My Brand New Swiss Life

America is Dangerous!

2010-10-11T10:38:00.000-07:00

Non-Flammamble Vegetable Based Oil!

at least they have the good sense to warn a person.

Minor Updating

2010-10-11T00:20:00.000-07:00

*** http://hyperboleandahalf.blogspot.com/2010/03/spiders-are-scary-its-okay-to-be-afraid.html ***

Everyone is reading this (see link above). I just read it. Eureka. I seriously think this writer & I were separated at birth. In fact, in a few hours I will be calling my mother to ask if she produced two children without me knowing.

And while this person's updates are frequent & a lot more involved.... I do sincerely feel, if I had any motivation - and ability to draw sloppy pictures - I would give her stuff a run for its money. Very possibly.

Read the one on spiders though. She nails that.

2010-08-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

Photo from a friend who is in Hong Kong.

I Went to Greece

2010-06-15T17:13:00.001-07:00

Here's what you should know - if you are contemplating a trip there too.

1) Go in the off season.

~ this holds true for most places in my opinion. Early May or September.

2) Do not go during high season.

~ ok, yes this was just mentioned. But can't stress it enough.

~ Unless you want to: jockey for a seat on a bus, or have all the buses be sold out. Or wait 3 days for the next ferry because the one you wanted was sold out. Etc.

3) Greece has a lot of natural beauty. If you are into that, go to Greece. If you need air conditioning & don't like walking places, go to Las Vegas.

4) No 'to-do' list.

We just showed up at a bus station, & got on a bus marked "Red Beach." It was gorgeous. Like a place where a movie with Leonardo DiCaprio as an adventurer of some sort would be filmed.

The fun of discovery - places to hike, eat, swim, photograph donkeys.

Leave your Fodor's at home.

2010-04-26T18:11:00.000-07:00

EEEEEK!

Just killed a spider the size of Ecuador.

(It was. I swear.)

Anything spider-related must be broadcast to the world to somehow mitigate the fear.

Mentally Planning Meals for the Next Trip Home

2010-04-03T15:01:00.000-07:00

When I get back to the U.S. this is what I am going to eat.

The maple syrup will be warm, and it will cost no more than $14.

Everything included.

2010-03-14T19:44:00.000-07:00

BLOND MOMENT OF THE DAY

Started to wash my face. Lathered soap onto hands, then face. Then realized my glasses were still on...

Home for the Holidays

2010-01-03T18:47:00.000-08:00

I WONDER HOW LONG IT WILL TAKE MY PARENTS TO REALIZE I CLEANED THEM OUT?

...Zip Lock bags, tea, toothpaste, shampoo, dental floss, magazines, instant oatmeal.

All these things made their way into my suitcase!

I feel toiletry & home item theft is my birthright. Especially given the 200% mark-up on stuff in Switzerland!

:-)

Happy Holidays!

2009-12-11T07:43:00.000-08:00

J'e suis the King of Burundi

2009-11-09T05:46:00.000-08:00

Today one of the phrases I learned for German class was...

"Die Katze springt sehr hoch". - The cat jumps really high.

which of course reminded me of this favorite skit from Eddie Izzard.

A must-watch -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x1sQkEfAdfY

Oh Europe, your use of English delights me

2009-11-04T04:07:00.000-08:00

Cuteness

2009-08-09T14:15:00.000-07:00

How cute are these kids on the bench eating ice cream?

And this sign on the right - warning drivers, "Bitte Nicht So Schnell"...
("please not so fast!")

This cuteness brought to you by Austria.

Window Shopping

2009-08-04T04:07:00.001-07:00

Silky dresses & rainbows of leather gloves in Rome

It Makes Its Way Across the Ocean

2009-08-04T04:06:00.001-07:00

The Slurpee Machine

4-Hour Layover in Dublin

2009-07-27T12:47:00.000-07:00

I saw the first person drinking a pint of Guinness - at 9:00 am

BY 11:00 am EVERYONE WAS DRINKING. The bars in the airport were full.

The Revolving Door of Expat Life

2009-07-02T15:35:00.000-07:00

"Never tell anyone anything, or you will miss everyone"

~ Holden Caufield, The Catcher in the Rye

Rule of Expat Life - People Come, & People Go

It is the major differences of living in an expat society vs. living in your hometown.

It really sucks.

Classics, Italianized

2009-06-19T13:13:00.000-07:00

Springtime... for Zurich... and Switzerland

2009-06-19T12:50:00.000-07:00

Sheep. Rainbows.

Enjoying Sundays at the beergarten with a view of the mountains & lake.

New York this is not.

I Is Literate

2009-06-01T21:51:00.000-07:00

I'm forgetting English.

Is it "take something with a grain of salt" or a pinch?

Malpropisms were never a problem.... although for years I thought it was "up & Adam" (up & at 'em). And "it's a doggy dog world".

At least I still speak jive.

Mister CH

2009-05-06T13:01:00.000-07:00

Was just googling "Mr. Schweiz" to see what this competition is all about.

This website appeared.

Um... Woah.

Really - click on the link. Then note the photo slide show.

Gratuitous shirtlessness seems to be a required element.

2009-05-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

I'm thinking of changing my blog name. My Swiss life is not so new anymore.

I am thinking of going with the new name "Sexual Chocolate"

Although this title could be misleading.

If you do not get this reference, you really must watch more Eddie Murphy movies.

This Is So Swiss

2009-04-23T12:16:00.000-07:00

None of us are too surprised that the Swiss have a festival to celebrate the opening of a tunnel...

aka, "West Fest"

I admit to being a bit intrigued by the "Ethno Country Rock Show" though.

Swiss Celebrity Sightings

2009-04-08T14:22:00.000-07:00

So, let's be honest. There are only about 3 famous Swiss people. These 3 being -

1) Roger Federer

2) Martina Hingis

3) um...

There are some people who, within Switzerland, are considered "famous" though.

The latest James Bond flick's director was Swiss. It was a big deal when he was chosen to direct (big deal aka, in Switzerland).

The Mr. & Ms. Switzerland winners are "famous."

... A friend of mine saw Martina Hingis yesterday.

I also saw Roger Federer a few years ago standing in front of a hotel, waiting for his car to be brought around.

That leaves... uh... http://www.about.ch/various/famous-swiss.html.

2009-04-08T01:59:00.000-07:00

Hmmm....

One of those neutral countries starts with "S"...

2009-02-03T10:36:00.001-08:00

http://blogs.mercurynews.com/aei/2009/01/28/jessica-alba-tells-tmz-bill-oreilly-im-no-buffoon/

Oh come on. For months after I moved here, people still asked me "How is Sweden?"

Cut the girl some slack! :)

The Elusive Schoggi-Bretzel

2008-12-10T12:33:00.000-08:00

They usually only have one. And it sells out in 5 minutes.

But that day.... that lone schoggi-bretzel came home with me.

Mmmm

Not Designed to Flatter a Pet-Owner's Pride

2008-11-26T15:33:00.000-08:00

If I had a cat... would I buy this product?

Oh Italy, You're So... Italian

2008-11-26T14:56:00.000-08:00

RULES OF ITALIAN DRIVING:

1) By all means, NEVER use a turn signal. This is a sure display of weakness.

2) Do not expect a median strip on a major highway. A white line down the middle? Strictly for sissies.

3) In traffic, people will drive up on the shoulder....
passing you & 10 other cars, then cut back in. You shake your fist (but wonder if maybe you should try the same...)

4) If in a hurry, you will inevitably be stuck behind a truck, usually driven with no particular sense of urgency by an octogenarian.

5) If you fly into Naples & rent a car - GET A CAR WITH GPS.

Happy Driving!

I usually like U.S. television

2008-11-13T16:31:00.000-08:00

I feel like it's time for American T.V.

The Today Show is online.

Featured on today's program are The Muppets and John Stamos.

Is there some correlation between a bad economy and ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE programing?

Just curious.

Sexy Olympians!

2008-10-13T17:11:00.001-07:00

A fellow expat today told me

the Best Looking Women's Olympic Team is...

the U.S. Women's Curling Team.

Google produces some evidence - They are pretty cute actually.

http://www.mypartypost.com/viewpics/1884/USA_Womens_Curling_Team

Only in Switzerland is 10% Considered a Discount Worth Advertising

2008-10-13T16:32:00.000-07:00

In times of economic hardship... it's interesting to see what goes on sale.

Is this the morning-after pill, birth control pills -- or just something to make babies stay away?

Random

2008-08-08T16:44:00.000-07:00

Some random expat observations, in no categorized order...

Mustaches. One generally assumes the popularity of mustaches faded after the cancellation of Magnum P.I. But in Spain, the mustache is still going strong. Take a ride on Iberia Air sometime. You can bet your bottoming American dollar you will be surrounded by them. Men with The Spanish Mustache.

Non-Utilizable Table Napkins. Again, Spain. Napkins. Grab a "napkin" from one of the dispensers at a cafe.... and you will be dissappointed. They are like two pieces of wax paper stuck together over a piece of white paper. It makes for an unpleasant non-absorbent effect. Achtung! Do not try to blow your nose. What is the purpose of these?

Living in a Bubble. Today someone mentioned in an email - "Hey, it's Opening Day!" I thought she was talking about Street Parade*-- an event occuring this weekend in Zurich. She was referring to Opening Day of the Olympics. Duh.

*http://www.worldeventsguide.com/event/2789/Z-rich-Switzerland/Zurich-Street-Parade.html

Addendum

2008-04-10T14:15:00.000-07:00

And, by the way....

What's with those eyebrows (& that lip gloss)?

Journalism, Swiss-style

2008-04-10T13:10:00.000-07:00

Reading the Heute yesterday... only to have my near perfect world shaken.

This hard-hitting news source has broken some important news. Front page stuff.

The new Mister Schweiz has, it seems, had dental work.

Before & after photos took up most of the cover.

Do people go to journalism school here for this profession?

Spring in Zurich is Pretty

2008-03-23T12:22:00.000-07:00

Spring arrives in Zurich.

Do you know what... vans(?) your kids are watching?

2008-02-18T08:09:00.000-08:00

Question of the Day: Is it copacetic to have a large decal with the URL for a porn website featured on an automobile?

This van was parked by a popular ski lift.

I think I favor the signage on this van (see left).

Its pride may be comically outdated. But at least it's retained its innocence.

Not-So-Subtle Nomenclature

2007-09-01T17:26:00.000-07:00

Ordering an ice cream?

You can go with one scoop, two scoops. Or, if you want to be an
over-indulgent fat-ass...

Order the "Amerikaner" :-)