Immersion

    During my time in the States, lots of people were really great about asking me about my plans and what things would look like in the upcoming years. When asked questions about Switzerland and language school, I tried to answer those questions to the best of my limited knowledge. One thing I repeated was that while learning French, I would have the advantage of a situation where I could have an "immersive experience". Immersion is a smart-sounding word that starts to look weird if you type it too many times, and in a mere three weeks here, Switzerland has already expanded my definition of what it means to be immersed.

    According to some dictionary entry online, immersion is 'to involve oneself deeply' (or to submerge into a liquid...). If you ask me, I think that going to French class for 3 hours a day definitely counts as being deeply involved and immersed. But if one is in a foreign country (on strict lockdown) with the sole purpose of learning a foreign language, why stop there? 

    There's some saying out there that is overwhelmingly rejected.... but postulates that if a little is good, more must be better. However, though I'd agree that that's bogus in most cases, I don't think it's true about language. A little French is good, but more French is better. French books, French TV shows, French captions, extra French exercises, French games and traditions, French sermons and songs, socializing in French... I'm French fried y'all. But while talking to a new friend this week, I suddenly realized that I wasn't translating every word she said into English. I was understanding it in French. *Insert fist pump* *Insert awkward celebration dance*

     I have the opportunity to live in an apartment with a French-speaking Swiss woman who is absolutely wonderful. Not only does she make amazing crepes and have the best view of the lake/mountains/castle from her living room window, but she takes the time to talk with me almost every evening about different subjects in French. Constantly using French and feeling comfortable enough to make mistakes is incredibly helpful and is what makes "immersion" so effective. 

The view from the living room

    Now when in Switzerland, you don't have to go too far to find overwhelming beauty. When it's not raining, I've tried to immerse myself in the gorgeous outdoors. Though I may have taken 'immersive' a little too literally when I hiked down a mountain in tennis shoes, trudging through thigh-high snow while following in the footsteps of the apparently massive giant who hiked down before me making steps about four feet apart. 'Twas a blast. 

     Immersion works cause your brain absorbs what is surrounding it. That's not going to surprise anyone. I am incredibly grateful to have this opportunity to study and learn and develop relationships with the people here (although that means I'll have more people that I'll miss 😕). However, I've been challenged to think about what else I'm surrounding myself with. Is my brain immersed in things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and admirable? I hope so. The calendar changing from 2020 to 2021 didn't automatically fix all problems, but for me, it's been a great time to reset, acclimate, and dive in deep into the next thing. Thanks for reading y'all! I'll try to keep posting pics of this incredible place. 

    

Pic story: I went out to play soccer with my new

7yr old friend at his school. Neighborhood kids must've seen 

us with the ball, cause within minutes, there were 10 kids 

playing soccer in rain boots and yelling at me in German. 

It was the highlight of my week.