Last weekend I spent two days in Switzerland.  Friend Peter and I drove up to see mutual friend Bette who worked at the school a couple years ago.  It never ceases to amaze me how you drive over the border and the difference is immediate. It's as though the entire population of Switzerland spends their days scrubbing and mowing and trimming and sweeping.  And again I thought how lovely Vevey is.   But reality payed a visit when we went out to eat and spent 100 bucks for a Vietnamese curry and a beer each. (that's for only 2 people, people!)  It’s all relative as the Swiss are paid so much more but for one traveling on an Italian or American paycheck it can be shocking.  5 dollar coffee, 500 dollar skirt…. And then there is that Swiss mindset.  I prefer the Italian “who gives a shit”.   We parked in a well defined spot in front of B's apartment building but the front tires of the car were just touching the white line. We were told to back up or get ticketed.  Wait..WHAT?  In Italy, if you can fit it in there backwards, upside down or sideways – more power to you. The lines on parking spaces are just a suggestion.  Anyhow.  Had fun, spent too much, came home.


The IB exams have started and the stress level at home and school is very high.  At home Grace hides in her room studying and only ventures out to eat – maybe.  At school the 12^th graders are having their exams in the assembly hall and taking breaks in the library where I can watch them pace and sweat.   I can actually feel the nerves vibrating off them.   I brought in oatmeal chocolate chip cookies for snack Thursday.   I thought sugar might help.  I don’t envy them.  For the kids going to the states it’s not as bad as they have already been accepted to their colleges.  For those going to the UK, Grace included, their acceptances are provisional.  Each school has a required point total and they’re high. Average IB score is 24. The schools where these kids are applying are asking for 32 and up with extra points in certain subjects. They won’t know until July if they’ve passed!   It’s frightening. We are making plans as though she is going, but if Grace doesn’t get the required scores she’ll have to re-sit tests in Sept and start in January.  Ugh.

Last night we went to a Cinco de Mayo party even though it was the Seis de Mayo.  It was hosted by a Venezuelan friend and she had various Mexican friends attending so there was a lot of really good food!  They were all school families and the littlest kids couldn't get over seeing me outside of the library.   A Mexican/American dad told us that Cinco de Mayo isn't a big deal in Mexico.  It's celebrated more in the States as a Hispanic heritage day as opposed to the celebration of some obscure battle against the French during the fight for Mexican independence.  Who knew?  GP says that Corona and the lime industry probably started the US fad.  Oh well.  Happy Siete de Mayo!  xxoo me