Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!!!

Wednesday morning brought the snow to TASIS elementary school. Many students were unable to get up the hill to campus, while those who did had to walk much of the way because the traffic was backed up due to accidents and cars that couldn’t make the climb. As the children entered the building you could hear cries of “I am the only third grader here!” “Are we going to play outside today?” There was a general feel of excitement about the weather outside and the prospects of what it might mean.

Well for the Third Graders in Mrs. Cali and Ms. Long’s classrooms that is exactly what it meant. During their morning recess the children pulled on their snow boots, some even had snow pants as they headed out to play. The first thought was snow angels and soccer, until Ms. Long began to roll the base for a snowman with the help of Camilla, Marta and Krystina.

Mrs. Cali began the middle section, while Elizabeth crawled in the snow pushing the snow to make the head. Once all of the pieces were together, they found rocks to make the eyes and mouth, digging in the snow for sticks for arms.

The completed snowman

Just lounging around

It was a great time playing and the hope is that the snow keeps falling so more fun can be had.

Hadsall in the snow

Palm trees with snow on them...what's wrong with this picture?

ICS Invitational - Zurich

The first weekend of December meant another tournament for the Varsity Women’s basketball team. This time they were off to Zurich for the ICS Invitational. Many of the same teams, who they had faced, previously were on the schedule of games. On Saturday morning the girls opened the tournament against Brillantmont, with a convincing win of 51 -17. Giving the TASIS women their first win of the season. This game set the tone for the rest of the tournament. The girls now believed in their abilities and proved to themselves that they were able to set the tone of the game.
Next game was against La Grande Boissierre (LGB). The current winner of every tournament they enter. The girls had faced them in the previous tournament and it was a very challenging game. This time, they were more prepared and were ready for the challenge. The game was close for the first two quarters, alternating which team was in the lead. The second half, LGB continued to press and pulled ahead for the win with a score of 24 – 43.
The final game Saturday was very important. It was to determine our place within the pool and guarantee a position in the semi-final game. The girls proved their skill with a win over ISZL Riverside, scoring 44-15. That evening, one of the parents kindly took the girls out to dinner to help them get refreshed for the big games on Sunday.


Sunday morning they faced La Chataigneraie (La Chat). If the girls were able to pull out a win in this game, it meant they would be playing for first place of the tournament. The lead went back and forth the entire game, coming down to the last eleven seconds, with the final score being La Chat 35 -33, putting TASIS in the running for 3rd or 4th and playing Inter-Community School Zurich. The girls were tired and they came out a little flat, giving ICS some room. In the end they stepped up and took the lead winning the game 26 – 30, taking home the third place trophy.

Hayley icing her finger...very creative with the peas. Tasty too.

The whole team

Hayley, Aina, and Celina

What a Life

Thanksgiving 2008

Wednesday evening, Martha, Lizzie, Allyson and I loaded Giuseppe with bags, kitchen supplies, and pies for our Thanksgiving feast at Brian's apartment in Baden Saturday evening. We arrived late in the evening, because my new friend Garmin, my GPS system, decided to take ups the scenic route by gingerbread houses, through multiple roundabouts, and by a huge pig. Once we arrived we had a glass of wine and then crashed for the night.

Thursday morning we rose bright and early to catch our flight to Vienna for some sightseeing and Christmas markets.

Lizzie, Allyson and I trying to figure out which direction to head.

First stop was the museum quarter, or at least we walked by it on our way to the Hofburg palace.

Martha, Allyson, Lizzie and I in front of the palace

Children protecting the palace...or maybe decoration.

A huge emerald - 2,860 carets to be exact

The crown jewels

Kings Wardrobe

Outside the main gates of the palace

The main gates

Mozart

Pinocchio stop telling lies

And finally a Van Gogh Exhibit at the Albertino museum. After studying some art we decided we needed to have a famous Sacher Torte at the Sacher museum. It is a very upscale ritzy hotel filled with a bunch of tourist who have read in Lonely Planet that this is a must stop, we were one of them. When the torte arrived at our table we even asked to have our picture taken.
The waiter kindly said sure, took Martha's camera, walked about 2 feet away turned, snapped the picture. Said "its perfect" and handed the camera back. The funny thing is, none of us were looking at the camera. Martha was trying to lift the torte and Lizzie was just angry.

Anyhow, the torte was decent. A little dry but we can now say that we had a famous chocolate torte. It is an infusion of chocolate and orange, a little to tangy for me and dry. It received a rating of a 5 and I would only recommend it to someone visiting Vienna for the experience.

Next stop was St. Stephen's Cathedral.

The roof line was the most spectacular part. When we finally reached this destination the sun was just setting hitting the blue tiles just right. There are two towers to this church. The first was built during the original construction in 1433 but then money began to run out and the second tower was not finished to its original specifications.

In front of the Christmas tree

After a few pictures and a stop at Manner. Lizzie's absolute favorite waffer store, we split up, so Lizzie and Allyson could head back and get ready for dinner and Martha and I made our way back home walking.

Horses Nuzzling

The streets were absolutely beautiful, decorated for Christmas with lights hanging and all the buildings lite up.

Martha and I decided that we wanted to head home a different way and we spotted a bunch of Christmas lights and headed in that direction. Little did we know that we had stumbled onto the biggest Christmas market in Vienna in front of town hall. I had to really push Martha through it. She couldn't get enough, it was almost sensory overload.

Town Hall

Advent Wreath in lights

Town Hall all lite up

The reading of the Nativity Scene

We made it back to the hotel, picked up Lizzie and Allyson and choose our first destination. The students market. It was filled with people, sipping Gluchwhin and eating baked potatoes. So Lizzie and Allyson partook in the fun while Martha and I found a nice man selling Schnapps and Liquors and providing free tastings of the various flavors. They warmed me right up. He was also selling pumpkin oil and seeds which were absolutely amazing but I couldn't find a reason to purchase them.

Next stop was the artists market and a Brezlin. Also known as a huge pretzel, warmed up and toasty. So fantastic.

Finally we made it back to the largest market of them all, in front of town hall and we purchased our Christmarket mug and had our Gluchwhin.

There was a lot of ornaments, tasty treats, and general junk but it was more the Christmas spirit that made it enjoyable. When our noses and cheeks were rosy we started home, this time catching the metro instead of walking and resting our tootsies just a little.

Friday morning we woke up nice and early and started off our day, first stop STARBUCKS!!!

Next stop, the Schonbrunn Palace and guided tour through many of the rooms of the palace.

Group shot in front of the palace. Taken by the most stunning gentleman

Ruining Allyson's picture of the tree

In front of the palace there was another Christmas market and a beautiful Christmas tree.

At one point, we were in the ballroom listening to music on our individual guides, waltzing alone. When a man walked up to Martha, and began waltzing with her around the room. Everyone stopped to watch and I have to admit probably jealous that she was getting to waltz in a palace, listening to Beethoven. For the rest of the afternoon Martha reminded us that she had waltzed in a palace.

Back of Schonbrunn Palace

The Gardens

A old way to tell the time...can you figure it out?

After our guided tour we went outside to check out the gardens and tried our luck with jumping pictures.

First Try

Second Try

Third Try

Group shot

Me

We put the timer away and asked a nice man to take one for us.

Jumping done, we got back on the metro and headed in the direction of Prater, Vienna's Fun Fair and also the home of the Riesenrad, erected in 1914.

Vienna from the Riesenrad

Inside one of the cabins

The Ferris Wheel

Then we were back out into the cold and off to the Belvedere Palace, quite a ways
outside of the city but home of the Klint exhibit and a must see for Allyson.

Belvedere Palace

The Gardens

That evening was very low key, with a dinner of Schnitzel and a glass of wine. Lizzie and Martha crashed early and Allyson and I took off to pick up a couple of things at the student market before catching Quantum of Solace in ENGLISH!!! I love cities and English Cinemas.

Bright and early Saturday morning we boarded a plane back to Zurich, then a train to Baden to begin the cooking of the Thanksgiving feast. Betty Crocker, aka Brian, had a Christmas party the night before and had stayed up late, so we pretty much started from scratch.

The turkey on the stair well

We popped the Pumpkin pies in the oven, started to prep the stuffing then Brian and I were off to the grocery store for the rest of the fixings. We cooked all day, some slept, watched TV or went for a walk and by early evening the meal was on the table ready to go.

Brian and I looking confident in our cooking skills.

There were a couple of glitches. Such as cooking the turkey upside down. But thankfully Mrs. Eno saved the day by telling us the secret of chicken stock in the bottom of the pan to create juices and then gravy.

The feast

The whole crew...Brian is quite the ladies man!

Sunday morning we hit the road after a traditional Anstey breakfast. The snow was crazy when we came out of the San Gottardo Tunnel