So this Swiss expat is at the 7 week mark in Zurich. I cannot believe it. Simply CANNOT.
On my walk home from work this evening, I started thinking about how many things here in Zurich either make total sense, or confuse the hell out of me. I would say it’s pretty evenly split, but I will just dive right in and let you decide. Please note some of these things I have not yet experienced personally but are things I’ve learned since meeting people. Oh, and like Phil Dunfy, Tony says I can make lists for days, hence multiple “list” type blogs.
If you own a car, you are required to change your tires in the winter (i.e. snow tires)
Makes total sense. In a land surrounded by beautiful mountains and nested in a quaint little valley, the probability of snow in winter is pretty damn high. To force car owners to have two sets of tires makes perfect sense to me. It helps ensure that people are putting themselves and others in the safest possible position when driving in the winter. This is one that I think Chicago could totally benefit from. You’ve all driven next to/in front of/behind a janky car during a horrible blizzard on Lake Shore Drive, who’s tires were so bald, they would slip on a clear, dry summer day. Just saying, thank you Switzerland for thinking of my safety during snowy times.
The fresh produce prices tend to “change their minds”
Doesn’t make sense, and is totally unfair. We’ve already discussed how much I love the tomaten here. Overall the food and produce is such high quality, Tony and I have really been enjoying ourselves. But I’ve heard through the “grapevine” – haha, we are talking about produce! – that there is some farmland shady business that takes place. Let me set the stage.
First, produce is (for the most part) only available here when it’s in season. Based on all of the vegan books I read, that’s the way to do it. No one should be eating strawberries in December. So, let’s say raspberries start popping up at the grocery. Tony and I actually bought a huge pack for about 3.50 CHF – steal! Well these particular raspberries come from, say, Spain (I have no idea where raspberries come from, btw). Spain is warmer than Switzerland, so they are ready sooner, makes sense.
Well, once the Swiss farmers have their raspberries to sell, it’s time to say bye-bye to Spanish raspberries, and oh yeah, the price is tripled on top of it. Whoa, what?
In this example, please note that I have no proof of this yet, and I am making gross assumptions that just happen to make a whole lot of sense. Switzerland is big on “buying and eating from the region” which I fully support, but to triple the price? That is a bunch of bologna (which is NOT a produce). It’s just plain rude and doesn’t make sense. What happened to the laws of supply and demand?
The ever-annoying Zuri-sack
If you haven’t heard the tales of the Zuri-sack, check out my previous blog here. As eye-roll-inducing as these sacks are, they make perfect sense. They force you to recycle and be diligent about what you throw out and use. It benefits the people who live here and Mother Earth. Ain’t nothing wrong with that…mostly.
A pasta and pizza diet that helps you lose weight
This one doesn’t make ANY sense, but is absolutely AMAZING!!!! Tony and I have been penny pinching a lot since we arrived given the high cost of things here, and this, coupled with our temporary, limited kitchen, equals pizza/pasta most nights. Now, where on earth can you consistently eat these things and LOSE weight? Apparently Switzerland, because we’ve both lost significant amounts of weight. I am talking, some of my most beloved dresses are too big on me. That has never, ever, ever, EVER happened to me. Even when I went pure vegan for a month, I didn’t drown in my dresses like I do now.
While I am sad that my cute dresses no longer fit, who DOESN’T LOVE losing weight? I feel like now I can finally submit an audition tape to America’s Next Top Model (just kidding, I am way too old…no really, I think the cut off is like, 25). And I was trying to figure out what it was. Yes, I’ve been walking to and from the train everyday, but I did that at home. I walk maybe a little bit more here than in Chicago, but I also used to exercise 3 – 4 days a week. I haven’t had a chance to do that yet. Is it the quality of the food? The stress of the move? Perhaps. But all I know is, I feel like I just completed Kanye’s Workout Plan, I look that good!
Citizens that follow the rules and are polite
Um, this one always makes sense. Hey, jerks in America, take note!
Very low taxes, and no deficit
What kind of sense does this make? NONE I TELL YOU! NONE! What a fabulous, magical land I now live in that I pay LESS taxes and things actually run and work here. People have food – cities are clean – unemployment is low. Like, what? Obama, I love you and yes, I voted for you (shut up Republican friends) but dude, come spend a year here and gain some knowledge. I promise you will regain your previous hair color AND quit smoking AND become a Cubs fan…what, stop laughing at me.
High and low fashion
This one also makes no sense to me. Switzerland is located smack dab in between France, Germany and Italy. 2 of the 3 include cities that are fashion hubs of the world. Designers from all over vie for a spot on the runways in Paris and Milan. So how is it that I cannot find a normal, cute clothing store in this city? They either have Prada, Gucci, Dior, or…..I don’t even remember the names, they were that discouraging to me. Yes, they have H&M but I cannot build a 30-year-old woman wardrobe on those clothes. It’s just so frustrating! Okay, I know, first-world problems, I’ll move on. I just had to say it once out loud.
Everyone looks out for the other’s children
Not only does this make perfect sense, but it is also one of the most lovely things I have heard about living in Switzerland. A woman we were speaking with, who had two kids, told us an awesome story. First, in Switzerland, the teachers encourage parents to start letting their kids walk/tram it to school on their own when they’re between the ages of 6 – 8. That is unheard of and considered neglect in the United States. In Switzerland, it is more the norm and you might be considered a Helicopter Mom if you don’t let go a bit.
Well, one day, the daughter of this woman was walking home and got lost and started crying. An older man stopped to ask her what was wrong (don’t worry, it’s not creepy, you will see) and she explained she was lost. The man started to pull out his cell phone to let the girl call her mom when a friend of the mother, who knew the little girl, was driving home and saw what was going on. She stopped to ask the man what he was doing with the little girl, to which he explained the story with the phone. The friend then tried to have the little girl come with her and the adult man wouldn’t let her because she couldn’t prove she knew the girl. So both adults then waited until the mother was able to come and clear everything up.
I mean, wow. There are no words. And if only this could make perfect sense everywhere, where everyone looks after all children. What a better place we would live.
The immigration process
Yes, back to this. More issues. More letters have come, IT DOESN’T MAKE SENSE. And it is driving me to drink delicious wine a little too often. Apparently no ones knows if I am supposed to be American or Polish, so now I am supposed to be both. Ugh. At this point, I am going to just pull an Andy Dufrense and up and move to Zihuatanejo and build myself a stupid boat. Like, honestly. I said I was all right with being Polish, stop making me jump through hoops.
Well, I think that is a pretty good list of what I feel does and does not make sense. As more arise (and I am sure there will be plenty more) I will write another fabulous blog. 🙂
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