the family tree

Moving to a new place is not without its challenges.  There are the most obvious language and cultural differences.  There are new people, strangers who may or may not be interested in becoming friends with newly arrived Canadians.  We have been lucky to meet some extraordinary people and begin to develop some really good friendships here.  But still, when you come from a wonderfully close and supportive community of family and friends, like we do, starting fresh can be an overwhelming and sometimes, lonely endeavour.

We did not, however, start quite from scratch.  We choose to come to Saanen largely because of the JFK School and the Lovell family (Alison Lovell is married to my brother Ryan).  Forty one years ago, Bill and Sandy Lovell (Ali's parents) came to teach at a tiny school here in Saanen.  After one year, they were asked to take over the school and have been here ever since.  They raised their two children here (Ali and her brother, Bryce) and did a fabulous job growing the JFK International School into what it is today.  They sold the school this past summer, but Bill + Sandy and Bryce + his wife Vickie and their kids continue to live here in Saanen.   That means that we have the good fortune of having family close by.

The other day, I ran into Sandy in the grocery store and found myself quizzing her on all the different kinds of mountain cheese.  When the kids had to find sponsors for a charity ski race, we knew where to go.  We've celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving and Christmas together.  There have been a couple of times where our kids have been in the local (swiss german) paper and they've called to let us know or dropped off a copy.   Our kids are enchanted by their "Swiss cousins", Ava and Sadie and love to run into them around town or get together for dinner.    Most importantly, I know they're all nearby, just in case...

Thankfully, for this temporary transplant, the family tree is as wide as it is tall and always, always expanding....

A few of my fave photos as of late....

a perfect day ski touring

graydy gets a haircut

this morning on the chalberhoni - videmanette lift