Switzerland was closed, so we went to the beach.

Starting with Thursday evening--a fantastic and adventurous time.

(first was 8:00 a.m. Investments class where the lecturer went over stuff "we already knew". But I didn't. The others learned it in their grundstudium (lower division) and this is a hauptstudium (upper division) course. So while talking about Net Present Value, I'm thinking that I've got a lot of learnin' yet to catch up)

6:00 p.m. was a 21 birthday of a friend. So we grilled on the balcony in Vauban (or fondly nicknamed "the Vaub" (pronounced, the foub)

Then 9:00 p.m. a group came over to my apartment and we cooked dinner. Well, Emma and Cliona cooked. We ate and cleaned or served ice cream and set the table. Above L-R, Emma (Scottland), Cliona (Scottland/ Ireland), Alastair (Ireland), Mike (Australia), Joanna (N. Ireland), Scott (roommate from Indiana) and Billi (roommate from Germany). So yes, I'm eating real food.

12:00 a.m.- SAFA webcam meeting in U.S. First we had to set up. But yay, I'm the president of SAFA for 07-08! (I ran unopposed, so I kind of just got it, but I'm happy) The event went until 10:00 p.m. Central Standard Time....figure out when that is for me.

I made the elections, Saw the CIA introduce, missed the entire simulation, but thanked and said goodbye to the reps. A late, but very fun, evening.

Today, Friday, we went to Lake Constance. (or Bodensee as called in German, but in the town Konstanz). This lake is similar to the great lakes (like Dad said when he was a kid..."it must be an Ocean because you can't see the other side") Borders Switzerland and Austria.

Beautiful city. Here is Alastair and myself standing on the bridge over the Rhein river as it feeds into the lake.

We got here after a 6 Euro (round trip) train ride (That's like going from Worthington to Belle Plaine for $8) We went to the Switzerland border, but found out we needed our passports, so it was closed for us. Instead we went along the shoreline, played in a park, went in the water, and relaxed for a gorgeous afternoon.

and then...

It Rained on our way back! The entire time i've been here it hasn't tossed a drop from the sky. Heck, we've hardly had any clouds.

Essie (Finland) is enjoying the cool and awaited rain.

Tomorrow is a big day. We're headed north to Stuttgart for Europe's largest Spring Festival. (this is also the place where the FIFA Fussball Weltmeisterschaft- FIFA World Soccer Cup Championship game was held)

Then, Sunday I'm taking it easy at home. Monday we're celebrating a Finnish holiday, and Tuesday we're going to France.

Later Days,
Rick