Shoes

If only these shoes could talk! They would have things to tell. They walked beaches of Australia, they took a bath in the sewer of Jcity, they went to remote villages of Thailand, they climbed the hills of the Himalayas, they spent hours in the air and now they have finished their race in beautiful Switzerland.

But back to my vacation that are finishing now. In this last week I could go visit a lot of people (but unfortunately not all that I wanted, I hope I can do it next year) and had good quality time.
For my birthday, I went to say hello to my former work colleagues (it was cool to see them :-)) and then I was surprised to have dinner with the whole family and almost the entire extended family. It was good. And I could eat the best ice cream in the world! :-)

Bern

On that 20.09.2009, which is not as special for the U.S. (09.20.2009), I'm writing in the house in which I grew up.

I spent a few days in Bern to visit various people (sister and family, grandmother, aunts and family, childhood friend and family) and I also met my first niece that I had not yet met. She is energetic and wants to explore everything. I could even baby-sitte her during the first hours I saw her :-)

I redid a little bike in Bern, it's cool!

It appears that the BLS (Basic Leadership School, the school that I just finished) is beloved in Bern, they have trains and flags with it :-) And also, I just realized that the day I made these pictures is when I was supposed to receive my diploma, but as I'm on vacation, I'll receive it later.

That day has also been special because, after having heard about him and been in email contact for 2 years, I met Raphael. Two years ago, he also started the BLS, but in New Zealand and found my blog. Since then I saw his photo in Bangkok, he met (in Jerusalem) someone with whom I went to J-city, Chad, Cameroon and Australia, and I met a couple of protugese and dutch that knows him! :-) So then, we spent an afternoon together in the beautiful city of Bern.

A week in the Alps

This week's vacation has begun with a few days in the mountains with my parents. It was very relaxing with hikkings, thermal baths, naps, games, good food ... We also had the chance to see the installation of a new chairlift. They used a helicopter with two stacked rotors. The heaviest element it lifted weighed 4 tons!

Here is a short video of lifting that seems so easy.

I also put some pictures here.

The same person in a different culture ...

Then I spent almost three days, also in the Alps, with people from my church. We had fun in the pool, walked, did archery and watched two films. A good time to reconnect and we were spoiled at the hotel (hotel Crea).

Celebrations ...

Yes exactly, celebrations, is the word! Since my arrival in Switzerland, the celebrations do not stop! They seem to have purposely put all of them this weekend so I can join all :-)
But before Switzerland, last Sunday, the leader of my DTS invited me with 3 more to eat brownies that he backed at there home. It was an opportunity to get to know more their little girl (aged 2-3 months) and the others people present. It was a beautiful evening.
Wednesday night was their first of two commissioning nights. This quarter there will be two, because three schools will complete their theoretical phase in South Africa after the conference of the university of the nations.
Then, Thursday was the departure for Switzerland. The flights went well. I got to know a little bit some of the passengers. In Geneva, my nephew and my parents welcomed me, first celebration. Then we went to get my driving license, say hello to my older brother and my little brother. After that, by bringing back my nephew, I saw for the first time my second niece and saw my sister in law. It was fun to see everyone there.
Saturday started with my first visit to the YWAM base in Lausanne. There, I met YWAMers from Perth and we had a teleconference with our director who is in South Africa. After this time, it was the turn of the celebrations of the 45 years of the "Flambeaux" (boy scouts). A very good time with great reunion and the first meeting with the fiancee of my best friend. And to end this day, there was the first evening of the celebration of the 40 years of YWAM Switzerland.
Sunday I had the privilege of attending the first service of my church in their new house. It was celebrated with a drink. Then I was invited by a couple from the church. A good opportunity to reconnect with them and to hear a little of what they experienced during those two years. And during the evening was the second celebration of 40 years of YWAM Switzerland. It was nice to see the whole cathedral full and also to meet many different people, including my future sister in law (a first for me (a second sister in law, but the first time I met her :-))).
Voila, then, these first three days were filled with celebrations of diffenrent kind and first encounter with 3 importante girls (for my two brothers and my best friend). It was also an opportunity to reconnect with flavors and familiar images that I love. Tomorrow I leave for a few days in the mountains with my parents. This will be more restfull.