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Something that you will never know about exchange student #2

6 September 2017 Today is my host parents' 20th anniversary. They got married on the same day as today in 1997. I always have a free Wednesday afternoon. When I came back from lunch with other exchange students, they were there in the living room, talking. I sat down opposite them and listened to them. They were holding their wedding photo albums, going through page by page, picture by picture, thinking back about their wedding 20 years ago. They still have their hand-written wedding draft planner. The colour of papers of that draft faded but their love do not. From what they told me, my host father (Patrik)'s handwriting doesn't change, still messy as the way it is. They requested their guests to write on a piece of paper about their own idea of family, love and so on. So, the guests did it and the blessings from families and friends have remained until today. Of course, they keep it well and I had a chance to have a glance at it. There are some pictures on the wall ...

Konstanz, Deutschland 19 April 2017

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Konstanz, Deutschland After Basel, the 4 of us explored a place called Konstanz in the southern of Germany. We crossed the border of Switzerland and went all the way to Germany. I attached a screenshot of Google Maps which shows the location of Konstanz. Hope It will help to give you some idea. With the lessons I learnt, I did prepare for the weather since it was a day with light snow. I come from Malaysia, a tropical country. Spring is a season which I like it and hate it at the same time. I developed a love-hate situation with Spring. It could be sunny and warm but in a blink of time it could change and become cloudy and chilly. I didn't believe it when my host parents told me it would snow in May until I witnessed it.  We spent 2 hours (or more) of travelling in a train from Switzerland to Germany. When the train reached the platform in Germany, the sky started to show us its magic and it snowed. Snowflakes hit me in the face and I could eat it just by opening my ...

Basel 18 April 2017

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Basel Second time in Basel! I think I won't get tired of coming to Basel because it's too beautiful! This time I came the Malaysian exchange students. I will call them as my Malaysia squad below (It sounds cooler, isn't it?). I remembered Marvin was the one insisted to visit Basel and the squad made this trip. We came to this Spalentor first as it was on the recommendation list of Marvin's host father.    The Spalentor The most magnificent and impressive of the 3 surviving entrance gates to the old city, which date back to 1400. You maybe think there's nothing special of going through this old gate. But there's exactly the point. Go to the place, see it with my own eyes, amaze it with my heart. We walked from Spalentor to Rathaus and then to the cathedral. I forgot what does this building called but it is located at somewhere near the  Barfüsserplatz. He's Marvin! Lighted up a candle in the Basel Cathedral. The m...

Something you will never know about exchange student #1

17 August 2017 I stopped counting the day of me living in Switzerland because until now, no doubt, half of my exchange year had passed. I understand most part of German at home and in the school. I did not speak English to my host parents since a month. If you think that my life will be more wonderful from now on, then you're wrong. Currently, the summer holiday ended and new school year has begun. I am in the third year of swiss high school. In almost a week, I question myself more than 20 times, why am I here. The stress level is no jokes. Why should I feel stressed? You may ask. I am not even a Swiss student. I am only an exchange student who will be back to her home country in 5 months. I could have just chill down and visit places in Switzerland. But I choose not to do so. I can't just let the time pass. I can't use my parents' money and do nothing here. I can't skip school. I have to be good. I have to let my parents be proud of me. I have to be respon...

Lötchberg Südrampe 17 April 2017

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Lötchberg Südrampe The following day after the castle of Lenzburg, I went to the Canton of Wallis with Patrik. www.myswitzerland.com/en-ch/hohtenn-lalden-hiking-classics-on-loetschberg-mountain.html I don't remember where did we start our walk but I am sure that we stopped at the station which called Ausserberg. It was not a difficult walk for me. Here is a sharing of thoughts. I like hiking because of the freedom of it. Without the help of watch, without knowing the exact time, I eat when I feel hungry, I stop when I feel tired. I don't have to bother about anything, just have to be careful when I hike. Hiking makes me feel like as if everything is returned to its origin, nothing is complicated. Maybe it is due to my subconcious of wanting to escape from the busy city life, I really enjoy myself when I am in between the beautiful mountains and hills. Hope you enjoy the following pictures! The railway  The valley The people of this c...

Schloss Lenzburg 16 April 2017

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Schloss Lenzburg This time is about the castle at Lenzburg. Personally, I would describe Lenzburg as the town that I must pass by if I want to go to Zurich. Lenzburg has its own old town, just like Aarau but smaller. There's an attraction at Lenzburg which is the castle. So in a cloudy afternoon, Patrik and I visited this castle.  Ohh yesss! This day was the Easter Sunday. So I stayed at home in the morning and baked this Easter cake with my host family. It was super delicious! They would only bake this cake once a year just for the Easter celebration. The garden of the castle The kitchen The study room The interior structure of the castle assembled more or less the original look. I really like to visit this kind of place. Although I don't remember the major part of the historical background, but I enjoy the feeling of visiting it, just like getting to know a wise old story. I would like to sleep in this room for one night! I wonder...

Niederhorn 14 und 15 April 2017

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Niederhorn Hey there! I don't update this blog since I was on my summer vacation with my host family! And my another host brother, Clemens is back from his exchange semester! I was glad to know him. Now, I'm back to write about my spring holiday. As always, I will post as many pictures as possible. These 2 days, I went to Niederhorn with Pascal and Patrik! Niederhorn is a peak of Emmental Alps in the Bernese Oberland near Beatenberg. I could not forgive myself if I miss this quick shot inside the seilbahn before I reached the summit. So this is what the people use to get up to Niederhorn, the seilbahn. I thought I could have touch the sky and the fluffy clouds when I first reached here. It is 1963m high. From its summit, I saw the Bernese Alps and lake Thun so clearly. The view was absolutely breath-taking! We walked around to spend our time. We did not hike but I considered as it. Spent our time as in enjoyed the view, observed birds,...