Strawberry Fields

One thing that I love about Basel is that even though I live in the city I can walk for five minutes and find myself surrounded in fields in what really feels like the proper country side.  Lola loves it here and spends many afternoons running through what ever they are growing.  Just on Tuesday I noticed that one of the fields (that I have walked by almost every day since August) have started strawberry picking.  So yesterday me and Emily went to pick strawberries before her and Dave (fiance) came to dinner.   

What I am finding strange but wonderful, is that summer is here and that it is not going anywhere till the autumn...

Number One Roommate

Honestly, I have the best roommate ever!  Retunring to Basel a little bit tired after the weekend and journey back, Suzanna prepared a beautiful meal for the four of us.  And then to top it off she cleaned it all up.  And the flat was spotless.  And Lola was happy and looked after.  I am the luckiest girl ever!

Wonderful Suzanna

Best ginger carrots ever (and i thought I hated ginger)

Immediately after, a spotless kitchen :)

Leftie

Yesterday after a lovely lunch, I was treated to a walking tour of Romania by one of Maria's best friends, Ioana. Ioana has been trained as a tour guide and has a PHD in propaganda, so her tour was extremely informative. The Romanian history is so rich and interesting, just in the last 100 years, they have had a monarchy (which they chose from Germany as they felt they needed one to help rule), Communism (forced upon them after WW2, but actually at first grew very quickly in popularity), and now in theory a democracy (in practice, possibly debatable). She had so many interesting facts and cleared up so many misconceptions I had about life under on a Communist regime (at least in Romania). She really was very objective about the reality then and the reality now, discussing the pros and cons of all systems. I learnt so much and just find the history very fascinating. And I am still as left as ever (which of course does not mean I believe in Communism at all)!

Then ladies to lunch :)

Run to Romania

I am not sure there is a word to describe my first day in Bucharest. I am also unsure that my pictures have the ability to express this either... I have been so excited to come home here, I have grown up with three different nationalities influences but all have had a fairly stable history compared to many. I find it so amazing and interesting that Maria and Raluca spent part of their life growing up in a Communist country and I have been so excited to come and learn more through a Romanians perspective. And my first night left me speechless (and this rarely if ever happens to me). The night started off celebrating Maria's Mum's 50th birthday at a fabulous traditional restaurant, a restaurant that apparently has not changed over time, it is a place full of atmosphere and history. We then left Maria's brothers and step father and went to a night club. It was a normal night club, with music you would imagine in any night club across the world, until the live music started. A band came on that were huge in the eighties, a band that sang songs about a different Romania. The atmosphere, pride and electricity of the place was just amazing, everyone was up and singing, I really felt I was witnessing something very special. You could feel just how proud these people are, of their country, of how far they have come in the past two decades, it was absolutely inspiring. You know I would usually be the first to say go to the beach for your family or your holiday, I am one always looking at going South to laze in the sun. But I think I have learnt more in one day of this mini trip, then any other holiday, so this year my suggestion is skip your usual holiday hot spot and come to Romania (and actually they have the sea side as well)...

Me and mini prosecco

 Gabriella (my history teacher and personal shopper!) and big prosecco

 Maria and mum (who has adopted me!)

 Beer tap on table, fabulous!

 The entertainment

This parrot chose my fortune..

The Journey

I have not been on a girls trip on a plane for years and I forgot just how fun it is. Me and the Romanian girls left Basel by train to Zurich and then flew to Bucharest last night. We had a very funny journey and if the rest of my trip goes like that I am promised a fabulous one!

I am sooo excited to be here!

German Efficiency

So although I do not believe in stereotyping people, I guess there must be some reason that different countries get different reputations.  And I have now seen the reputed German efficiency first hand and believe me it is impressive.   Last night was a a great night, after what seemed like an eternal wait, Suzanna finally moved in with Lola and myself.  And believe me did she move in, in just under three hours, she managed to do the following:
- move her entire bedroom in, as if she had lived there for months
- put up lights in both bedrooms (been meaning to do that since August)
- put up curtain rail and shower curtain in second bathroom (again meaning to do this since August)
- unplug the shower drain (been showering up to my knees for about three months)
- clean the bathroom so you could eat off the floor (I am just not very good at cleaning)
I then returned home and she asked me how I organised the kitchen, well I have no organisation I just make sure everything fits in (I think this almost caused a coronary), but I suspect my system maybe about to change.  I am off  today for the long weekend, and I think Suzanna is just as excited as I am, she will have the flat to herself to organise and I will be sipping champagne in Bucharest...

Welcome Suzanna, we are going to have a brilliant time!  Lots of tea to be drunk!

Pepsi Cola Lola

This blog is meant to be about both Lola and my adventures in and around Switzerland, but really Lola is not in many.  This is because she is a complete madam and does not like to have her picture taken.  She really does have quite the personality, I love her but she actually is quite a snobby little dog (this may sound a little crazy to most but really many who have met her would agree).  Anyways, I spent the whole weekend trying to get some photos of her and these are the ones I managed to sneak...

Look how sad she is here, that I actually got her

My posh dog

Chilling on the Rhine, she loves the sun as much as mummy

Mathematics

If you have a child, are ever thinking of having a child, have any influence over children or just interested in education then this is a post I think you should read.  I have now taught Mathematics for almost four years, which in the whole scheme of things is obviously not a long time, but I think long enough to realise a few key things. 
1) never let your child fall into a bottom set (if this is an option in your school system), if they struggle at Maths, then work with them, get a tutor, do what it takes.  Mathematics is not difficult, it will however become very difficult if they fall into this set.
2)  Never tell your child or a child that it is okay to struggle at Maths because you did or that not everyone is good at Maths.  It is simply either not true or not helpful.  Children rise to a challenge and encouragement.  Believe in them and they will shock you.
3)  Mathematics is not all about numbers, it teaches logic, problem solving, it is very creative and can be a lot of fun.  Further it is a key skill that is valuable for life no matter if you end up flipping burgers at McDonald's or CEO of a world wide corporation.
I recently shared an article with the Mathematics department about China becoming the cleverest country.  I thought this was the most crucial bit to my teaching but also important to share.

There were also major cultural differences when teenagers were asked about why people succeeded at school.
"North Americans tell you typically it's all luck. 'I'm born talented in mathematics, or I'm born less talented so I'll study something else.'
"In Europe, it's all about social heritage: 'My father was a plumber so I'm going to be a plumber'.
"In China, more than nine out of 10 children tell you: 'It depends on the effort I invest and I can succeed if I study hard.'
"They take on responsibility. They can overcome obstacles and say 'I'm the owner of my own success', rather than blaming it on the system."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-17585201

So please encourage your children to develop the attitudes found in China, they can do anything they put their mind to.

The Drive

When I went to Como the first time in April, I thought driving was perfect as my friends from Canada were here and this way we could stop for lunch in the alps, maybe go up a gondola. However, the weather God had different ideas and it poured with rain and you could not see any mountains just clouds, rain and at some point snow. I thought this was okay because we still had the return journey and they could see it all on the way back. But of course it rained the whole way back and again you could see nothing. So yesterday I was amazed, as this was my first time driving this route without rain, at how beautiful it was. I cannot believe it was all around us in April and we could not see it. Honestly, Mandy and Denise, it is worth coming back just for the drive!

But we were rushing back for girlie dinner at Suzanna's (now knick named sushi, and not because this is what she made for dinner :)

Back to Basel

I am sure most will be happy to learn that after some sunshine on the patio and some lunch me and Raluca will be heading back to Basel. I am guessing it gets pretty annoying seeing the same sort of pictures that all say the same thing, that we are having a fabulous time and I love Italy. So I am kinda sorry for that, but as I mentioned before I want this blog to remind me at an older age of the good old days... And not to worry will be back to work Monday!

 Yummy strawberries

 Oh and if you ever make it here, you must have ice cream here - best ever, especially dark chocolate!

It is impossible to get one of Lola, she turns her head every time!

Honesty

So I generally try and avoid non-sunny pictures on the blog. When I am 80 and re-reading this I want to remember everything perfect and sunny is perfect to me. But it was pointed out today that I should be more honest and genuine on the blog. So I decided this morning, on the way to Bellagio that I would take and display cloudy photos and I think I was rewarded for this honesty. As what started as a coffee to warm up on the boat on the way, ended up as a beautiful sunny glass of wine waiting for the boat to return to Argegno...

And now a beautiful evening to look forward to x

Our night

Did not get much better...

...after another average walk,

we went to a restaurant on the lake,

and again had to suffer Italian food! It is a tough life here, eat, drink, sleep, eat, drink, just horrible!

Our Day...

...has been hard.

First we had to wake up to this..

 ...then we had some breakfast,

then I dragged all on a walk through these old villages,

 to this average looking restaurant,

  where we had this mediocre lunch.

We somehow managed to eat it all,

which is amazing if you consider the views.

(next time I promised to take a boat)
And now off to the bloody spa and then to some restaurant on the lake. I am not really sure how to cope ;)