27 & 28 Oct -- Kander-Lodge Work is Play

Everything we do at KISC is fun! Even when we are working is seems like playing. Kander-Lodge is one of the best assignments because we are building something and we can see the progress every day.

I cut 138 pieces of wood yesterday and ripped down walls. You can check out some of the work pictures on my website here.

26 Oct -- British Invasion!

I had to deal with 30 British kids in the shop tonight, and 2 check-ins. I had no clue what I was doing for check-ins but that's part of the FUN of working here. I get to learn so many new things!

It was total chaos. One of the brits stole some candy in the shop... I was getting phone calls that I needed help with, but I wasn't allowed to leave the shop w/ guests in it... How do you tell 30 people to leave a small space for under 5 min, then come back and reset everything?!

26 Oct -- Package Arrives!

I love mail... Mom and Dad stuffed so much in a little envelope. I have a new neckerchief, candy, cards, pictures, Skype phone, and a gift for Beau. THANKS!

25 Oct -- Daylight Savings Time

An extra hour of SLEEP today!

24 Oct -- Ripped & Bruised

Biking is one of my passions. But the bike got the better of me today! The first time was a flat tire - that really kicked by butt. Then the chain slipped off the other bike and I went over the handle bars. I haven't fallen off a bike in 12 years and it happened twice today!

21 Oct -- Another beautiful day in Switzerland

Even the most simple of days are fun here. I went to the post office to mail my absentee ballot, stopped by the bank. I took apart table, drilled 3 holes, smashed my hand a little. It was all good!

20 Oct -- My Country Cares about ME!

There's a lot of things to know about and to do before working at KISC. (This is part of the reason I plan to volunteer to help other Scouts when I return home). One of the "to do" items is to register with the State Department.

It was telling the State Department I was in Kandersteg that caused my absentee ballot to find me. It was an awesome surprise to see it arrive in the mail! I was able to participate in my first presidential election -- because my country cared enough to send me a ballot. How cool is that!

19 Oct -- Let them eat cake!

I got to bake TWO cakes tonight! One was apple crisp and one was carrot cake... if you lose the key to your room, your "punishment" is wearing an annoying piece of rock climbing gear and baking a cake within 48 hours. I didn't actually lose my key - but it was a good excuse to do some baking!

18 Oct -- Ski Bar

Went to the ski bar at the Hotel Victoria Ritter for a social night out... Chatting with staff is really great, but the smoke in the air always gives me a headache.

16 Oct -- On my way back from Bern

Bern was fantastic!!!

I walked around a lot checking out the city, the architecture, the sights & sounds... I went to the "Historisches Museum Bern" or for the French "Musee Historique de Berne" or for us Americans the History Museum or more commonly known as the Einstein Museum. The museum was great... I learned a lot about the history of Switzerland and some interesting stuff about Albert Einstein. Einstein became a Swiss citizen in 1901 and received much of his early schooling in Switzerland.

I also tried to open a bank account at Credit Suisse -- only to learn that I needed $1 Million before they would consider opening an account.

Here's what I wrote on the train ride back from Bern (before ADD took over again):
"Bern is awesome. It reminds me of Grove City outlets but a thousand times bigger. The history & Enistein musem really gave me an appreciation for this country and its past. Fun time!!"