of it so that was good, but afterward I went with some people to this guy Dave's house and we had 13 of us playing Uno with one deck of cards= INSANITY! So much fun though! And I'm going again tonight so who knows what will go on. But anywho that's about it for now. Gotta go get my girls. Peace out! (when I say that to my youngest she blows kisses, not sure why she associates the two, but it's cute =D)

Wild Montana Sky

It was sunny today!! That right there is enough reason to smile. I miss the sunshine whenever the clouds are too thick to see it. I love the nights that come after a sunny day as well. I babysat this morning then Juliana and I went to Lausanne to window shop and then I babysat again for a different family. But it was sunny=LOVE! When I was babysitting I watch Spirit (the cartoon about the horses). That movie always reminds me of my niece Savannah because when she was at our house for a week or so that was the only thing she watched. We watched it at least twice a day! And I got soooo sick of it but I hadn't seen it in a while and decided to watch it. Therefore I now want to move back to Colorado, deeper into the foothills of maybe even Montana and have a ranch. What can I say? I am my father's daughter for sure when it comes to this stuff.

So with my painting. I now want to paint EVERYthing! But of course I really have no talent. I think more than anything I want to paint what I dream about. I've had the most beautiful dreams and I hate that I can't convey them to anyone. And I have so many ideas in my head that I want to paint but have no idea how to do it. It's rather frustrating! But watching Spirit I just love the scenery that has been created in it. It is absolutely amazing to me!! It just takes me to places I've dreamed about and stirs this deep yearning in my soul. I don't know how to explain it and I'm sure I sound like a crazy person. Anyways I'm just so thankful for this beautiful day and night. I don't want to shut my shutters but I know that when I'm asleep at 7 and the sun starts shining in my window (it's supposed to be sunny tomorrow too) that I'll wish I had closed them haha. Good night!

Inspiration

Enrique and I are fine, just a dumb fight that he got over, no worries. But I am not a teacher in Relief Society so that is pretty exciting I suppose. But our lesson this past Sunday was on President Uchtdorf's talk "Happiness, Your Heritage" and the teacher showed us this video that I loved! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RhLlnq5yY7k Anyways it inspired me to do things that I've been wanting to do for a while. I want to take piano lessons so I can play the songs in my head and play the bass cleft and not just the treble cleft. But it also inspired me to try painting. I've never painted in my life really except for maybe in elementary art class. So yesterday I went to Migros and bought a canvas, some paint and paintbrushes. I was sooooo excited to start but I waited until this afternoon to do it. I put my headphones in and away I went. I had a ton of ideas in my head and didn't really know how to get them on there. But I just put my brush to the canvas and just had fun with it. It's not a beautfy, it's very simple but I like it. It proves to me that I can do things I want, and it doesn't matter what other people think. I had fun and I'm excited to do other ones. I'll let you know what I find out about piano lessons =D. Go create!

Needing a Hug

Do you have that one friend that can almost ALWAYS make you feel better? Well I have a few and I hate when I can't talk to them! Right now Enrique and I are fighting I guess you could say. I know it makes us sound like we're dating and no, mom, we're not. It's a dumb fight that I think he just needs to get over and he thinks I'm being insulting and yada yada yada. I'm sure it'll blow over but it just hurts. He has become one of my best friends here and that makes it even worse. Enrique loves to debate and especially about religion and since mormons are just soooo fascinatingly different it gives him a love of fuel. And our fight was about my standards and it's just dumb. I think he should just get over it and respect me for my beliefs but he feels like because I don't do the same things he does and don't hang around when he does that I judge him or think he's a bad person, which of course isn't true. Our conversation was only about a half hour long and so I don't really know if he's mad and hurt of just being dumb and will get over it like two hours ago haha. But I was thinking about it the whole time I was babysitting. I hate not getting along with people! I hate contention and all that crappy stuff but at the same time I feel like he's the one that needs to just get over it. Oh whatever I'm just venting. Basically I really want to talk to Travis and have a hug! Boooo...

Missing Someone I've Never Met

Updates: I went to Rome for six days and had a wonderful time. The gelato was amazing along with the Colosseum and the sunshine. Alisha and I were supposed to go to Sicily for a day but we missed our flight because of the bus! It was a sad moment. We went different ways that day because she and I tour much differently. I need time to relax on a vacation so that I feel like I've actually taken a vacation. She likes to see everything. And that was fine. We both had great days and met up later. The thing I love about traveling is the people we meet. There were nine people in our room at the hostel and three of the guys were named Dave, Joe and Matt, the names of my three oldest brother. That was pretty strange; made me miss my brothers. I got a nice full body massage for fairly cheap (my idea of vacation!) I tell you, Europeans are not as private as Americans! No shame! All in all it was a great trip where I spent too much money but don't regret it. I've become all the more fasinated with sculptures! People have such amazing talents! That trip also made me realize how much I will really miss my friends here! Mainly Juliana and Enrique. I missed them something fierce and was glad to hear I was missed too.

On another note I HAVE A NEW NIECE!!! Halee Margarite Swope was born February 25th at 9:30 a.m. I can't deny that I love the fact that she and I have the same initials! I am missing her terribly! I was hanging out with friends last night when I found out and I was ecstatic! But my mood shortly changed after that because it reminded me how important family is and how much I hate missing out on these things. I was supposed to be in there when she was born. Being in the room when my first nephew Connor was absolutely amazing! So I was a bit down and when I dropped Enrique off I just cried in my car. It was a bit pitiful I won't lie but I couldn't help it.

Today is much better. Much, much better! I had class, which even though I don't understand everything and Enrique has to explain things to me, I really enjoy. After having lunch with the girls I went swimming with Yuliana (my Russian friend) and we're gonna take a dance class or something, soooo psyched about that! So I've been in a good mood. I picked up my oldest and since she didn't have her English homework we started reading Charlotte's Web. There was this part where E.B. White was describing the smell of the barn and it made me think of my dad and how much I want to marry a country boy and have a farm haha. It says, "It often had a sort of peaceful smell- as though nothing bad could happen ever again in the world. It smelled of grain and of harness dressing and of axle grease and of rubber boots and of new rope." "But mostly is smelled of hay, for there was always hay in the great loft up overhead." This spot betweeen Wellington and the mountains has always been one of my favorites. I want to build a home here, where I'm close enough to the city but far enough to still live the life I want. Colorado is so majestic and I miss it terribly! My heart will always belong there and being able to live there this past summer reenforced that desire and love all the more. I have so many options for my life when I get home and have no idea what it will be. That is the exciting part but also the unsettling part. I've thought a lot more about massage therapy and maybe using that to pay for nursing school. Who knows. But I do want to ultimately end up in Colorado but knowing how my life goes, the Lord generally has different plans for me... *sigh*

Speeding Ticket

On Saturday I went to celebrate Juliana's 21st birthday with her, her boyfriend, Enrique, Juan and some other people. We drove to Geneva to meet up with the other people at their house, which happened to be situated in the Redlight District (aka prostitute territory). When we arrived at the apartment they were not answering their phone to let us in so we had to wait for a bit until we got a hold of them. I was standing in the doorway to the apartment with Juliana, Edgar and Juan (Enrique had gone around to see if their window was open so he could yell to them). I'm standing in the corner of this doorway and four guys walk up and just look at me. Immediately I knew what they were thinking, that I was a prostitute. Talk about insulting! I was in jeans and had my big coat on and zipped up all the way. I just glared at them and told them to keep walking. I should have kicked them and taught them a lesson! Anyways we hung out and I was the only one in a room of 10 people who did not speak Spanish! Needless to say I was grateful Enrique was there to keep me company and speak English with me. In Switzerland they use speed cameras to catch people speeding and so you may not realize you've gotten a ticket until a few months later when it comes in the mail, unless you are lucky, like me, and see the flash and then get pulled over! On our way home I was speeding, naturally. I mean going 50 km/hr is pretty difficult especially when no other cars are on the road! So I saw the flash and Enrique said, "Hannah I think you just got a ticket." I was so mad! But THEN! 10 seconds later I see those adored flashing red and blue lights behind me and in between the lights it says "STOP" just in case you are an idiot and don't know what the lights mean! So I pull over and they come to my window and start speaking french and so I ask if they speak English and so he spoke some and Enrique translated the rest. He asks me to get out of the car and take a breathalyzer! My first one ever! Of course it is 0.00. I think they were a bit surprised to see someone my age on a weekend who hadn't been drinking haha. I think if it hadn't been for that stupid camera I could have gotten off with a warning. But they told me to expect a ticket in the mail. LAME!! Oh well c'est la vive! So there you are with my exciting story =D.

Did You Hear Me Puking?

The last few days I think I had the flu. The last time I remember being sick with the flu was in Colorado on my fifteenth birthday when my mom and I had the 24 hour flu. And I don't remember the last time I threw up. On Monday night I started to feel a bit nauseous so I didn't eat much dinner. After dinner I went to hang out with Juliana and Enrique. We just relaxed and I was still feeling pretty bad. Enrique made me drink alka-seltzer. He was very insistent that I drink every little chalky piece. I felt a bit better but not for long. After our movie he was worried about me driving home being sick and offered to let me stay but I wanted to go home. I came home and felt so sick that I gagged myself so I could puke. Yeah probably too much information but are you surprised that I shared it? Didn't think so. I felt much better and then went to bed. The next morning I felt like crap again. I picked up the girls from school at lunch time and took them to Ferney to meet up with Sophie for lunch since the girls English classes are in Ferney on Tuesday afternoons. I wasn't going to eat but I was so hungry so I had some chicken and rice. Ines had an assembly later that afternoon in Ferney so I went to hang out with Enrique and Juliana until then so I wouldn't have to drive all the way home. I told Sophie I'd call her if I was too sick to come. I felt sick. So I went in the bathroom with my glass of water and Enrique cheering me on. That was the first time I've had a cheerleading squad when I throw up. But once I started throwing up I head him go in the other room and turn on his music hahahaha. Anyways, I stayed there for a while and hung out. I fell asleep on his bed while he was on the computer and Juliana had left to go job hunting. He left for class and I stayed and slept. Their family is so sweet to just let me stay. Juliana came home and she and I started watching a movie until she got hungry and we went downstairs so she could find something. Their mom came home and insisted that I eat something. She made me soup and it did the trick. I kept it down and have felt better since. I stayed for a while after that and we all hung out until I went home to sleep. It was just so nice to be taken care of. Juliana was like can I get you anything? all the time and so was Enrique. Well he was more just trying to get me to puke so I'd feel better haha. It was nice. That is the update for now. Oh and I'm going to Italy two weeks from today!!

Snowboarding the Alps!

This weekend I went snowboarding and skiing with Juliana and Enrique and their family. Needless to say that I fell... a lot! It's been a while since I've snowboarded and then it was my first time skiing. But it was soooo beautiful up there in the Alps. Obviously. You could just see the little villages below and that other peaks all around. The sun was shining and it could not have been a prettier day. I had a blast but I am soooooo sore!! All my muscles just ache. I fell asleep almost the whole way home and when we got back to their house Enrique's mom lent me a dry shirt and we just sat around. Then when I went to go home my car doors wouldn't unlock and then once I got them unlocked my driver door wouldn't stay shut so I stayed the night there on the couch and that didn't help my sore muscles haha. So I know I'll sleep well tonight!!

Much Needed Update

I know it's been a while since a real update but not much out of the ordinary. Been warm the last few days which has been really wonderful because when the air is warmer that the huge lake in Geneva then we can actually see the village and all the way to the Alps!!! And the sun has not burnt out!! Just in case you were wondering, I sure was! I'm sure it'll get colder once again but that's ok as long as I get little breaks in between. I spoke in church on Sunday. It went really well thankfully. My return ticket has been purchased. I will return to Colorado on Wednesday, August 5, 2009. It is bittersweet news for me. I'm still enjoying myself here of course. I recently got a cleaning job to do on Fridays after I get groceries for another lady. It's nice to earn income in other ways. I really like the grocery shopping but not the cleaning as much but that is life. My girls have lice really bad and thankfully I have NOT gotten it yet. If this sounds like a list it's because it is. I'm listing off new things here. Oh! I almost talked to the hot swim teacher today but he turned the corner and I didn't want to go running and screaming after him. Kinda wishing I did... Booo! But that is life as I know it at the moment. Good night! Bisou!

Cute Happenings

So last Friday Sophie and Dimitri went out so I put the girls to bed. I went to sleep later after they had come home and I had gone out. In the middle of the night I woke up thinking I heard someone knocking. I opened my door and look around and then kinda realized it was in my dream. Imagine my surprise when I hear knock, knock then the 2 year-old's voice saying, "Hannah Mae!" I open my door to see my little girl pantless with her slippers and doudou (little blankie) in her hand. She was just kinda like ok I'm up let's do something. Since my shutters were closed I was thinking it was about 4 am so I put her in my bed and shut off the light. I think she figured since I put her to bed that her parents weren't gonna be home that night. But I heard Sophie get up and look for her because they must have heard her at my door. So I took her upstairs and went back to bed. It was just too cute. She's been really sweet lately since she's kinda been sick. She almost always calls me Hannah Mae now and I just love it. That's about it.

Barcelona! (start at the bottom)

Everyone hangs their laundry outside and we thought it was cute. Just like we had imagined it.




They serenaded us while we ate lunch.


Alisha starring in Monty Python.

I hadn't seen the moon in weeks and when we got off the plane it was a full moon.
Coming into Barcelona.



Those are clouds going over a slope. Looked like a waterfall.




This was as soon as we left Switzerland on our way there. Yeah those are the Alps!