Friday, December 9, 1983

On my way to the U.S.: Höxter (12/7-9/1983)

Wednesday, December 7, 1983
Awoke just before the alarm went off at 5:15. Had my daily portion, which actually in Switzerland I have been having in halves twice a day. Is it still diarrhea if the frequency is twice a day?! I got dressed and packed the pajamas. Let myself out of Jan & Kirby's apartment, locked the door and locked the keys in the car. It was lightly snowing as I walked to the train station and my footprints were the only ones in the snow. I caught the 6:29 train to Basel, arriving at 7:36.
Cover of brochure for train info and timetable
I noted the train to Germany was an InterCity, so bought a Zuschlag/supplement for 6 CHF/$3.
Supplemental ticket

Biel to Brussels train ticket cover
Bought some chocolate bars with my leftover Swiss money. Caught the 8:08 train into Germany, arriving in Göttingen at 13:43, where I crossed the platform to board the 13:57 train to Kreiensen, arriving at 14:29. Walked to the other side of the station to catch the 14:38 local train to Höxter Rathaus. Passed through the gently rolling hills of the Weser valley with farmland and tiny towns. Arrived in Höxter about 15:25. I went to check the train schedule to see if there was an earlier train towards Aachen than 12:30. Then Elke N arrived, tapping me on the back! She said we could find out later about a train, so we went to hop in her old VW bus and drive through the neat little town with several restored medieval buildings among modern ones. The N house is one of the new ones with a flat roof. Inside, four little kids were milling around; all so cute! Nearly six-year old pixie-like Rebekka, pudgy nearly four-year old Anna, three-year old Daniel was almost as tall as Anna, and the adorable almost two-year old Michael. I was given a tour of the spacious house where every kid had his own room, but they prefer to sleep together. The Spielzimmer/play room was a madhouse! They had all the modern comforts: dishwasher and even a huge freezer. At 16:30 Ulrich came home and he took some videos around the house, even some of me. Boy, my German sounds schrecklich/terrible. We had a z’Vieri of waffles with cream and plum preserves with coffee or hot chocolate. The problem was that I thought this was dinner and ate two whole waffles! Elke and I continued to sit and talk, then went to the supermarket that stayed open later than the others. It was like a U.S. grocery store and even had some A&P brands. Then we went to visit a church acquaintance of the N’s who live in a 16C house that they are renovating. From the outside you can see that the floor levels had shifted. Inside each room was on its own level!
When we got back, the kids were given dinner of bread with butter, liverwurst and cheese, and hot cocoa. After they were put to bed, the grownups ate. I had a piece of bread with a cream of tartar spread, and one with liverwurst. Then we sat by the fireplace and Ulrich made a fire. Ulrich went to bed at 23:00. Elke seemed to need someone to talk to, and it was even interesting, but I was dead tired.

Thursday, December 8, 1983
Finally went to bed in the studio apartment they have which they can rent out. Having been up for 21 hours, I fell into bed.
Up at 8:00 and went upstairs to keep the kids amused while Elke went shopping for rolls. The kids ate bread with honey and a chocolate spread. When Elke came back, we had a “real” breakfast together, of several types of rolls (one with cheese baked on it) spread with butter and choice of jams, quark and whipped cream mixed together, peanut butter from Holland, honey, and chocolate and cream cheese spreads. I tried quark mixture with strawberry jam, and quark with peanut butter. The kids were off on their own, while Elke and I talked as we cleaned up the kitchen. Then it was time to start lunch! At 14:00 we sat down for beef rolls (thin slices rolled with lard and onions in them) and gravy, boiled potatoes and brussel sprouts. The kids had dessert of rice pudding and canned peaches.
We got ready to go out, with the kids wearing mismatched gloves. Michael liked to wear unmatched slippers or his daddy’s giant slippers. We, including the dog Ali, left to drive down to Höxter and parked behind the bank. Elke went into the bank while I held the dog leash. My hands got cold and the dog pulled the whole time. We went to the Christmas market of a few booths, mostly for food. The kids rode the carousel. We passed some finer shops and made our way to the train station. Rebekka dashed across a street so that a driver had to slam on his brakes! We stopped at a simple but pretty church. At the train station it was determined that I could catch a train in an hour to arrive in Brussels at 23:30. Elke ruled that out, so the next option was for Elke to drive me to Kreiensen and I’d leave at 22:00 to go to Hanover and then change for Brussels, arriving at 10:22. That was fine by Elke!
We wandered back to the market and the kids rode the carousel again. The three older kids were taken into the department store to use the restroom while I waited with Michael. Then the kids had waffles while Elke and I had crêpes. The kids got to ride the carousel once more, then we returned to the car, after seeing an aerial photo of the city in the bank. It didn’t have the N’s house on it.
This evening we visited an acquaintance of the N’s who was somehow connected to Ulrich’s work. Only the daughter was home, but it was there that I got an inkling of what Elke was planning. She wanted to drive me to Hanover, stopping at her parents’ house on the way. She expected to drive back in the morning, but then needed someone to watch the kids after Ulrich went to work. As we were leaving, we ran into an older couple, the daughter’s parents. The man seemed to think the plan was stupid, and called the train station to learn I could have been in Brussels tonight. Elke retorted that I would have to find a hotel. They suggested I take the train to Hanover, but Elke didn’t want me to wait for hours and hours. (I was ready to get a hotel or wait hours and hours, but Elke had her own ideas!) They finally agreed to come watch the kids. We stopped to buy bread on the way home.
Ulrich was napping when we got home at 20:00. We had dinner of bread with butter, liverwurst, cheeses, and canned herring. We watched a little TV and each kid except Daniel had a turn to sit next to me. Rapport was finally established at the last moment! The kids were put to bed and I went down to say goodbye to them.
Elke and I left at 21:30 to drive to Oerie where her parents live. It was raining as we drove through the hilly countryside and out into flat land. I was so tired and yawned myself silly. I was afraid of falling asleep on Elke who was keeping up a conversation. We arrived at her parents’ shortly before 23:00. I meet her mother and father; really nice people. We talked for an hour, then went upstairs to Elke’s old room with a sofa and a mattress on the floor. We put some sheets on the sofa and mattress, put on our pajamas and went to sleep.

Friday, December 9, 1983
The alarm went off at 2:00. We quickly got dressed and Elke gave me a bag lunch her mother had prepared. We went outside where Elke’s 18-year old brother Heiko was waiting in the N’s old Passat, now his car. He drove us into Hanover. Elke took my ticket and explained I needed to change from Höxter-Brussels to Hanover-Brussels. It cost me an additional 11 DEM.
Hanover-Brussels train ticket
We went to the platform to wait for the 2:56 train to Köln that was coming from East Germany. They announced it would be 20 minutes late. Elke and her brother were told by their mother to stay with me until I was on the train!  So we walked around the underground shopping mall with the sleeping bums and the signs on shop windows saying not to bother breaking in as the cash register is empty.
We returned to the train station and found the train had arrived. I had to go through several cars to find a seat, in a Polish car! Waved goodbye to Elke and Heiko as the train left at 3:20. Arrived in Köln at 7:25 and waited to the 8:09 train to Brussels. It was an InterCity train, so I bought a Zuschlag/supplement for 5 DEM. I then went to change all my DEM into Belgian francs. I spent the last of my change on a carton of milk and a bottle of tomato juice for 2.19 DEM, but was still left with 2.01 DEM! Oh, well!
I ate an orange and salami sandwich from the bag lunch.
On the train to Brussels, the conductor took my Zuschlag and charged me an extra 2 DEM.
Köln to Brussels supplement
I was glad I still had that much left! The Belgian conductor accepted the 2 DEM receipt as the supplement. There was no more snow after Köln. Arrived in Brussels about 10:20 at the Nord station, and went on to the Central station. I asked at baggage consignment and was told to go to the Midi station. Took the 10:42 train to Midi and went all the way around the back to baggage consignment. The guy took my ticket and told me to go though the back to Customs. I did and they couldn’t find my skis! I was taken back to baggage consignment and in the back room were my skis and boots!
Baggage tag on skis
I returned to the platform to catch the 11:10 train to Central, and there I hobbled over to track 1A and managed to get to 11:19 train to the airport. I stood in the vestibule with my skis. The conductor came and I paid 110 BEF/$2 for the ticket.
Train to Brussels airport ticket
A half hour later we were at the airport. I went to the Capitol Air desk to see if my open ticket was still valid. Everything was in order, but I did have to pay a 250 BEF/$4 airport tax.
Airport tax receipt
I went back to check-in and was told the skis were considered excess baggage, even if I wasn’t checking any other bags. So I had to return to the Capitol Air desk to pay the fee of 1,500 BEF/$27.
Excess baggage fee receipt
Ouch! Then I could check in and get my boarding pass.
Brussels to JFK ticket receipt
Ski baggage check
Baggage tag
Brussels to JFK boarding pass
Went through passport control and x-ray. Then wandered through the duty free shops and bought a Coca-Cola to use up the last of my Belgian coins. After that ski fee, I had very little left! We had a 13:30 boarding time for the 14:14 flight to JFK/New York City. It was late coming from Frankfurt and we boarded at 13:45. There was a lot of seat assignment confusion. They were still loading cargo at 14:15 and we left 20 minutes late. The steward doing the oxygen amsk and life vest demonstration thought he was a comedian. Lunch was beef chunks with rice and green beans, a salad with mayonnaise and bacon bits (real ones!). No dessert! The two girls beside me had to climb over me several times to use the restroom. We were given a snack at 20:00, or 14:00 local time; a little ham sandwich and a raisin roll. We landed about 16:30. With a U.S. passport, I was able to bypass passport control. Waited for the baggage to arrive, and the skis were carried out by hand. Although not necessary, I had itemized my souvenirs to a total of $136 in value. Normally you don’t have to declare anything less than $400, and to declare only the amount over $400. You only have to itemize if the total is over $1,400. The customs official glanced at my passport and signed the card. He asked where I had been skiing (Switzerland), and how was it (not much snow). He said I would be better off skiing in Buffalo. I changed all my Swiss and Belgian bills, getting only $35! I caught the airlines connector bus. Everything seemed so clean and new. It was already dark outside. Went almost in a complete circle to reach the Pan Am building where Empire Air was supposedly located. First I had to find the elevator to go to the third floor for departures. I walked back and forth, but no Empire Air, just the Pan Am ticketing office. I went in to wait in line, but decided I didn’t have enough time. A sign said domestic tickets for today could be obtained at some other counter. I went off to search. I found a cashier to ask, and was told to go to Gate 1 to buy a ticket. I was stopped by security before I could reach Gate 1, and needed a ticket to get through! They told me the ticket counter was in the back. I went off in one (unknowingly the wrong) direction, but finally found a Pan Am info desk to ask where Empire Air check-in was. I was directed in the opposite direction. Finally at 18:00 I was able to purchase a ticket for the 18:25 flight to Buffalo, costing $92, but there was no excess baggage fee.
JFK to Buffalo ticket receipt
Ski baggage check
JFK to Buffalo baggage tag
JFK to Buffalo boarding pass
I had to carry the skis to the gate with me and at security they asked why I hadn’t checked the skis. They laughed when I had to put the skis through the x-ray machine. I went to the desk to get my boarding pass and hand over the skis. The flight was going to be late because the plane hadn’t come in yet. So I called home to let them know I was on an earlier flight, but it was to be late. We boarded at 18:30, and the little plane was only half full. We took off at 18:55 and landed in Buffalo at 19:55. I went to baggage claim and called home to let them know I had arrived, and then waited for my things. Waited outside in 32 degree weather with lots of snow on the ground. Finally Frank and Paul drove up, and we got home at 20:30. Still having concurrent relief of bowel and bladder.

My Switzerland chapter is completed.

Tuesday, December 6, 1983

On my way to the U.S.: Biel (12/4-6/1983)

P.S. I returned from India to Geneva, Switzerland.

(The journals pick up at the end of Sunday, December 4, 1983.)

I paid the bill of 26.70 CHF/$13 at Zia Carmela’s and we used the restroom. Super clean and with toilet paper available! The toilets even flushed!
We left to drive up to Evilard, to Fr Dr Jo D’s apartment where Marsha C is now staying. We had hot chocolate with marshmallows!
Marsha gave me a pillow she had cross-stitched with a nice long message. I gave her a pair of silver ankle bracelets and let her pick out a papier mâché bell. We also picked one out for Elisabeth J by closing our eyes! I also gave Marsha a can of diet Tab soda, which got her real excited!
Marsha showed me several gifts she had received, and gifts she was giving her family.
I was nice and warm under the duvet when I got into bed. In fact too warm, even though the apartment only has a heating oven in the hallway and space heaters in the bathroom and lavatory.

Monday, December 5, 1983
I heard Marsha C in the shower, but did not hear her leave for work. After breakfast and a bath, I put on my ski jacket and mittens and went outside. Once I got used to the inside of my nose freezing, I enjoyed the brisk cold temperature. I was looking for a garbage bin and found one down on the road behind the funicular station. I tossed in the Capitol Air bag with some clothes and the now filthy white sandals in it. I returned to the apartment and packed a box to send to myself in the U.S. Marsha came home at 11:15 and made lunch of a tuna casserole. Then Marsha called the hospital so that Frl M wouldn’t recognize my voice, so that I could talk to Elisabeth and we agreed to meet for lunch tomorrow. I got my stuff and Marsha drove me to Jan & Kirby’s. It was easy to say goodbye to Marsha this time, as we could say, “See you soon!” Jan was leaving for the dentist, but I talked a bit to Jan & Kirby and got letters from my mother and from Kent. I had already received one letter from Kent in the packet Marsha gave me yesterday.
I went downtown at 13:30 to mail the package to myself for 48 CHF/$24! I went to the bank to close my account and withdraw my remaining money. Then to pick up my skis, nicely edged and waxed, and the bindings set for 55 kilos/121 pounds. I took the skis to the train station to see if I could send them to Brussels. I could if I had a ticket. I had planned on getting a ticket to Höxter, Germany, and then from there to Brussels. The ticket lady couldn’t find Höxter at first. Then she couldn’t figure out how to get from there to Brussels. Finally she said she would do it later and I didn’t have to wait. She called the baggage people so that they would take my skis now. I had to remove the boots from the skis and thus had two packages to send. The baggage guy didn’t like that I put a U.S. address under domicile, but then it was okay when I put Brussels as the vacation destination. I paid 30 CHF/$15 for the service and got a receipt. After I left, I realized I didn’t know which station in Brussels the skis would end up. Oh, well. I returned to the Reisebüro/travel agency to ask for the ticket for tomorrow. It turns out there is no night train to Frankfurt, which I found hard to believe, and I would have to leave on a very early morning train the next day. I did some shopping, including finding clear photo corners for the Liens for 75 cents per 250 instead of the $2 per 250 I first saw. I bought 20 boxes. I got back to Jan & Kirby’s at 16:45 and unpacked my India souvenirs for them. Kirby came home and gave me supplies to package the photo corners for the Liens, and the chocolate and some clothes to send to myself. Jan came home after 18:00 and we sat down to a gourmet meal made by Kirby. I won’t pretend to know what anything was called or how it was made! We had tasty boneless chicken breasts, which Kirby said were dry, but were okay for me (non-discriminative palate!). We had sautéed zucchini slices and rice pilaf. Also a salad plate with marinated mushrooms, grated carrots, and avocado pieces with Nüssli salad. I have been eating really slow lately, probably because I am talking too much as people want to hear about India. We had lemon sherbet for dessert.
I gave Jan & Kirby a brass camel bell and a brass candle snuffer. But they were more excited with the papier mâché bell, and had such trouble choosing one that I gave them two. They were also excited about the Fig Newtons I brought them, even though they always seem to have a constant supply of Care packages coming from the U.S.! Jan & Kirby gave me a small gift and I was trying to figure out how to open it when they told me just to turn it over. You could see it through the plastic cover, a type of puzzle where you move the pieces by tilting and shaking the box. It was of a train. Neato! Kirby tried it out and we pretended to be able to read the Norwegian instructions. Jan and I went for a walk and she is still trying to make me feel more positive about myself. I can’t “argue” about it anymore, and just let her talk. She gave me my Zeugnis/letter of recommendation from Fr Dr B.

Tuesday, December 6, 1983
The plan, to be “fair,” had been to spend one night with Marsha and one night with Jan & Kirby, and now I was spending an extra night with Jan & Kirby. They were into the subterfuge of having everyone think I was leaving tonight. Kirby took me to the post office at 8:30, where I gritted my teeth and paid 60 and 7.40 CHF/$30 and $3.50 to mail the two packages. I tried to call Capitol Air to reconfirm my flight, but no answer. I went to the train station to pick up my ticket for 186 CHF/$93! I was left with 3 CHF/$1.50 in my purse! I changed 100 DEM to CHF. I returned to the Post Telefon & Telegraph/PTT to call Capitol Air to reconfirm, then I called Elke N to let her know when I was arriving. Was she asleep? I hope I am not imposing too much.
I went window shopping, and it took two seconds to get back into the Swiss mode. Only sometimes did I look right first instead of left when crossing a street! Or veered left instead of right when passing people walking the other way on the sidewalk. Got back to Jan & Kirby’s and re-read the letters from Kent, deciding to let Jan & Kirby read them.
I left again to meet Elisabeth at 12:15 at Mühlebrücke and we went to Pinocchio’s to eat. Elisabeth is one who has always listened to my complaints and been supportive, but I rarely heard any complaint from her! And it was nice to talk to her about India because since she had been there herself, she better understood what I went through. The negatives didn’t seem so negative, just factual. We had the fixed menu: Portuguese cream soup (tomato with rice), pork cutlets, creamed spinach and French fries. I had Henniez and she had coffee, and paid the 25 CHF/$12 bill. We talked until about 14:00 and walked back towards the hospital together. I returned to Jan & Kirby’s and tried to call Brigitte S. She wasn’t home and her father-in-law didn’t recognize who I was. Called Marsha to say goodbye. I foresee in the future that I will have more difficulties and not an easier time with human relationships (and I am not referring to Marsha). I think I have to learn to be brutally honest with myself first. Like my trip to India. Why do I tell all the negative things? Am I trying to sensationalize? Or did I really have a lousy time? I think I sat long hours stoically and patiently, and learned to accept the hassles of India, in order to remember the positive things. My mind is a jumble. I need a vacation!
Jan came home shortly after 18:00 and after talking a long time, she made a salad. Later we had marrone vermicelli/chestnut noodles and I whipped up the cream. We went to pick up Kirby from the Bergman School at 21:30 and talked until we said our goodbyes and went to bed. It wasn’t so bad the second time around, and I am glad I came back to Switzerland.

Sunday, October 30, 1983

Last week in Switzerland (10/25-30/1983)

Tuesday, October 25, 1983
This evening all the therapists took me out to dinner for my farewell.

Wednesday, October 26, 1983
Today, per Swiss tradition, I threw my own going-away party at the weekly CP Station meeting. I made brownies and chocolate chip cookies. Very American treats!

Thursday, October 27, 1983
Today was my last French lesson. I was doing okay until tonight, but then the tears started to flow. The problem with staying so long is that it is harder to say goodbye!

Friday, October 29, 1983
Tonight Marsha C, and Jan & Kirby took me to a ritzy restaurant in Bern. I was being treated, but I think at least three 100 CHF/$50 bills were given to the waiter, maybe even four! I don’t deserve that much! We then went to the cathedral and to see an art exhibit in the former prison tower.
View from the Käfigturm/Prison Tower
Said my heart-wrenching goodbyes to Jan & Kirby. Tomorrow I say goodbye to Marsha, and that is going to be an emotional goodbye!

Sunday, October 30, 1983
Marsha drove me to Geneva and we stopped for lunch and to see some old Roman mosaic floors. Still sightseeing at the last minute!
Depart Geneva at 18:15 pm.

Next: 1983 India.

Sunday, October 23, 1983

Ticino Redux (10/22-23/1983)

Saturday, October 22, 1983
Marsha C and I met at 8:00 to see the annual Zweibelmarkt/Onion Market in Biel.
Zweibelmarkt/Onion Market
Zweibelmarkt/Onion Market
Traffic director in Biel
Then we got in her car and drove to Locarno where it was bright and sunny. We took a train ride through Centovalli, a deep valley with neat old towns of stone houses.
Centovalli train
Stone houses
We returned to Locarno to eat dinner and stay in a hotel.
Hotel courtyard
Hotel courtyard

Sunday, October 23, 1983
We drove to the fishing village of Ascona to explore the cobblestoned streets.
Ascona arch
Ascona back alley
Cornus kousa/Kousa Dogwood fruit
Olives
We found a beautiful cloister at a nearby former convent, Collegio Papios.
Musa sp/Banana flower
Then we drove to Lugano to see the exhibit of paintings on loan from Soviet museums that I had seen with Jan & Kirby, at the Villa Favorita.
Walk to Villa Favorita
However, this time, we had to wait three hours to get in. But it was worth it! Finally drove back to Biel.

Sunday, October 16, 1983

Wien/Vienna (10/15-16/1983)

Saturday, October 15, 1983
The last of the special trips for me and Marsha C. This time we were accompanied by fellow P.T. Elisabeth J and nurse Jong-Soon who is now working in Aarberg. We took the train to Wien/Vienna, Österreich/Austria.
Spanische Hofreitschule/Spanish Riding School practice
Café Lehmann/Coffeehouse (founded 1878)
Marsha, Elisabeth, coffeehouse patron, Jong-Soon
Pestsäule/Plague Column
Stephansdom/St Stephen's Cathedral (1137-1511)
View into a courtyard from the St Stephen's south tower
St Stephen's Cathedral tile roof
Kärntner Strasse
Mozartdenkmal/Mozart Memorial
(1896 by Viktor Tilgner) in Burggarten
Kunst Historisches Museum/Art History Museum
(1872-1891 by Gottfried Semper
and Karl Freiherr von Hasenauer)
For the evening, we dressed up to attend the opera of Il barbiere di Siviglia/The Barber of Seville (premiered 1816) by Gioachino Rossini at the gorgeous Wiener Staatsoper/Vienna State Opera (1869 by August Sicard von Sicardsburg).

Sunday, October 16, 1983
We attended Sunday Mass at the Hofburgkapelle/Imperial Court Chapel to hear the Vienna Boys' Choir.
Vienna Boys' Choir member
Vienna Boys' Choir member
Tram (Sonderwagen/special car)
View of Vienna from Belvedere Palace
Belvedere Palace
Marsha and Elisabeth
Jong-Soon removes gravel from her shoe
Schönbrunn Palace
And returned to Biel, Switzerland.
Probably the last time I will use my Half-Price Pass for the Swiss trains.
Half-Price Pass
Half-Price Pass cover