These are just a few pictures of me in Switzerland.
On Monday I took an unofficial French placement exam to be placed in a more challenging class for the final 3 weeks. Somehow I tested into the C1 level, which is really ridiculous in my opinion. I am with a bunch of students who have studied French or lived in a French speaking country for 4+ years. I am pretty good at hiding my weaknesses, though. I have learned a lot of shortcuts with the language to avoid problematic sentences. My writing is still weak, but the speaking and understanding are there.
I have to study like a madman the next week because my first try at the language exam is next Thursday. I am not too sure how that will go, but I guess I can see my problem areas if I fail the first time and try to study for the second attempt in early September.
My new teacher is a nice enough guy, but he is old and has some pretty absurd policies. For example, he told us the first day, "No drinking bottled water in class. Put it away." Someone objected based on the heat and lack of air conditioning in the room. He responded, "Water does not help you with the heat. That is the bottled water companies paying doctors and medical experts to say that water is good for you so the companies can sell more water." Additionally, he has worn the EXACT same outfit the first three days of class. I imagine he has not even changed his underwear.
I have bought a lot of groceries here (obviously), and I have a few complaints with the grocery stores. First of all, there are only two different grocery stores in all of Switzerland: Migros and Coop. They have obviously never considered a free-market economy based on competition because the products are the exact same and so are the prices. I need some variety in my grocery-shopping life. Second, the grocery stores close at 7 p.m. Monday through Friday, 6 p.m. Saturday, and are closed all day Sunday. This presents a problem if I forget to stock up for a few days. Additionally, the Migros does not sell alcohol. Third, the grocery stores charge a fee for bags. I like this concept because it contributes to sustainability. I use the same bag over and over again as do most people.
In response to that last paragraph: welcome to my entire abroad experience. We did have a greater variety of stores and there were some open air markets, but basically that was my life. You get used to it, promise.
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