Yesterday was my second day of school. Hannah and I rode the train together and we didn't have any problems getting there. I now know how the train system works. It is very easy.
Before school, Katherine showed me how to get to the post office and the bank. Then we went to the Migros. It is the biggest store in Rheinfelden. It is almost like a tiny Walmart.
It has carts alike Aldis
There were also these cute little goats in a yard we walked by. This one had a bell around it's neck, but it wouldn't let me get a good picture of it.
This little latter is so a cat can climb in and out of it's house. We have a rope for Bolero, but the window is not that high.
This is just a cool looking fire hydrant. There are multiple ones like this in Rheinfelden.
Swiss advertising is not what I'm used to. This is a Burger King add and there is a lady painted gold in it. I don't understand why. I've noticed on other adds and in magazines there are very provocative pictures. Which is strange because people dress more conservative than back in the States.
And this is just part of the chocolate self in the Migros at the train station in Basel. So YUMMY!!!
After school I cam home and ate some yummy soup and cheesy bread. Then I went to an Organ concert in the church. It was a short concert. I didn't focus on the first some very much because I was not use to the sound of an Organ. It sounds kind of humorous to me. It was strange and I felt kind of awkward because people didn't clap after each song. I almost thought they weren't going to clap at the end, but after a long awkward pause they did.
After that I sat in the Garden with Peter, Katherine and Matthias. We spoke in German and I could understand most things and say what I wanted too. I am not so nervous and shy about speaking anymore. And it's nice when i can understand some of the jokes. It is awkward when I am sitting at the table with my host family and I can't really understand what they are saying then everyone starts laughing at a joke i didn't understand.
I also found out what Matthias does. He decided to do an apprenticeship and he works with machines. It is they same thing Zeke did at Votech this past year. However, Matthias has been doing it for 4 years. He goes to work 4 days out of the week and goes to school for one.
Here are some pictures of the garden
This is the key to the Garden. It is enclosed by a wall so no one can get in unless they have a key to the door.
Then Peter asked me if I wanted to see the bells. I hear them everyday, so of course I wanted to see them.
We went up in the church tower to see them.
Please observe how tall the clock tower is.
Old things that were inside the bells that help it ring (I don't know what they are called)
So a man use to have to come up in the tower every morning and "wind it up" like how a cuckoo clock works. In the room that he did that he had a bunch of pictures and newspaper articles up. This one is from the mom landing.
Peter leaves all this things up. he says it is like a "tiny museum".
These are the gears that use to work the clock. it is all electronic now.
The biggest bell. (there are five in the tower total.)
After we see the first two big bells, Peter asks me if I want to go see the other three. I said yes then he said it is very dangerous but we will go. Of course he tells me its dangerous after I say yes! We had to climb up a ladder then walk across a thin board. It was probably a foot wide. If I had fallen it wouldn't have killed me, but it would still hurt! It's a good thing I'm not afraid of heights! But we made to them and the two pictures above are them.
On the way down it was time for the bell to ring. It was crazy being right next to a ringing bell. It echoed for such a long time!!
Today I woke up to the bells ringing at eight. I got dressed and went downstairs for some yogurt and coffee. Then I took a walk around Rheinfelden. I walled on the Marktgasse (main street) The Inseli (small Island) and I found a park.
Here is a stack of rocks someone made in the Rhine right by the Inseli.
The view of the Rhine and Inseli from a bench I found.
A small fountain in the park.
This is the second one of these I've seen. There is one on a playground by my house. Kids lay on it the someone else will spin it and it just goes and tilts in a circle. It looks like a lot of fun!
A tiki head trash can
I think this is very cool. A Shelter house made out of trees.
The inside looking up.
Rock seats inside of it.
In the park, there was a shallow pond with goldfish and ducks. Next time I go I'll have to bring something to feed them with.
Class started later today, so a lot of my class mates were going to go into Basel early to check it out. Well a lot of them weren't able to come so it ended up being just Hannah and me. We found an awesome store in the Basel Bahnhof (train station). It is called Chicoree, and it is very cheap. For Switzerland and even for the US. I got two scarfs, 6 pairs of earings, and a satchel for 23 Franks! That is almost 30 dollars. I am excited because there is a Chicoree in Rheinfelden! I now know where I will be buying most of my clothes!
While at the Bahnhof I had to use the restroom. I swear I walked around that place for like 15 minutes and I could not find a Bathroom! Finally, Hannah and I go outside and we see a sign for restrooms. It leads us to a small building and you had to pay to use it. But I really had to go so I paid the half a frank. The door was kind of like and elevator door and after I put my money the door came open. (At this point your probably wondering why I'm telling you a story of me going to the bathroom but this is the funny part.) After taking care of my business I saw a red button next to the toilet. Well I pressed it assuming it was the flush. Right after I pressed it the door started opening!! I had to quickly pull my pants up!!! I never did find how to flush...
