Ok, people, don't get used to this blogging every day thing, but I have to share one thing...
God bless the cheeseburger. After a very Swiss meeting in French today, I needed a beer and a cheeseburger. So, for the first time since moving here, a friend and I went to a very un-Swiss bar and had a very un-Swiss gourmet burger and un-Swiss beer (German, in fact). The burger was served on "American bread" which turned out to be a regular old hamburger roll. Good grief, I hope the Swiss don't think that a hamburger roll defines America. Although that's probably better than some of the things they think of us!
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
A good thing I forgot!
I forgot one of the most important and amazing things about Switzerland in yesterday's blog. Fortunately, one of my good readers pointed it out and now I'll wax poetic about it...
Another thing the Swiss got right
Moving money around is a science here. And, it is fantastic. Like everything else Swiss, the banking system is quite orderly. Lots of rules, but at least you know what they are. All, and I mean ALL, of my bills are paid online via "orange slips" that enable managing all my bills, both regular and one-time, based on the invoice. I realize you can sort of do this in the U.S., but the standardization here is so advanced that it makes this the easiest money management I've ever done.
Checks are not even possible here. I received some checks from the U.S. and took them to my bank. The teller touched them like they were infected and told me that, well, yes, they COULD accept them, but there would be a $30 charge for each check and it would probably take about six weeks to clear! Apparently, checks are so 20th century. You can't even write a check to pay your neighbor for picking up your groceries. But, you CAN make an online transfer. Sounds like this could be a negative, but not. It's a beautiful thing.
Another thing the Swiss got right
Moving money around is a science here. And, it is fantastic. Like everything else Swiss, the banking system is quite orderly. Lots of rules, but at least you know what they are. All, and I mean ALL, of my bills are paid online via "orange slips" that enable managing all my bills, both regular and one-time, based on the invoice. I realize you can sort of do this in the U.S., but the standardization here is so advanced that it makes this the easiest money management I've ever done.
Checks are not even possible here. I received some checks from the U.S. and took them to my bank. The teller touched them like they were infected and told me that, well, yes, they COULD accept them, but there would be a $30 charge for each check and it would probably take about six weeks to clear! Apparently, checks are so 20th century. You can't even write a check to pay your neighbor for picking up your groceries. But, you CAN make an online transfer. Sounds like this could be a negative, but not. It's a beautiful thing.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Dogs, trains and other good things
Yes, it has been a LONG time since I've posted, as many of my friends have been pointing out. But, never fear, I've been busy collecting observations while I've been gone! Some thoughts (...pitter...)...
What the Swiss got right
An absolutely amazing public transportation system. I know this is fairly well known around the world, but it can only be truly appreciated when you've actually scheduled your walk to the train to arrive 30 seconds before the train will leave, and it is there when you get there, and you don't panic because you know it will leave precisely on time. The bus is the same way. It actually arrives on schedule! I am so accustomed to this now that when I took the train on Sunday, I was a bit miffed that the 16:01 train actually didn't leave until 16:02.
Dogs in restaurants and stores. In general, Swiss dogs behave better in restaurants than many toddlers, so why not? I have yet to see a dog have a meltdown at the next table because his mother gave him too many drink choices. However, I have been a bit startled in the middle of a glass of French champagne by an unexpected tiff between canine neighbors under the table.
The scenery. Yes, I know this wasn't a conscious choice by the Swiss, but every time I look out my living room window, I am impressed.
And, I can't leave this section without mentioning...the cheese. Of course. My latest find was an amazing Roquefort. I realize it's not technically Swiss, it's French. BUT, the selection of cheese at any grocery store here is truly amazing. So far, only one totally inedible version. And, actually, it wasn't inedible, it's just that it smelled so God-awful that I couldn't keep it in the house. I found myself choosing tap water to drink because I was afraid to open the refrigerator. I made the mistake of telling my friends about the olfactory horror in the icebox. After one of my parties, they took the cheese with them and disposed of it in the neighbor's dumpster. Honestly, it didn't taste bad. They did not believe me.
Next time...what the Swiss got wrong...
What the Swiss got right
An absolutely amazing public transportation system. I know this is fairly well known around the world, but it can only be truly appreciated when you've actually scheduled your walk to the train to arrive 30 seconds before the train will leave, and it is there when you get there, and you don't panic because you know it will leave precisely on time. The bus is the same way. It actually arrives on schedule! I am so accustomed to this now that when I took the train on Sunday, I was a bit miffed that the 16:01 train actually didn't leave until 16:02.
Dogs in restaurants and stores. In general, Swiss dogs behave better in restaurants than many toddlers, so why not? I have yet to see a dog have a meltdown at the next table because his mother gave him too many drink choices. However, I have been a bit startled in the middle of a glass of French champagne by an unexpected tiff between canine neighbors under the table.
The scenery. Yes, I know this wasn't a conscious choice by the Swiss, but every time I look out my living room window, I am impressed.
And, I can't leave this section without mentioning...the cheese. Of course. My latest find was an amazing Roquefort. I realize it's not technically Swiss, it's French. BUT, the selection of cheese at any grocery store here is truly amazing. So far, only one totally inedible version. And, actually, it wasn't inedible, it's just that it smelled so God-awful that I couldn't keep it in the house. I found myself choosing tap water to drink because I was afraid to open the refrigerator. I made the mistake of telling my friends about the olfactory horror in the icebox. After one of my parties, they took the cheese with them and disposed of it in the neighbor's dumpster. Honestly, it didn't taste bad. They did not believe me.
Next time...what the Swiss got wrong...
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