"Hey! There's Liddy!"

I am a slacker. I know.
But in my defense for not posting much this past week, I have been worn out. I feel like I have done, done, done and gone, gone, gone this whole week. Maybe that is because we had a sick kid here in the house Monday and Tuesday, and then the other two were out of school today...

Anywho! Did I mention I started my Dutch classes? Yep... On Monday. I have class twice a week. Monday and Wednesday. And I can already tell you that I am the slowest (Dutch) learner in the class. For example, I am take Beginner's Dutch. So on Monday, the first class, I show up not knowing a word of Dutch. By the end of class, I realize that I am practically the only on who doesn't know how to count in Dutch already... Ummm... okay?! Maybe it is because everyone has lived here longer that I have and have, in turn, been able to pick up more of the language. But no matter what reason, I am still going to have to work that much harder. So my "slowness" paired with my strong Southern drawl just means I am going to have to study approximately 6-8 hours a week outside of class while everyone else is only doing 3-4. Yippee!*
*Sense the sarcasm.

You know, maybe I should focus less on Halloween and more on my Dutch... I mean, if I spent as much time practicing my Dutch as I have planning my costume or planning the kids' Halloween party, I'd be practically conversational by now! ...But then again, where is the fun in that?!

So yeah, I have pretty much been consumed with Halloween for the past few days. For some reason, I volunteered to head a festive celebration for the kids on Saturday. And that was yesterday that I volunteered. ...And tomorrow is Halloween. Short notice, much?! Either way, plans are coming together. As you may already know, we have been working on a pumpkin pinata... And though it is rather homely and crooked looking to say the least, it is coming together. If you squint--and look past the big dent in the side--it actually looks pretty good! But really, it is not like it makes much of a difference. The kids really only love the idea of busting it open to be showered with candy... But

Also on the agenda for tomorrow is a frightful lunch. The menu consists of:
-Worm Sandwiches (AKA long, skinny slices of ham in a pita)
-Witch's Fingers (AKA String Cheese carved up a bit with Bell Pepper "fingernail" bits on the ends)
-Goblin Eyes (AKA Boiled Eggs with filling topped with an olive)
-Witch's Warts (AKA peas)
-Ghost pops (AKA a white chocolate-covered banana half on a popsicle stick with raisins as eyes and mouths)
-And Witch's Brew Punch (AKA juice in a punch bowl with floating ice "hands" and ice cubes with gummy worms in them)
So we will surely feat liek ghouls!

And after the frighteningly delicious lunch, we'll play some games. The lineup thus far includes:
-Mummy Wrap
-Pin the nose on the Witch
-Bobbing for Apples
-Monster Dash
And then of course, the grand finale. ...Also known as the pinata! Please Esther and Stefan, do not kill me for all the sweeties the kids will end up with. That is pretty much my prayer right now. But nevertheless, as soon as the last Kit Kat falls, I am out of there. Done. Finito*. The sugar-induced frenzy that is sure to follow is not going to be my scene!
*Is that even a word?

But of course, I will blog to let you know about how it all goes. To be honest, I am actually excited about our little celebration tomorrow. I've been noticing that kids really do get the most joy out of the simplest things... Even if it is just the "There was an old woman of skin and bones" song that you teach them. But beware; The tune of this song will come back to haunt you!*. The kids will use it every chance they get to say anything and everything they want to convey.
*Pun intended! Heh

In other news...

I am in love with Stefan's Godfather?! ...Ahahah.... Stefan is the Dad. Tonight at dinner, we (adults) cracked open a bottle of wine, and he actually heard me say more that 5 sentences for the first time since I have been here. We talked about everything... From drinking games, to travels, to past employers--shout out to TSEP!--we covered it all. And somehow, we ended up talking about his Godfather who runs a chain of hospitals in Cambodia. This guy was pretty much one of the wealthiest doctors in Zurich--and who isn't wealthy in Zurich anyways?!--but he gave up his posh pediatric practice in Switzerland to build a better (non-profit) health system in Cambodia. (And anyone who is truly on BFF status with me knows that I really, really want to volunteer in Cambodia. It is one of the biggest things on my to-do list in the next 5 years.) So I was basically fascinated from the beginning. But the more I listened, the more I learned... And I was just so inspired by this one man! Yeah... Just thought I'd share...

And on a lighter note, something really funny happened on the way to piano. Well, maybe it wasn't really funny, but it was at least funny in a "late-night interstate conversations"* sort of way. (If you have no idea what that means, don't worry about it. It basically means that it was funny in a delirious kind of way.) Sara, Ian, and I were driving to piano so it was about 6 p.m.. At that time here during this season, it is pretty dark outside. It seems like 8 or so at night. So with all the darkness, it is pretty hard to really see well. And as we were driving, we started nearing a biker coming the opposite direction, and Ian yells, "Hey! That's Liddy!". (Liddy--she-- is the kids Dutch tutor.) And a few seconds later, we pass the biker, only to realize that it is actually a man! And we all die laughing! Just the fact that Ian confused Liddy with a man was hilarious--cause Liddy does have a "less-feminine" hairstyle. Like I said earlier, the simpliest things can bring the most joy! Boy, did we laugh--and then sing about it in the "There was an old lady of skin and bones" tune!
*You know what that means, Sarah and Faith!

Yeah...

But in case I don't get to tell you guys tomorrow, Happy Halloween!