My big weekend

On Saturday I was at yet another horse event, and as i have come to expect it is nothing like the last. Each horse event has something different about it and there is always something new going on.

At this horse event there was the parade of the new ponies. The ponies are paraded around a ring with their mother and are judged....almost like a beauty contest, they are judged on how they look, walk, as well as their personality. The horses are then given points and these points are extremely important when one wishes to sell their horse.(the better the points you have the higher the price for your horse.)


After the horse selling and point giving day I went home and got ready to got o a fest (party) for a girl in my class who is off to England for 3 months to better her English.

I met one of the girls from my class next to the school,(Julia and her brother Mateusz ) so that we could walk together to the fest as I didn’t know the way.


This party was great fun. I really enjoyed my self. I took a group table photo when I arrived and then the photo tradition continued.



I have silly lip photos and more with all of my class (the ones who were there) and this was extremely funny.
Julia Me and Michele Me and Melanie Me and Sira Me, Julia and Serena Sexy Serena Me and Anika Me and Joel
Me and Hanna

Me and Irene

Julia, Serena and Melanie

Then as the time went on we took a lot of photos....and when I say a lot I mean an enormous amount.

Here are some of my favourites.

Pole dancing Michele Ladder ladies



A Circle of friends








Hands of friendship

After photos we had some brownies for dessert, played some volley ball (with my ball skills this game didn’t last to long) so I soon retired into the house, and left those competent to play to continue playing.

Once inside I talked with my class and then I saw the cutest house pets I have ever seen




YES TURTLES


It was just magical to hold one of these little critters. It was so sweet. I could hardly believe that it was alive as it felt so unreal.

As time ticked on at it was 10.30pm and I had to run to my train (a 20 minute walk) as my last bus leaves from another station at 11pm and I have to catch another train before the bus.


it was a shame I had to leave so early as other guest who had been at a concert had just arrived.


Julia was once again so lovely and power walked me to near the school so I could find my way to the station.



On the Sunday it was yet another fest . Yet this one was up on a hill in front of my village and was for my host father’s brother’s birthday.

My host sister, my host dad and I rode our bikes up the kill to the fest while my host brother rode his motor bike and my host mum walked.

As I was going up the hill my gears kept making a huge big clicking noise and jolting the bike. So I had to stop to try and fix them. Of course as I was doing so other relatives were driving up the hill. They tooted their horns and continued on.

When I arrived at the fest they all decided it was extremely funny how an Australian couldn’t ride up a hill. Not know how to explain about my gears and also jut deciding it was better to just laugh it off, I let it ride and laughed along with them.

After lunch the parents played a special card game that is only played in Switzerland. I asked if I could learn but they had already started and were all revved up for a big game that they decided it was better if I played poker with the boys instead.

This was good fun. I am not too good at poker but did win a few hands none the less (you would be proud Dad). However after a run of bad luck, and not the best bluffing on my account I was beaten by two of the cousins, though am proud to say I was not the first to be knocked out, just the second.



After the eldest host cousin was trying to learn to drive and all of the cousins were chasing him with their motor bikes trying to spook him out.....it was time for the party to end.


We hopped back on our bikes and started to go home. Here I was now determined I would show the world Australian’s can ride a bike and have been doing so for along time. so I comfortably was riding down the hill........when suddenly fate hit me and I was going to fast.......and as any bike rider would do I put on the back breaks ...well it turns out I put on what I thought were the back breaks but it turns out the Swiss don’t only drive on the other side of the road they also have their brakes around the other way.....and as any bike rider would know when you travel at a fast speed and put on your front breaks you are bound to go flying...and that is exactly what I did.

So I am sorry Australia as far as the Swiss in Laupersdorf are concerned Australians really can’t ride bikes.


So I went flying……except I can’t remember flying or smashing my body on the ground. The last thing I remember is thinking. I am going to fast I must slow down....and then I was suddenly in my bed room standing there with my host sister saying 'if you need me at all just ask, I hope you are ok'.

I was then left standing there trying to work out what on earth had happened. I saw my hand and it was bleeding, though not badly, and my clothes had grass stains and twigs etc all over them.

I then remembered the fest form Serena...and a hill and my bike. But I couldn’t remember what was real or a dream and my whole head was muddled.

I then lay down on my bed and woke up 2 hours later with a clear idea of what had happened. However I looked in my camera for confirmation ..and the fest for Serena was real so I decided the rest must be as well.

My host mum came in to check on me and we went down to dinner. My host dad thought it was rather spectacular to see his exchange student fly over her handle bars with the bike in tow, doing a Summer-Sault.

That night I had the worst head ache I have ever had. After no sleep, that morning I knocked on my host parents door and received a Panadol. I then went back to bed and we decided I would have the day off school.

After a long days rest my head slowly started to recover. though I still have the lost memory from the accident until home. Yet, I have decided if that is all I have lost or damaged I am extremely lucky.

I also phoned Mum and Dad at home in Australia to let them know what had happened and that I was ok. I thought it was best for them to know in person and ask questions rather than to read that I had flown over my bike handles and had smashed myself on the ground.


The Monday night I was off to a rotary meeting. I attended this and enjoyed myself as usual despite the head ache. . The meeting was a partners meeting (so bring your wife…. and a dinner not the usual lunch) and as such a game of badminton or tennis was on offer.

With a sore head I opted not to play tennis or badminton and instead I joined the less sporty or less fit and able members of the club and watched them play cards. Here I finally learnt some of the rules of the confusing Swiss card game.

We then had dinner. I talked with a lot of people, including the Oldest member of my club, my next host dad, my next host grandfather (who is also a member of the club), as well as the President and many more a friendly Rotarian and spouse. The wife evening s are my favourite as people are more relaxed and the main purpose of the evening is mixing and getting to know one another.

So after a long weekend and Monday I was well and truly tired and ready to fall fast asleep……….. Only to wake up at 5.20am the next day for my nice and early school start.