Ruth With InterVarsity Link: Snapshots

Bonjour tout le monde!
I apologize to those of you who may have been checking here hoping for an update on how it's all going. I really haven't had much time to sit down and organize all that I have been seeing/hearing/observing/learning/discovering into some sort of order. Basically, everything is NEW so there are so so many things that I think I shall just try to give you a few snapshots of life in Lausanne so far. Keep in mind that right now I am getting orientated and that my involvement in the actual ministry will be a gradual thing as first I have to get settled into Switzerland.

#1 The Livos
Andrew and Claire Livingstone are my team leaders and are overseeing the international student ministry part of GBEU (the sister-movement to IV) here in Switzerland. They are an Australian couple who have been here for just over a year and plan on being here for another 8 more years at which point they hope to hand the ministry over to the local Swiss. Thus, their ministry (and mine, now that I'm here!) is really to (a) reach out to international students and (b) teach others to do the same who will teach others to do the same and so on and so forth.
Andrew and Claire call themselves the Livos for short and it is this habit of Australian informality that makes me feel immediately at home. While we organize my apartment (like clean it and set up internet, etc.) they have graciously welcomed me into their apartment. We've talked quite a bit about Australian and American differences and laughed a lot at silly expressions and phrases. (Where as we would say thingy they would say thing-o and yet they don't use hey-o!) For the most part, there isn't a language barrier ;) I am incredibly thankful for them and am looking forward to learning from them.

#2 The language
My confidence in French goes up and down like a yo-yo on a string. For the most part, the Swiss are incredibly patient and forgiving and will usually switch to English if you get stuck. I also consciously push myself to do hard things (like call my concierge or go to a store to get Internet for the apartment on my own). It's so wonderful when taking these sometimes scary steps have positive results. For instance, the young lady who helped me with the internet set-up was SO nice and switched to English to make sure I understood and even offered me a piece of cake because it was another co-worker's birthday in the store that day. Today, at the church was also really positive as I was able to understand a lot of what was said up front (and they sang two songs in French that I knew in English) as well as communicate with the people before and after the service in short little conversations. One lady encouraged me by saying she thought I would do very well since I already have a foundation for the language and another said she thought my accent was quite good. What a confidence boost! I think the language can only get easier and easier the more I do it and I am so thankful to already be at the level I am at-definitely God's hand in preparing me! Next week, on Tuesday and Wednesday, I will have the language placement test to determine my level officially before being given my study program.

#3 The university
Part of what I'm learning is things I would just know about the university system in America. I am learning my way around the university and also just that it is such a different campus culture from the one I attended. On Friday, there was a new students day and a students activities fair. I got to participate as a student so I didn't have to sit at the table and talk to people but instead be the one who was talked to as I walked around to all the different places. It was all a bit overwhelming and tiring but I got lots of free stuff to go through! The most valuable things I got from it were a small foldable map of the university, information on a language exchange program where you get a partner for one-on-one practice (apparently English-speakers are very popular so I will be in high demand), and a free agenda for the school year. After forcing myself through the crowded room in and amongst all the students and booths I had to go and sit outside (fortunately it was a nice day) and re-group. As an introvert, sometimes those activities are just exhausting! However, I am coming to realize it will all get easier as the campus becomes more familiar.

Alright, that's all for now-I hope that these little snapshots give you a better idea of life here for me! Please feel free to email or Facebook me any questions you might have!