Dear Dad, I want to grow up to be like you.

Last Sunday was Father's day in Switzerland as well as in the U.S., and unfortunately, I was not able to spend the day with the man who has been the most influential person in my life. However, I took a long walk on Saturday evening, and thought of the many amazing memories I have shared with him as well as the things he has taught me. Here are just a few of the things that came to my mind as I strolled through the woods wishing I could recall all of these stories with my dad walking next to me...

When I was in sixth grade, you taught me with one simple sentence, that a bad day can always be changed to a good one if I always look on the positive side of things.

You taught me everything there is to know about baseball, a fascinating sport, including the complicated third strike rule. (I loved watching baseball games with you on cool summer evenings.)

You came to almost every soccer game I had, and it meant so much to me to see you in the stands. I loved getting a hug from my biggest fan, wearing your "be a fan of your kid" hat paired with suit and tie, straight home from work, even if we had lost the game. You showed me what it meant to support and encourage.

You taught me how important it is for me to seek knowledge myself, and to learn as much as I can. Simply by showing me that I can do anything I want.

And, how can I ever pay you back for the countless hours you volunteered so that I could play soccer and go on trips with the team, and go to the Dominican Republic with Amigos?

I only hope that someday I can be like you, my dad, Steve.

Now what?

About this time last year, things were beginning to fall into place for me to come to Switzerland...a dream come true! Now, I am again faced with the predicament of deciding where to go next...here are my options:

I would like to stay in Europe for at least another year, so I can either...

1) Stay in Switzerland for an extra six months while living and working with the family here. This is a viable option, and nothing would change for me until February of 2009.

2) Stay in Switzerland, but find a job working with an architecture firm. Several of the girls on the soccer team have helped me with this option, and have miraculously had connections.

3) Move to Germany in September, and look for jobs there. Also, try to find another soccer team to play for near Lauf.

All of these options are appealing to me, and it has been hard to discern between the three...what do you think I should do?

Experiencing Easter without Tradition...

Last weekend was Easter weekend, which is usually spent in the mountains of Colorado having the best outdoor breakfast with great family friends. One of my favorite family traditions, and I look forward to it every year.

In an attempt to recreate this special day in the mountains of Switzerland, Interlaken took the place of Flagstaff mountain this Easter. However, it was unlike any traditional Easter...there were no eggs to hunt, no bacon grilling on the fire, no short hikes to the rock formation below the fire, nor any laughs with great friends like Mike and Trish...

However, this Easter I was experiencing more of Christ's Salvation than I have ever known. I have made so many mistakes in my life, and I have been incredibly selfish and sinful in the last year and a half. Despite these mistakes, God has given me the grace to be able to spend Easter weekend with the one person who I do not deserve.

Even though Easter was nothing in the way of traditional this year, my day was filled with the joy of knowing that Love is greater than sin, and grace is truly the greatest gift one can find.

Next stop...please depart the train.

Riding the train the other day, looking at the Swiss-landscape filled with rolling green hills, spattered with large trees beginning to bloom, and a few sheep herding through fields, made me think about all I have seen and done in my life. It has been such a blessing to travel, meet amazing people, and experience so many different views about life. These things, people and experiences have made such an impact on me, and have helped to mold me into the person I am.

As I was looking at this beautiful landscape feeling blessed by its beauty, quickly passing through on the train as simply an on-looker to the sheep, this thought came to my head...

Soon I will be twenty-three years old, and want to be more than just an on-looker passing by, being blessed by the beauty of others. Though thankful for this beauty and these blessings, it is my desire to impact other peoples' lives, make them better by being a good friend, having joy, and helping those in need. Sharing the beauty and blessings by living in them rather than passing by enjoying them only for myself.

The next train station is just ahead, I will quickly ready myself to depart the train. Now a place is free in this train for others to see the beautiful landscape, and you can find me under the blooming tree next to the other sheep hoping you can be blessed too.

The real reason the Collicut's have an Au Pair...

Last Sunday I was riding the train home from church, and right behind my seat was a girl from one of our biggest rivals, FC Aarau, dressed in her Fussball Club trainers. She and the man checking tickets began speaking about women's fussball, so I naturally began eavesdropping as well as I could. I think the conductor noticed me eavesdropping because he quickly turned to check my ticket, and asked me if I also played fussball. In my best German, I answered, but my best German wasn't good enough to hide my "Auslander" characteristics. His very next question was if I was Iris Collicut's Au Pair from Rupperswil. I was so surprised that he knew this, but he told me he had worked with Iris and she told him all about her Au Pair that was here playing fussball from America.

Thus, I have realized the real reason the Collicut's have an Au Pair every year: It is not because both parents work full-time, nor because Iris needs to sleep in the morning rather than getting up with the kids, it isn't because they need help around the house, nor to help the kids with their homework. NO, the only reason the Collicut's have an Au Pair is because they need something to talk about. Something different in their lives to distract them from daily mundain routines. So, here I am, the exciting, interesting Au Pair from America. Your welcome Switzerland for giving you something to talk about besides your next door neighbor and the weather. :)

I knew the Swiss had secret bank accounts, but secret admirers?

Last month was everyone's favorite holiday, Valentine's Day. Usually, this is not one of my personal favorites simply because I like fireworks much better than hearts, but this Valentine's Day was particularly special.

At first, I was expecting it to be just another day of cleaning, studying and doing the laundry. However, when Iris came home in the morning she had a lovely bouquet of roses from the village florist that had been sent to me from Drew. I had the biggest smile on my face the entire day, and it meant the world to me.

However, to my surprise, the next day as I was washing the floors with my ipod blaring, another delivery of red roses came to the door. This time, the card was not signed, and the flowers were from the neighboring town's flower shop. Richard, Iris and I were all trying to figure out who could have sent me these flowers, and we were hypothesizing about which Swiss-mister had fallen for the American Au Pair...

I have already solved this mystery, but do you have any idea who could have sent the second bouquet?

What kind of an Au Pair am I?

Last Friday, Josh and I went into the woods with our bikes and the faithful dog, Poly. We stopped at a fire pit and began playing Josh's secret game where we go on missions to fight against monsters. (oops, don't tell him I told you about it.) As I always do, I let Poly of the leash so she could explore a little. Then, Josh and I began playing around the pit.

When it started to get dark out, we headed back home on our bikes. I called for Poly, and expected her to come shortly after I called her name. However, she didn't come. We looked for almost a half an hour, and I was almost in tears when Josh finally said calmly, "Let's just go home; she'll come." We rode home, but I went back out to the woods in the Soccer-mom-van to search for another hour without any luck. I left for soccer thinking to myself, "Poly is lost...how does someone loose a dog?...The family is going to fire me...I will be remembered as the Au Pair who lost the dog." Needless to say, I didn't practice much soccer that night.

To my relief, when I came home from practice, Poly was right there at the door ready to jump up on my legs. However, I am sure the parents are wondering exactly this...If an au pair can loose a dog, what will happen with our children? :)