Preparation and Stuff

The last two days have been spent preparing for the start of school in many ways. It is almost unbelievable how much work needs to be done before the start of school. Having taught the last few years, I was expecting it to be a busy week. However, adding on moving to Switzerland, meeting all new people, and setting up a new classroom makes things quite hectic. Besides the fact that finding simple office supplies is quite difficult the change is kind of fun. My biggest struggle today was finding tape and then finding a tape dispenser seemed completely impossible. I came prepared with many teaching books, but didn't realize how helpful it would have been to have simple supplies...scissors, tape, labels, etc. I would die to be in the SSF workroom right now, where you can access anything you need!
In addition to team planning, classroom set up, and trips to IKEA, we also had to have "TASIS van training." Yes, this may sound simple, but not knowing how to drive a stick and then being expected to drive a 9 person van up very steep hills...not a good idea for me. Today was actually just instruction in how to operate the vans, where we go to get gas (the TASIS gas station), and basic SWISS driving laws. We also had the expert driver show us what you GET to do once you become a professional driver. After taking a trip down to IKEA in Lugano (about 20 min) he took us up the back way back to campus. Just imagine a very narrow, one way road that goes down a very steep mountain. The cars coming down the hill have the right of way, but don't worry there are mirrors on the way up you can look into, so you know when there is a car coming down. He only stalled one time (and he is supposedly a professional driver!) because of the steepness, the van's power, and that he had to wait for the cars coming down to pass. Luckily, we made it back to school safely! He did say a couple times, "are you guys okay?" obviously realizing he was making all of us a bit nervous. The only other experience I've had like that was in China, but that was in a A4 that just seemed safer...well kind of I guess. Right Mom...:) It is now almost 9pm here and we are still at school trying to finish things up. The next few days (including Saturday and Monday) we have training all day and then Sunday we're going on a hike to Valle Verzasca. Tuesday is Open House where the families come to meet the teachers and then Wednesday school starts. FUN FUN!