New developments

1. Construction has begun on the 8th floor. Now I don't wake up to the chainsaws outside my window but instead to the drills and hammers outside my door.

2. I have a roommate! This is only temporary, but because they have started tearing down some of the rooms on the 8th, the girl Natalie that I've mentioned previously (first girl I met when I got here, German, and very nice/helpful) moved into my living room. She speaks nearly perfect English, which I'm extremely thankful for (don't worry--I get enough French at work and around town :), and we've bonded over our mutual love for the OC, asian food, and distaste for a certain co-worker who will remain unnamed. She's only slept here one night, but it was a pleasant change to have the extra activity even if we aren't talking all the time.

3. When I do move out of the 8th floor in about two weeks (Natalie goes back to school then too), I think the 7th floor may be my new residence--at least that's what A said when I asked him in passing last week. But that may still change as well.

4. Amandine. A 17-year-old girl who just started on La Terrace with us. She is from Montreux, and is so so sweet (and I usually hate using this adjective because it reminds me of cheesy yearbook entries, but it is oh-so-appropriate here, so I'm bending my own writing rules). She's doing an apprenticeship at the hotel for two years and just finished working in the Housekeeping department. We help each other with our native languages, and she's already offered to let me borrow her snowboard and take me up to the mountains, and to take me out on her uncle's boat if we both have a day off at the same time (although the latter is highly unlikely due to the whole understaffed problem). I ask her random questions about Montreux everyday and am learning some useful tidbits about the city. Fact #1: there is a movie theatre in Montreux that only shows English movies. Woohoooo!

5. Anique. (No idea how you spell her name.) She also just started and works at the Reception desk. She's from the German part of Switzerland and speaks some English and some French, but is here largely to learn both. We chatted yesterday and today during lunch, and I found out that she will also be here for one year. When she was telling me about her and her roommate and their flat, she asked if I wanted to maybe go out to a bar with them on Friday. (OMG. I was dying inside. Yes! Yes! YES! Pick me!!!) Hopefully I won't be too exhausted by the time Friday roles around (as I am working EIGHT straight days this week), and I can finally go out and party a bit. I'll keep you updated.

6. I have a fridge!!! And yes, this clearly calls for a celebration that I will cheers to on Friday. There may have been some hairs stuck in it when I stole it from Steve's old room (I asked if he wanted it and he said no, so I conveniently found a spot for it in my room), and it may be slightly 60's, but it keeps things cold and it was FREE so I could care less about the rest. I have included some photos of my nearest and dearest. He may just be my new best friend.

The sexy beast.

7. And finally, no visa news. Zippo. Nada. Rien. And I thought the Swiss would be timely. More like on their time I guess. Eh, keeps life interesting!