It’s been hot. And much of the campus is not air-conditioned. I am not saying it couldn’t be worse. It could be worse. But 97 degrees and humid with no AC is not my idea of a good time. Fortunately there is relief. Switzerland offers an extensive list of locations to hit the water.

On Sunday, the counselor group and I took a trip to Valle Verzasca and the Roman Bridge. Just a short drive from the famous 720-foot Valle Verzasca dam where the James Bond movie Goldeneye was filmed is the sight of the cool refreshing waters that splash and spitter down from the surrounding mountainsides through the tiny hamlet of Lavertezzo. It’s nice. It’s refreshing. But relaxing? Don’t be caught off guard. This can be a dangerous place. Just the day before our arrival, a 26 year-old British man drowned upstream a few hundred yards from where we laid our towels. On this day, the place was buzzing, as visitors were either unphased or unaware of Saturday’s tragedy.

TASIS counselors have always been an adventurous bunch. And this year has proven to be no exception. Four counselors plunged off the Roman bridge 35 feet into the freezing water below. One brave soldier, Elizabeth, did it four times; her veins must be as icy as the water. Two of them plan to jump off the dam next! Damn! What’s wrong with these people!

(see the bungee jump from the movie)

Diving in Lavertezzo – click it

The heat continued through the early part of the week. My coworker Masa has resorted to putting fresh clean TASIS t-shirts into the freezer of the fridge in our office for usage late in the day.

On Monday night, we had an ice shortage crisis! No laughing matter! Nowhere on campus could I find an ice machine that wasn’t empty. What do you do with lukewarm gin and tonics?

Anyways, there was a final break in the weather today, and so far it has only reached into the 80s. Praying for cool nights ahead. I hope everyone back in the US of A had a safe and happy 4^th!