A Chronicle of my Changing Times.

Zurich – where everyone looks like someone you know…

I had a wonderful weekend.  I started traveling with the local Youth Center to set up an exchange in August in Liechtenstein.  This truly is not the normal Peace Corps activity, at least not in Bulgaria.  Basically I flew up there on the European Union’s dime to meet the other leaders and organize the program for the exchange. (Pictured above: actually Switzerland.  The other side of the ridge is FL)

What can I say about Liechtenstein (abbreviated FL) except that it is a fabulously beautiful country that everyone should visit at some point in their lifetime.  The people are warm and friendly once you get out of the pretentious capital village (trust me, it’s little more than that) of Vaduz.  Once not particularly affluent, the prince (not king) instituted tax incentives after World War II to bring in banking and investment.  There’s a lot of formally ‘black’ money there, but at this point it’s all been washed nice and clean, as my hosts explained. (Pictured: Me not falling off one of the anti-avalanche thingies)

The weather was perfect for the weekend, sunny and warm.  The leaders from the other countries all get along well and I’m looking forward to working with them in August.  I’m not sure about other exchanges, but this one looks like a phenomenal opportunity for the 4 lucky kids who get to go.  They’ll have cooks for their meals, get to go hiking in the mountains, biking from one end of the country to the next, partake in scavenger hunts, take part in the 200^th anniversary celebrations of the country, all the while camping the ruins of an ancient castle.  What’s more, the goals of the EU Youth Exchange will be met with plans to share the history of each country and discussions on how they all fit together and what the future holds for them all.  All in all, this is the perfect camp for me to help. (Pictured: All are working hard on the program)

The only problem in the entire weekend was a miscommunication with my travel agent which led to me missing my flight back and having to spend a day in Zurich, Switzerland.  Good news?  It was Zurich, a beautiful city on a beautiful day with 12 hours of free time.  Bad news?  It cost me a pretty penny to change my flight back and Zurich isn’t known to be in inexpensive city.  (Pictured: Hubert and Connie, the hosts in FL)
 

One thing I did notice there was that everyone looks like someone.  I swear I saw the twin brother of a PCV friend of mine named Kellen.  Everywhere I turned I saw someone who reminded me of someone I knew.  Although I usually couldn’t place who that person was, the familiarity was kind of creepy.  Actually, I think this led to me starring at a lot of people without realizing it.  I hope I didn’t creep anyone out.

On a side note, I’ll be putting up pictures of my trip with my parents to Italy last month along with a bit of a write up in the next day or so.  If I don’t do it soon I fear that it’ll slip past me like the Croatia Christmas trip did along with the specific memories.  Of course I don’t want this to happen, so keep an eye out the next few days.  I’ll try to make time even though I’m very busy with my Mid Service Training conference and travels to Budapest – all next week.  Then the last week of school before my friend Lisa comes for a weeklong visit.  Busy but good times. (Pictured: The church which was the center of the Protestant Reformation in Zurich)

Posted by: mjmarble at June 15, 2006 15:47 | link | comments (2)

Comments:

#1  17 June 2006 - 19:39

 

Great pics! Sounds like a fun trip!

Terry
TPorter2

Anonymous

#2  28 June 2006 - 18:40

 

Mike,

Here are some Peace Corps / Bulgaria blogs that I have found. If you know of any others that I have missed please let me know. Thanks!


-Mike Sheppard
RPCV / The Gambia
www.journeyacrossafrica.blogspot.com


==
http://alanamckinney.blogspot.com/
http://www.alaskanbulgarian.blogspot.com/
http://www.andyhamiltoninbulgaria.blogspot.com/
http://www.angelfire.com/linux/peacecorpscinnamon/index.html
http://www.angelfire.com/oz/jessinbulgaria/blog/
http://www.angelfire.com/scifi/allegra/
http://blog.paramnesia.net/
http://www.brettnet.net/
http://bulgariangoodie.blogspot.com/
http://www.bulgariatimes.net/
http://chasinchance.diaryland.com/
http://www.deepgrey.net/el_koubi/
http://donvbulgaria.blogspot.com/
http://ea13.livejournal.com/
http://emilyinthepc.blogspot.com/
http://ericwiley.blogspot.com/
http://flickr.com/groups/pc-bulgaria/
http://www.freeend.blogspot.com/
http://www.geocities.com/blbinthepc/
http://www.geocities.com/bruyere_98/
http://www.geocities.com/joshkatem/
http://www.geocities.com/pcvteach/
http://www.geocities.com/sarah_bg01/
http://www.ghinck.com/
http://www.glory-ho.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PCBulgaria2/
http://harm1020.livejournal.com/
http://hbettenhausen.tblog.com/
http://jasmineinbulgaria.tripod.com/
http://jbrianmurray.blogspot.com/
http://jenbulgaria.blogspot.com/
http://jenniferspeacecorpsjournal.blogspot.com/
http://jessicamorrison.blogspot.com/
http://kateinbulgaria.motime.com/
http://kitkatcor.livejournal.com/
http://www.lexlibertas.com/alaskanbulgarian/
http://lhgemmell.blogspot.com/
http://lizisnotworking.livejournal.com/
http://maegenrose.blogspot.com/
http://matyoo.blogspot.com/
http://mjmarble.motime.com/
http://www.moriahabroad.com/
http://www.nerobrazendiva.blogspot.com/
http://parisloveshelen.com/
http://peacecorps.mtu.edu/ploetz2.htm
http://www.petdecetstotinki.blogspot.com/
http://poofycloud.livejournal.com/
http://rebeccagrudzina.blogspot.com/
http://reldavis.freeservers.com/
http://sarahhyler.livejournal.com/
http://sarahhylerstiles.motime.com/
http://sarahstilesrocks.blogspot.com/
http://sarcasticarin.blogspot.com/
http://sashoalex.blogspot.com/
http://www.scook.freeservers.com/custom2.html
http://www.scottinbulgaria.com/
http://www.silenceissilver.blogspot.com/
http://sixq.net/shaina/
http://www.skipandcarol.com/
http://stephaniegiacoletto.blogspot.com/
http://tones.blogspot.com/
http://transmissionsbg.blogspot.com/
http://upcbpg.blogspot.com/
http://vassisblog.blogspot.com/
http://wheresjulian.blogspot.com/
http://www.xanga.com/home.aspx?user=audrey618
http://www.xanga.com/syannelevovna/
==

Anonymous

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