Learning

It snowed quite a bit overnight the otherday. I decided that was a good time to walk up death hill for the first time and it was actually a lot of fun and I got some beautiful pictures. Therefore, interspersed in this post about learning new things are my snowy walk picture.

Learning Dutch

One of my goals for L’Abri was to ask someone to teach me how to do something. I wrote this down in my journal during the first week as I reflected on what I wanted for this season of my life. I had something in mind like how to play the piano or guitar or make a specific dish. 

However, as I was reading a loud the first paragraph of the dutch Chronicles of Narnia to my dutch friend, Rineke, it dawned on me that I had asked someone to teach me something… Dutch. I mean, obviously Dutch is so much more practical to learn, I can use it anywhere. It’s not like playing a musical instrument would be useful at all. (Read the sarcasm). 

I have so much fun learning Dutch. From making everyone in hearing distance cracking up as I try to make the throaty noises to learning useful phrases like “you’re sweet my little bunny,” I really enjoy the process. 

It was particularly amusing when another dutch person, Dave was here. Rineke and him where cracking up as they taught me to say lekker ding and konijntje. They told me these were ways to say hello; however, I could easily tell from their laughter that they meant something else. After much laughter and begging they told me the true meanings of these words. “Lekker ding” is telling someone they are hot or sexy and “konijntje” means little bunny. So if you ever need to find your sexy bunny in Holland, I can help you out. 

No story about me learning Dutch would be complete without my favorite phrase “knutfel tijd” which when I say it sounds like knuffle tight. It sounds like something from a Dr. Seuss book and means hug time. I love it so much that I’ve been teaching it to all the workers and students. 

Here’s a big thanks to my patient teachers Rineke and Dave or as I like to say konintkje fond mijn. 

The Art of The Hitch

Hitchhiking in Switzerland, particularly in the mountains is fairly common and safe. It’s wild to my American mind, where perhaps the book In Cold Blood by Truman Compote canceled out any desire to take a ride from stangers. 

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However, here, especially at L’Abri where most people show up with lots of questions and problems and not very much money, hitching is just another transportation option. 
I’ve done it a couple of times and I’m always fascinated by the people who pick you up. The French couple in the minivan who made their kid move to the back, the immigrant from Turkey who was just out to wash his car, the ski instructor on her way home for work. 

People with nice cars, super clean cars that make me regret my dusty boots, they stop too. People who are just passing through and have don’t know the area stop and then ask for directions to your destination. 

It does feel a bit like awkward and like rejection as car after car passes you by. What helps is sometimes the drivers signal that their car is full or that they’re almost to their destination so it wouldn’t be a good ride anyway. 

The first time I hitched we had to split into two groups and it took a couple of different rides to get to our destination. It was amusing passing eachother in cars or getting dropped off and then walking to a good hitching spot and seeing the other group.  
So if you ever are in Switzerland and you want to save your bus fair (it’s seven francs just to get to Aigle which is about a 20 minute ride), consider hitching. 

Hitching tips: Stand somewhere the car can see you from a distance and where there is room for it to pull off. Major roads where everyone is probably going your direction are definitely helpful. Hitch in groups of two or three if possible,  the more people the harder it is to get a ride. Having a girl in your group can be helpful. Oh and I’d say go with someone who’s done it before the first time. 

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Instagram Worthy Quotes

“Some things just have to be believed to be seen.” Philip Yancy, Disappointment with God

I like this quote because it turns logic on it’s head, it reverses the norm. It reminds me to question what I take for granted as fact and even question what I assume is illusionary. Our thoughts can lie to us after all… so perhaps we should make more space for uncertainty. 

Well that’s all for now. Lekker ding everyone!