Archive for category This-is-Switzerland (TIS)
‘No, really, anything you need, you can buy there…’
Posted by Amanda in Geneva, This-is-Switzerland (TIS) on August 2, 2010
photo credit: billaday
When you’re planning a trans-atlantic move, you’re always encouraged to under-pack, right? Don’t bring shampoo. You can buy it there. Don’t bring towels. Waste of space, you can buy it there. Bottom line? When in doubt, YOU CAN BUY IT THERE. Or so I heard.
I economized my packing with the best of ‘em when I decided to move from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Geneva, Switzerland. I packed no toiletries. I packed no towels. I packed no linens. I packed no extraneous clothes. I almost didn’t bring my ski boots until I thought twice about the prime Alps locations.
Now, 18 months later, I can tell you what I wished I’d packed.
- Towels. Yep, of course you can buy them in Switzerland, but one tires of Ikea towels after 18 months. Also, think about the efficiency of wrapping your valuables in towels for the moving process (I didn’t).
- Shampoo. Again, you can buy it in Switzerland, but you will pay double the price… Ditto to contact solution, face wash and moisturizer.
- Bathrobe. Seemed so extraneous when I was packing. Remember, you ARE moving, not going on holidays. You’ll want the comfort stuff.
- Favorite pens. Favorite stationery. Favorite drawing stuff.
- Anything technical or outdoorsy. Even if it’s European brands, it tends to be a great deal cheaper in the United States. So jump drives, sleeping bags, camping stuff, hiking boots, etc.
- Specific cooking tools you love. Your favorite paring knife. A favorite spatula. Measuring cups that measure in cups, not ounces (this I did bring from the US and thought it was inspired on my part). Love it all. Have used it all.
What I didn’t need and will be leaving in Switzerland
- Clothing that I rarely wore in the United States, but couldn’t force myself to get rid of, yet determined it looked “European.” Haven’t worn any of it.
- Shoes (specifically four pairs of treacherous heels) that I rarely wore in the United States, but couldn’t force myself to get rid of, yet determined they’d be worn in Europe. Yes, because having no car and walking everywhere leads to you wearing more uncomfortable shoes? No.
Ma’m, ma’m please watch your elbows!
Posted by Amanda in This-is-Switzerland (TIS), Travels on May 16, 2010
After waiting in a 45 minute line, complete with budging Swiss and lots of Swiss-German questions (I *think* I have an open face that begs for questions), I finally got my pass for the “Van Gogh, Monet and Cezanne” exhibition in the Kunthaus museum in Zurich.
Hurrying up the stairs as it closed in a few hours, I was immediately stopped by a nervous man. After I stopped his Swiss-German explanation mid-way, he said “oh, please hold your purse at your elbow.”
“Should I check it?” I say.
“No, no, just hold it on your elbow instead of your shoulder.”
Odd instructions as it’s a small hobo purse, but absolutely.
About 5 minutes later, a concerned woman stopped me.
“Excuse me, but could you hold your purse in your hand, instead of your elbow?”
Ten minutes later…
“Excuse me, but could you keep your elbows in?”
Twenty minutes later…
“Could you not swing your umbrella?”
Finally, as I walked down the stairs towards the modern collection (my elbows in, my purse held in my hands, my umbrella safely put away), a guard glares at me. He takes in my elbows, my correct purse position, my fearful expression and finally looks down at my boots clanking on the wood stairs.
“SHHH!”
French foibles: Creme fraiche
Posted by Amanda in French, This-is-Switzerland (TIS) on February 2, 2010
Creme fraiche from flit (http://www.flickr.com/photos/flit/)
For some reason, I assumed that “creme fraiche” was just a fresher, French-er way of saying “sour cream.” Nope. Apparently, it’s akin to “heart attack upon delivery.”
I used it to finish up a yum vegetable and tofu dish last night only to discover this health advisory this a.m.
And I’m no longer feeling *quite* so smug about my healthy cooking.
Next, I’m going to learn that “lardon” doesn’t mean “healthy ham pieces.”
Losing perspective
Posted by Amanda in Geneva, This-is-Switzerland (TIS) on November 3, 2009
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!
A marmot and a chamoix were walking down the trail…
Posted by Amanda in This-is-Switzerland (TIS), Travels on September 25, 2009
We *just* were in Zermatt for the weekend, hiking and, not too shockingly, taking pictures (i.e. Tony took thousands of pictures while I hopped up and down impatiently).
The oddest moment of the trip happened when I saw a man up ahead, leading two mules and carrying something around his neck. As he came closer, it was clearly a dead animal — namely a chamoix (small goat-type creature).
About 10 minutes later, we saw a younger 20-something carrying a dead animal in a plastic bag. It was his son and he was carrying a marmot. Of course.
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.
This is Switzerland
Posted by Amanda in This-is-Switzerland (TIS) on August 11, 2009
DISCLAIMER: Switzerland is a great place to live. On the scale of difficult places to adjust to, Geneva ranks maybe a 0.5 on the Richter scale of difficulty.
However, there are little quirks that itch at the soul; twitches that cannot be ignored 24/7.
For those zany Swiss things, we present: TIS (This is Switzerland). We’ll save all those tidbits there.
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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- Gummy candy centers in every corner store
- Free eau potable (drinkable water) fountains in most neighborhoods
- 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.