Archive for category Geneva

Losing perspective

Posted by Amanda in Geneva, This-is-Switzerland (TIS) on November 3, 2009

Source: http://flickr.com/exlibris

Source: http://flickr.com/exlibris

I realize over-priced-ness appears to be a common theme in Geneva. And it is.

Some days, I really have to remind myself of reality.

Today, I was obscenely excited about my uber-cheap lunch for 15 CHF: pumpkin soup and grapefruit juice. Oh dear: not cheap, not frugal, not practical.

Geneva is sometimes so far from real life.

* Learning French lessons to be continued – I promise!

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French foibles #10: Do you have other sizes?

Posted by Amanda in French, Geneva on September 30, 2009

The Bag Lady
Creative Commons License photo credit: clemmac

To date, I’ve never dared ask a sales person for help. I tend to ruffle around the racks until I find something and say “I’m OK” if they offer to help. Thus, a new phrase: Do you have other sizes?

FRENCH: Est-ce que vous avez une autre taille?

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French foibles #7: Yep, I’m in line

Posted by Amanda in French, Geneva on September 25, 2009

Queue outside the Bank for Open House

photo credit: RachelH

I’m not sure of queuing protocol yet in Switzerland. I mean this is an efficient country and it seems that they’re fairly orderly with little numbers from machines (ala government buildings in the US). But I run into the odd situation where I’m waiting outside of a restaurant or similar and someone asks me if I’m in line. THUS, I will say…

FRENCH: Oui, je fais la queue.

Which I *think* means, “yes, I’m in line.” But it could also mean “I make the line.” Seriously, French, why do you hate me?

[16:32:53] Amanda Mark: [16:29] Timo Luege: Oui, je fais la queue.
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French foibles #5: I’ll have the same thing as her

Posted by Amanda in French, Geneva on September 22, 2009

andok's lechon manok
Creative Commons License photo credit: jekert gwapo

Let’s pretend that you’re in a restaurant and you cannot pronounce the menu item. Let’s pretend that your colleague has good taste and you always like what she has. AND she can speak French. Well, then, “I’ll have the same thing as her.” is quite helpful.

Thank GOD you have good taste, Kate.

FRENCH: Je prend la même chose.

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How to spend $100 at a farmer’s market

Posted by Amanda in Geneva, This-is-Switzerland (TIS) on September 13, 2009

We really like this little farmer’s market in Thoiry, France. It’s just across the border and loaded with fresh fruits and veggies. But, while there is a bus that goes there, it’s easiest to drive. And we only have a rental car about once every few months.

So we make do with our local farmer’s market at Plainpalais, which is about two minutes outside our front door.

This morning, we stocked up on fruits, veggies, some sausage, a fresh roasted chicken and some crepes.

Feeling fairly proud of ourselves, we walked home, adding up our totals as we lugged the bags.

Umm, we spent $100.

Oops.

Apparently, the watermelon, strawberries and avocados add up pretty quick.

We miss you, Thoiry.

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The ridiculous and redunculous

Posted by Amanda in Geneva, This-is-Switzerland (TIS) on July 20, 2009

I’ve become accustomed to most things in this quirky city of Geneva, but some things still irk me.

  1. Laundry. Don’t even think about washing clothes on Saturdays or Sundays. And you have to return the laundry room key by 5 p.m. when the apartment office closes, which is cool because I always envisioned A) using vacation days to wash my clothes or B) hand-washing all clothes in my tub.
  2. Hours. Thursday nights have turned into this odd shopping frenzy as it’s the only night where stores are open past 7 p.m. The rest of the week? I’m normally weeding through the cupboards and pondering dinners of rice and dried fruits.
  3. Dehydrate me. Restaurants are not big on giving you water. They will sell you sparkling water, but you have to finangle a bit for the free carafe d’eau.

Ok, the crabbiness as left the room, so I’ll leave you with three things that work pretty darn well.

  1. Gummy candy centers in every corner store
  2. Free eau potable (drinkable water) fountains in most neighborhoods
  3. Plainpalais flea market where you can get a roasted chicken, cheapo English-language books and a stolen bike or two. OH and doll heads, but they were sold by the box, not individually so I passed.

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From the cleanest laundromat EVER

Posted by Amanda in Geneva on April 27, 2009

amandaIn a country where my residency card is delayed for two months so I can’t get a mobile phone contract, nothing is open on Sunday and most stores close between 6 and 7 p.m. every day but Thursday, this laundromat is surprisingly simplistic, convenient and, well, open until midnight.

AND they have free wifi.

I’m far too happy about this.

The only other locale I’ve discovered with legit free wifi (i.e. you’re not stealing it from a hapless neighbor), is Starbucks. And when you’re paying 7 CHF for a latte, it’s hard to call their measly 30-minute cards free.

So, let’s add up the plusses: free internet, the opportunity to use up all those silly coins that are actually worth 2 and 5 swiss francs and hot drinks (if I’d had the spare 1.50 frances, but it went towards drying). Not a bad deal.

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