So, I realize that my last blog post was boring, for which I apologize deeply. I mean, it's not too late to change and I wrote it about two seconds ago, but I'm low on energy and frankly just don't care enough to edit myself. I hope you don't stop reading simply because I had a lapse in entertainment value. From now on, I will write only about my interesting experiences instead of taking a step by step encounter of my life (because as much as I would like to believe differently, my life isn't that interesting).
Here are a few things I've learned about Switzerland since living here. Some are things I aldready knew (but you average Americans might not know), some are things I heard and merely have now confirmed or (what's the word for opposite of confirm but is not deny?), and some are just my observations.
1. Switzerland is clean. Its like the whole country has a cleaning lady that comes once a week whether she is needed or not. Seriously, why is there no gum on the sidewalk? Is there no gum in this country? I shall investigate and report back.
2. The biggest meal of the day is lunch. Breakfast consists of cereal or bread and butter, lunch is a massive production, and dinner is bread and cheese or sometimes more cereal. Wives usually cook for lunch and the husband and children come home from school and work to eat. Genuis! I don't know where they find these women, but I can't wait to have a wife one day who will cook for me too. Hahaha JK
3. The hygene here is about 50/50 but there are two extremes. One extreme are the people who shower but don't wear deoderant. I don't understand the purpose of showering if you don't plan on smelling showered for the rest of the day, but some people haven't figured this out yet. Unforunate for them because they cannot date me. The other extreme is the man who is overly showered. I'm talking they spend more time in the bathroom on a daily basis than I will probably spend on my wedding day. These men are groomed. Well. When they walk by it's like you stepped into the perfume section of Macy's after everyone has sprayed their counter with their samples. It's (most of the time) delightful! The men are dressed well, clean shaven, and smell delicious. Those are the guys that can line up at my door!
Sorry boys, I don't check out women so I have not made any obsevations on whether or not women shave their armpits and legs. I will report back.
4. Everyone drives fast. I'm talking F.A.S.T. I'm serious, I don't think they slow down before they make a turn. If they are stopping for pedestrians or a stop light, they slam on their breaks just in time to stop and not kill people. And what baffles me is that the pedestrians aren't in the least bit phased crossing the street in front of screaming traffic! I thought I was going to die a couple times, but the cars stopped! Amazing.
5. The most important thing to know before considering moving to Switzerland: They play Michael Jackson on the radio. Often :)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
August 25 - The Flight....s
At 3am, after only 2 hours of sleep and a miserable time packing the night before (classic Rebecca), I had to wake up to head to the airport. I got to the airport, checked in my two 50lbs. bags, went to my gate, curled up in a ball, and went back to sleep. At 7:10am my flight departed to Chicago. Luckily, it was American Airlines - thus an empty plane and I had the whole row to myself. One nap later, I woke up in Chicago. I transferred gates and boarded my flight to JFK two hours later. (I had my last fast food ever - Mmmmm McDonalds!)
On my flight to the Big Apple I was sitting on the asile seat stuck in the middle a 6 member middle eastern family. It was quite awkward because the way they were acting was as though I was rudely interrupting "family time". Thankfully, I fell asleep quickly and slept the whole way. When I got to JFK I had about an hour and a half before my final flight to Switzerland.
Unfortunately, the plane I was on to Switzerland was the kind that had the 12 inch mini screens on the ceiling of the center aisle of the plane, so there wasn't much of a chance I would be able to watch the movies that they played (which I later found out that I had already seen), so I changed my seat to a window seat with hopes of sleeping. When I got on the plane I realized that I was sitting next to a huge man...who smoked. He smoked so much, he actually bought two cartons of Maroboro on the plane even though he wasn't allowed to smoke them. I guess he thought he could absorb the nicotine via osmosis. Either way, I was able to fall asleep right away. About an hour later I woke up, opened my window...and we were still in New York. Apparently we had missed our turn in the take-off lineup and had to wait until there was time. Fortunately it wasn't much longer and I was on my 8-hour way. I slept pretty well on the plane the whole way, which was awesome. The food wasn't...horrible, but I wouldn't say it was good either. I enjoyed the brownie lots though!
Once I arrived in Zurich I waited in the customs line (in the Swiss Citizen line, of course), which only took about 15 minutes and when I got to the baggage claim my two bags came right out, one after the other! I walked to the greeting hall and my cousins Andy and Liliane (ahem...Estella), and my Aunt Gaby were there to pick me up!
On my flight to the Big Apple I was sitting on the asile seat stuck in the middle a 6 member middle eastern family. It was quite awkward because the way they were acting was as though I was rudely interrupting "family time". Thankfully, I fell asleep quickly and slept the whole way. When I got to JFK I had about an hour and a half before my final flight to Switzerland.
Unfortunately, the plane I was on to Switzerland was the kind that had the 12 inch mini screens on the ceiling of the center aisle of the plane, so there wasn't much of a chance I would be able to watch the movies that they played (which I later found out that I had already seen), so I changed my seat to a window seat with hopes of sleeping. When I got on the plane I realized that I was sitting next to a huge man...who smoked. He smoked so much, he actually bought two cartons of Maroboro on the plane even though he wasn't allowed to smoke them. I guess he thought he could absorb the nicotine via osmosis. Either way, I was able to fall asleep right away. About an hour later I woke up, opened my window...and we were still in New York. Apparently we had missed our turn in the take-off lineup and had to wait until there was time. Fortunately it wasn't much longer and I was on my 8-hour way. I slept pretty well on the plane the whole way, which was awesome. The food wasn't...horrible, but I wouldn't say it was good either. I enjoyed the brownie lots though!
Once I arrived in Zurich I waited in the customs line (in the Swiss Citizen line, of course), which only took about 15 minutes and when I got to the baggage claim my two bags came right out, one after the other! I walked to the greeting hall and my cousins Andy and Liliane (ahem...Estella), and my Aunt Gaby were there to pick me up!
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Saying Goodbye and the Road Trip Back Home
All my bags were packed, I was ready to go, I was standing there outside your door, I hated to wake you up to say goodbye....ok ok ok enough Jewel reference. In reality, my bedroom was in shambles, the living room was a mess, I was sitting in a giant heap of my belongings that I had no idea what to do with and my mom was telling me we had to pack the car. Ugh. Slowly but surely, my possesions made it into the car and the donation pile began to grow. I parted with half of my clothes, half my shoes, and a lot of jewelry, but it had to be done.
I'll skip the details of the sob fest that I had in Kevin's car, but it was somewhat dramatic. The next day came, my mom and I went to church, I said goodbye and the next morning my mom and I hit the road.
We drove through Zion National Park, which was beautiful, I highly recommend it and into Bryce Canyon where we spent the night. The next morning we walked around Bryce Canyon which I would love to sit and attempt to describe, but I can do it no justice, so you'll just have to go there and see it yourself. Seriously. Go. Like right now.
I'll skip the details of the sob fest that I had in Kevin's car, but it was somewhat dramatic. The next day came, my mom and I went to church, I said goodbye and the next morning my mom and I hit the road.
We drove through Zion National Park, which was beautiful, I highly recommend it and into Bryce Canyon where we spent the night. The next morning we walked around Bryce Canyon which I would love to sit and attempt to describe, but I can do it no justice, so you'll just have to go there and see it yourself. Seriously. Go. Like right now.
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