Rebellion

Remember those days back when you were a teenager when your folks kept shoving rules down your throat just like the nasty canned spinach they always made you finish. Didn't they realize that I just spit it into my napkin every time? Is it really that hard to make broccoli instead? Or maybe just try the fresh stuff?

The Kreisbüro (government office) here is making me want to revert back to my rebellious ways. Everyone knows that Switzerland loves their rules, but I am ready to pull my hair out. I am sick of jumping through hoops and trying to read in between the Deutsch lines of jargon. There is always a hidden rule when it comes to renewing permits, getting a bank account, applying for a Swiss driver's license, you name it. Basically anytime you need to go to the Kreisbüro, you had better be ready for shenanigans.

Josh and I just turned in our renewal paperwork for our permits. That all went smooth (at least so far)...thankfully. I then go to pull out my driver's license application and the woman "helping" us just looked at me an laughed. Ok, maybe not exactly, but she might have well as. That condescending look....like you idiot, you have to apply for this when you still have THREE months left on your permit. Duh. Are you fricken kidding me? Everything that I have read and heard says that you just have to apply before you have lived here for a year. Simple enough. Too bad what they actually mean to say is that you have to apply before you have lived here for NINE months, leaving you with THREE months left on your permit.

I think this is how they entertain themselves over at the Kreisbüro. It's like a game to them. Each time you get to roll your eyes and make an Ausländer feel like a complete moron you get a point. The one with the highest score at the end of the day, WINS!

Doktor, Doktor

Photo by HollywoodPimp

...give me the news. I've got a bad case of loving you. Doo, doo, doo.

I may have completely lowered your expectations for quality health professionals here or at least made you doubt your first instinct when choosing a doctor. I need to tell you that they all aren't Dr. Losers. I feel it is my duty to pass along a very positive and uber necessary recommendation for any expat moving to the area.

We all need recommendations. This is how us Americans pick out our new hairstylist, massage therapist, personal trainer, doctor. The trusted referral. You may find it weird, but over here, Swissy's don't do it the same way. They even look at us a little weird when we ask for a recommendation. Who goes to the person just because they are around the corner from work? I may be generalizing a bit, but I feel it's pretty safe to say, especially when it comes to our health.

So, for those looking for a trusted referral. Check out Sihlcity Äerztezentrum. Not only me, but multiple friends are overly happy with their services. I don't think you can go wrong with one of their doctors, not that I know them all, but out of the handful I have either met or heard about, there are no complaints. You may be thinking...are you talking about the mall called Sihlcity? That would be right. I know. I had that funny look on my face to before I checked it out. How can a doctor's office in a MALL be anything good? Trust me.

It's super clean (not surprising). No disco balls like at Dr. Loser's office. Organized. They speak English even if they say "ein bisschen". You can get in when you need to and see a specialist quickly if need be. Plus, after your appointment you can pick up your meds from the Apotheke downstairs, run into Coop for groceries, even do a little shopping. A one-stop shop.

It might be the closest thing I have to a Super Target. Tear.

Zurich Marathon

"Woop, woop, woop..." (long o sound, not like Arsenio Hall) and sounds of noisemakers like Purim graggers filled the streets this past Sunday as runners finished the 2010 Zurich Marathon. We just caught a quick glimpse on our way downtown. But just those few minutes got my heart pounding. My adrenaline racing. I can only imagine what it feels like to be this close to the finish line after running for the last four hours.

If this guy can do it, why can't I? Never say never.

Practice Makes Perfect

Busted out the ol' camera today for a nice Friday stroll through Zurich. Josh played teacher and helped me work on my macro and shutter speed skills. Enjoy a short slideshow of some of the first days of Spring.

THE American Pour

Oh, how this phrase needs to be coined over here. You should all know, whether you are an expat or just visiting, that there is a BIG difference between a "Swiss pour" and an "American pour". We learned this lesson early on. After ordering my first glass of wine during our preview trip, a glass with a couple droplets of wine was delivered to our table. I thought, hmmm...maybe there was a language problem. Maybe the server didn't understand what I wanted. I wanted a GLASS of wine. Not a dash, a dribble, a teaser...a glass!

Take note of the picture above. To the left you will see a traditional Swiss pour. On the right...an American pour. Also notice the measurements etched into the glass.

Know that when you order a glass of wine, they will bring you 1 dl. To convert this to our English system, it basically equals a splash of liquid. No joke. The trick is to order however many deci's you want at the beginning. My friend, Stacie has now developed the term "The American Pour". We are hoping it catches on and there won't be those looks of uncertainty in the server's eyes the next time we order "zwei deci". Some day.

For fun: Ask a Swiss-y how many glasses of wine are in a bottle and I guarantee they will say 7.5. Ask an American and you will get a range of answers somewhere between two and four depending on glass size.

Viewfinder Center for Photography

Found. Great photography classes in English! We took a phenomenal "DSLR Photography for Beginners" course over at the Viewfinder Center here in Zurich this past weekend. I think we both had the normal apprehensions about how much we would really get out of the class, especially with Josh being at more of an intermediate level. Would it be more talky, talky with no real application value? Would I feel bogged down with terms and still feel like I didn't have a good grasp on where to go from here? Would seven hours of photo talk sing me right to sleep?

The class was a good combination of informal lecture and hands-on practice. We both left feeling invigorated and empowered...chomping at the bit to take more pictures and try out our newly acquired skills. The instructor, Bryon Paul McCartney (gotta love the name), hands down knows what he is talking about and his passion for the subject is evident. Big photo geek for sure.

This is how good it was. After being in class all day, we got home and immediately pulled out our laptops. Josh started our search for the perfect tripod. Who knew they could be that expensive? Gotta remember most hobbies aren't cheap. And, I got signed up and started playing with my free trial of Aperture. My lack of photo editing ability is going to get better. I see bright and vibrant colors in my future.

Also, on my list of things to purchase and play with...
Lensbaby The Composer for Canon EF mount Digital SLR Cameras
Creative Digital Photography: 52 Weekend Projects

Silvestersauber

If Silvesterklausen wasn't enough...

We were just getting started with our NYE celebration. The day continued on with all the last minute party preparations. Music playlist had to be made, apartment cleaned and arranged for our guests, and me, being the little chef that I am, had to throw together an apple strudel and spinach artichoke dip. Oh yeah! I am a cookin' these days. Who would have thought.

Being the popular expats that we are (I crack myself up), we had a house full of friends from all over the world. It still amazes me how quickly we have made friends and the quality of these friendships. We had a great time toasting to the New Year and fueling up on some munchies before heading down to the big city celebration at the Zurichsee.

A few months back we had played around with the idea of going somewhere else to bring in the New Year, but kept hearing how Zurich was actually supposed to be the top city in Europe for NYE. This was hard for me to believe since the Swiss aren't knows for their party animal skills. But, in the end...this is exactly where we wanted to be.

The party downtown had a bunch of tents set up with food, drinks, and music. We started and ended at the 80's music tent. Where else would a bunch of crazy Americans want to be? The clock struck midnight and the usual kissing and cheering went on. But, where are the fireworks? Everyone had talked about how great the fireworks show was going to be, but it is midnight, and there are no sparkles in the sky.

Come to find out, the fireworks don't start until 12:20am because the hotels and bars don't want everyone living until after the big champagne toasts at midnight. It makes sense. Can you imagine how much money they would lose? So, it is 12:20am and I am standing in line for the restroom (of course) and the fireworks start. It was like no show I have ever seen. This is by far the best fireworks show ever! And, they just kept going. They went on long enough for me to see the start while in line, go to the bathroom, and make it back for another 10 minutes of bangs and bursts right on the water. Awesome!

We continued dancing the night away to some Wham! and Michael Jackson before finding our way back to the flat around 4am. Such an amazing time and I have all of our friends to thank, especially Marc-ie Marc for making the big trip across the pond. Hope we can all do it again next year. Happy New Year all!

Syabu Syabu

We got a recommendation a while back from a fellow Googler telling us about the best Japanese restaurant in Zurich, Samurai, and how we have to try Syabu Syabu some night. Just from this statement I had a gillion questions (what's new?). 1. Ok, really...a great restaurant in Zurich. Let's just say you don't come here for the food. 2. Japanese? You have perked my interest. 3. Did you just say the name of a whale? Is that what I am supposed to eat there? Even with all the skepticism, we talk our adventurous friends into trying this so called Syabu Syabu in celebration of our anniversary.

All I knew going into this meal was that you had to call the restaurant prior to the meal and let them know you were being dare devils for the night and that it was a bit pricey (but usual Swiss dining standards). Also knew it had something to do with a big bowl of boiling water and something about having to cook your own meat. Sounds good enough, right?


We asked for some initial instructions. Before you start playing, they drop a bunch of veggies in the water to cook. Gave you a couple dipping sauces and a plate of raw meat. You grab some meat with your chopsticks, put it in the water til it browns, dip it in a sauce, and eat. Add veggies and rice if you prefer. I love foods that are hands on. Very simple. Very healthy.

By the end of the meal, all the meat was gone, veggies were bought and cooked multiple times, and my tummy was full. Add a couple Sapporos, good friends, a Mom, a wonderful husband, and it makes for a great anniversary night.

Dr. Loser

Finding a doc in a new city can be frustrating and challenging. Now add living in a different country where you don't speak the language and the health care system is completely different. Sometimes you just have to get sick to figure the process out.

The last couple of days I just haven't felt myself. I woke up in the middle of the night feeling terrible and knew first thing in the morning I would be on a doctor hunt. Our relocation agent gave us this binder with a list of english-speaking doctors in the area. She had even starred the doc closest to our apartment. Figuring this was a good place to start, I called and made an appointment for later today.

A couple of bells should have gone off in my head hinting me to look in another direction. First off, the doctors name is Dr. Loser. No joke. Next was when the receptionist asked if the appointment was for a general check-up or for a cosmetic purpose and if I was interested in Botox. I know what you are thinking, but this is a different culture. Felt kind of like going to a dentist in the States and all they can keep talking about is getting your teeth whitened.

I show up at the office (if you can really even call it that) and this is the entrance. Notice the sign at the bottom of the door that says, "Danger. Keep Out"? I should have listened. And, the 1980's colored cubes lining the door frame? The bells were ringing this time, but I just kept telling myself, "all you need to do is pee in a cup, gets some antibiotics, and you are set". Done and done.

The office was like nothing I have ever seen before. My best guess is that they had really out done themselves decorating for Halloween this year or that 1980 had thrown-up all over the place. The walls were lined in mirrors. The waiting room had old airplane seats to sit in. There were small, gold doggie trinkets on the shelves and a disco ball over the tree in the corner. Every free space was taken up with some tacky, dance club-inspired feature. Maybe this was like one of those restaurants that turns into a club after hours?

As I am filling out the new patient paperwork wondering if I should just run for the hills, the receptionist comes to escort me back to the doctor. First thing he says to me is, "Do we have to speak in English?". My guess is that wasn't exactly what he meant to say. After not knowing the words for urinary tract infection in Deutsch, I point and say "schmerzen". He laughs, but understands thankfully and shows me to the bathroom. He tells me basically to pee in a cup. I look around for a cup and don't see any beside the plastic drinking cups in the corner. Sure enough, that is what I peed in. Now, where to put the cup? There isn't the standard small door to place the cup in or even a lid to put on top. I walked out to reception and she is waiting for my cup-o-pee.

Test comes back confirming my assumptions and the doctor gives me a package of powder antibiotics. Powder...hmmmm. My fingers are crossed that it works. I will not be going back to this club/doctor's office for any further check-ups. All this office needed was some techno music playing in the background and Dr. Loser wearing Euro-faded jeans under his white lab coat.

Recommendations for doctors near to Enge?

Ra. Ra. Ra. Go Chicago!

Last night had to be one of the best nights so far while living in Zurich. My friend Kelly arrived in the  morning. So, you already know it is going to be a great day. We ended up being invited to the Chicago Blackhawk vs. HC Davos ice hockey game. Kelly being from Chicago and both of us being huge sporting nuts, what could be better?

The game was so exciting. Everyone around must have hated us by the end of the night...actually more like after the first period. Every time we scored (which was a lot), the lady in front of Stacie would have to put her hands over her ears because of our loud shrills. It was hilarious. We were so obnoxious.

We were seated right in the center of all the action. The Blackhawks dominated Davos winning 9-2. I do give it up to Davos for never throwing in the towel. Their cheering section was about 10 rows behind us chanting and singing the entire game.  Even at the very end they were still cheering like it was the first minute of the game.

Awesome, awesome night. We will see if tomorrow's adventure to Lichtenstein and Austria can top this experience.

Side note: The Blackhawks are playing the Zurich Lions tonight in the Victoria Cup. I guess last nights game was just a warm-up.

Independence Day - Swiss Style

Yesterday was National Swiss Day. We had big plans to trek out to Rheinfalls, and then those plans changed to a closer destination of Üetliberg, and then we thought maybe we would just head to our neighborhood park hopefully to find a good enough view of the lake. After my run though, things kind of went south for our plans to experience a big, all out Swiss celebration. We packed up the pup, grabbed a couple chairs, tripod, camera, and a couple glasses of wine and set off to the park. People love their Swiss day here. It was pretty much like our 4th of July, but with less blue and no Uncle Sam. Everyone was grilling, eating, drinking, and setting off fireworks. I can't remember the last time I actually set fireworks off with all the bans back in the States from droughts.

We decided to pass on setting up shop here because the view didn't quite work. Back to the flat we went in hopes to see some shows from our balcony. We must have sat outside for a couple hours watching fireworks go up all around us, listening to bad techno music coming from the neighbors, and simply enjoying the night. Even our neighbors were nice enough to have a quick show for us (seen in the 2nd picture above). I think they wanted to give us a true Swiss welcome. Maybe next year we will make it to one of the bigger shows, but no complaints here about our night.