The Switzerland Job (like The Italian Job, but north)

The pieces are finally starting to fall into place!

First, I got a job, which is a giant answer to prayer! I am going to be working as an Au Pair for a small family living outside of Zurich. For those of you who don't speak French, "Au Pair" means "on a par" or "equal to," which is no help at all because the translation gives no indication of what the word is actually used for. According to the oh-so-convenient-but-not-considered-reliable Wikipedia, an Au Pair is a foreign-national domestic assistant working for, and living as part of, a host family. Now in Amurikan (said with the best George W. Bush accent), an Au Pair is a live-in nanny. Typically, Au Pairs take on a share of the family's responsibility for childcare as well as some housework, and receive a small monetary allowance for personal use. Unfortunately, that is all the information I am going to provide you with because this blog is ultimately about me and I want to maintain the family's privacy...not to mention they don't know I'm writing a blog and I don't know how they would feel having details of their personal lives platered on the internet for the world of sketchy strangers to read. Note to self: Keep Job. If you really want to know the details, feel free to shoot me an e-mail and I'll break down the details for you.

What I can tell you is that I am super excited about working for this family and they were my first choice of families to work for. I can't wait to meet them and get to know them! I know that God has chosen to place me with this family for a reason and I am excited to discover what His purpose is for me in this home.

Second, I am officially signed up for German lessons! I am signed up for a one month long intensive German course at a school in Zurich. Every day for a month I will have three hours of lessons followed by one hour of language (so I can practice the gross noises that German insists on including in their language). Then once a week the class will go out in the city to a movie or something to hang out and practice our German.

Third, well, I don't really have a third point, but having an even number of points has always been awkward to me. Instead, here are some interesting facts that you may not know about Switzerland:

- The official name of Switzerland is Confoederatio Helvetica, which is Latin
- There are four official languages: German, Italian, French, and Romansh
- The population of Switzerland is 7.34 million, just under the population of New York City (7.39 million)
-Switzerland borders 5 other countries: Germany, France, Italy, Liechtenstein, and Austria
- The Swiss flag is the only square flag in the world
- Switzerland declared it's neutrality in 1812 and has been independent since 1815
- Switzerland has not been to war since 1515
- Every citizen is required to have a bomb shelter or access to one
- The Swiss system of government is based on the United States Constitution
- Switzerland joined the United Nations in 2002 but is not part of the European Union
- The CHF 1,000 bill is the highest denomination note in the world
- As of 2004, Switzerland was the third richest country in the world
- 90% of the population is either Roman Catholic or Protestant
- There are no Mosques in Switzerland
- The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) was founded in 1863 in Geneva. The flag of the Red Cross is the flag of Switzerland with the colors inverted
- Zurich is the largest city with 250,000 people
- Zurich was founded by the Romans in 58 BC as a customs post
- It is illegal to flush your toilet after 10pm
- You may not wash your car on a Sunday
- You can't turn right at a red light
- It is illegal to mow your lawn dressed like Elvis
- Switzerland has the largest consumption of soft drinks in the world
- The average Swiss eats 23 lbs. of chocolate a year compared to the 11.7 lbs consumed by Americans
- Switzerland has the highest life expectancy rate in Europe (after Sweden)
- About 20% of the people living in Switzerland are foreigners
- Albert Einstein was a clerk at a Swiss patent office when he came up with his Theory of Relativity
- The typeface Helvetica was created in Switzerland
- The literacy rate is 99%
- Swiss Army knives are red so they can be seen in the snow
- 60% of the electricity is produced by hydroelectric power
- 70% of the country is covered by mountains
- Switzerland's diverse landscape ranges from 643 feet above sea level in Ascona, where the climate is Mediterranean, to 15,199 feet above sea level in Dufour Peak. These locations are just 43 miles apart.
- You are never more than 10 miles from a lake
- James Bond's mother is Swiss

"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28