Noah’s teacher, Frau Nicollier, has grown up before our eyes. She started out as an apprentice teacher, finishing up her degree, with Nicholas’ class when he was in second grade. Then she became back as a full fledged teacher to replace Herr Rutsche, and was Sarah’s 1-3 grade teacher. During that time, she moved out of her parents’ home and into her very own apartment. Towards the very end, she met Christian, or “Chrigi” as the kids call him.
Now they are ready to get married. The civil ceremony took place on the very last day of school. (No, she didn’t teach that day, or the day before.) It was arranged that the children would go see her after the ceremony and give her a present. Many rode the train in, but that is just too cost prohibitive for me and my little group, so we drove in. We arrived just a few minutes after the scheduled meeting time and saw no one. Chris had gone down earlier and was waiting for us, and he said no one had been there and left, so we figured they were running late. It is a beautiful old building right on the lake and the kids loved watched all the brides go in and out of the building.
It was a warm day, so they ran over to the nearby fountain to get a drink while we waited.
Finally, I got a little concerned that we had gotten the time wrong or something, because it isn’t typical Swiss to be so late. We went inside to inquire when the wedding was, and found out that we had the right time, wrong location! Ugh! Why do I always do stuff like this?
The new location was in a spot that I knew would not have good parking, and was pretty close, so we decided to go by foot. The kids were awesome, even little Alexandra and we actually made it there just after the festivities had started. Whew!
She looked so gorgeous! What lucky kids I have to be taught by such a wonderful, beautiful lady both outside and in. She is so kind and patient, and really knows how to encourage the kids to do their best.
The guy in the suit is Chrigi. There were too many people and I couldn’t get a better picture of him. The book she is holding in her hand is the book of well wishes the kids made for them both. Each child designed a page and then one of the mothers had it professionally bound. It was a cute idea, and the execution was gorgeous. She took the time to speak to each child individually, which I thought was amazing considering how many of them there were, and thanked them all for coming.
I was so happy we had made it for all the kids, but especially for Sarah. She loved Frau Nicollier and even gave up part of a birthday party she was invited to, to come to the wedding. She would have been crushed if we had missed the whole thing.
It was kind of funny, the last week of school, their teacher kept reminding the kids that after summer vacation they would have a new teacher, Frau Wolfer. Frau Nicollier wouldn’t exist anymore. They are even having the theme of Wolves for this beginning quarter to help the kids remember her new name. 🙂
Then we were invited inside to the restaurant where the family was eating to have drinks before we left.
This was especially welcome news to my kids, who had just dashed across half of old Zurich!
As we were leaving, the kids insisted I take a photo of this crazy candle stick covered in wax.
As we were walking back along the river to the car, I told the kids I was going to run ahead. They are pretty strict about parking in downtown and I was past the time. I handed them the camera and went to the car. No ticket! Double whew! The kids came along a few minutes later, laughing and smiling. They had had quite a lot of fun, looking at things and taking silly pictures without me.
Every once in a while I see a photo like this and I am filled with amazement and happiness that my children get to grow up in this beautiful place. That they are surrounded by culture, history and beauty as a matter of course. 
Walk along the famous Limmat, on hundred year old cobblestones, surrounded by two hundred year old buildings? Sure, no problem.
Okay, those tiles are actually not all that old, but the iron railing probably is. 🙂