School is wrapping up here at DoDEA (Department of Defense Dependents Schools) and the main question for polite conversation has been “So, do you have any summer plans?” The looks and reactions I have been getting to my “I’m “moving” to Switzerland for a month to learn to make cheese!” response has been pretty fun to watch! Then comes the usual questions of “Your doing WHAT!?” “Why are you doing that?” and “How did you come across this?” usually ending the conversation with “I can’t wait to hear about this!” So, let’s start with the basics and hope that I have internet to continue to post about the meat of the trip (or should I say cheese) while I’m there!
Why:
WHY NOT!? Ok, well, while that is honestly the best reason, there are several others.
1) I am currently living in Germany. When we moved here I had one goal: to travel and explore the world as much as possible. One of my favorite parts about traveling is learning about different cultures and seeing how others live.
2) I have always loved to eat cheese (don’t judge me). This could actually be me. As a half-joke, I told Andy that I would love to have my own goat or something that I could make my own cheese with when we move back to the states. Why not learn from the best cheese makers in the world?
3) Meine Deutsch is nicht sehr gut. I have lived in Germany for over 2 years now and my German is not where I would want it to be. Now, Swiss German and High German (what most everyone can speak in Germany) are VERY different, however, it was better than nothing. However, as luck would have it, the family I am going to be living with is actually from an area only an hour away from where I live, which means that I will actually be getting Bayerisch Deutch (what they speak where I live)!!!
4) Hiking in the Alps. Enough said, right?
How:
I have heard of many peopling who have WWOOFed it (World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms) and thought this would be a great way to go make cheese! I paid the $20ish and received a book of all the participating farms in Switzerland. I then narrowed it down by location and farms that said they produce their own cheese. When Ruth responded back that they would love to have me, it was a done deal.
What and Where:
Cheese making….I hope. Ok, so I honestly know very little more! I know:
– The family/ farm lives in Bern. This is the website for the farm
– Food and board will be exchanged for my work on the farm (since I have zero farming experience, I can just foresee the menial tasks I’ll be given….like slinging cow poo)
– Bring my swim suit because there is a public bath (pool) nearby
Yup….that is it!!!! I really have no idea what I am getting myself into, but that is part of the excitement and fun. This should be interesting!
LeAnna Brown
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This sounds like an amazing opportunity! How did you like it? I am currently stationed in Germany for another year so this sounds like something that I would like to do before we leave. I would love to hear your experience 🙂 Thanks so much!
Erica
Thank you! Feel free to ask me any questions about my experience. I loved it! Here are four other blogs I posted about daily life and adventures during my WWOOFing experience:
http://economicalexcursionists.com/?p=204
http://economicalexcursionists.com/?p=196
http://economicalexcursionists.com/?p=206
http://economicalexcursionists.com/?p=251
hello i have read your blog and its really interesting . i want to join wwoof switzerland but i cant find any contact or how to send the application to them .. so can u give me the details on how u applied to them ..
thanks amr 🙂
Hey Amr! I did WWOOFing several years ago. Here is the main site for the organization, you’ll have to click on Switzerland and see what they require. When I did it, I paid something like $40 and received a book in the mail that had all the listings and contact information of the participating farms. I then emailed the ones that I was interested working with. Good luck! It was a great learning and growing experience!
Well I’m two years late, but hope you had a fun time! I’m a massive cheese lover as well and goat cheese is one of my favorites. Having your own goats and making your own cheese definitely sounds like fun.
Jasmine,
http://www.mysuitcasejourneys.com