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Posts Tagged ‘holiday’

First Christmas Away From Hom

28 Dec

New Years 5km Candle Lit Nordic Walking Event

 

Christmas this year was a totally new experience for me and my family this year.  It marked the first year in my life that I spent the holiday away from home.  Since our little baby was so small this year we made the difficult decision to stay in Switzerland.  We did have family join us in Switzerland for the holiday so we weren’t alone, but it was very different.  Some old traditions were put aside.  Others we tried to replicate here as best we could in this new setting.

I don’t think having Christmas outside of the U.S. will be a permanent change, it feels like only a temporary arrangement.

Due to the fact that were were here we did get to do some local things that we wouldn’t normally have a chance to do. We bought our Christmas tree in the plaza under our apartment as opposed to the Jumbo home improvement store.  Usually we don’t have that option because the vendors start selling trees in the city a little late for out tastes.  We did get to keep one long standing tradition which was eating fondue on Christmas Eve.  And I have to say I think it was better in Switzerland for obvious reasons.

We also participated in the new years nordic walking evening on Baldegg.  The event was a 5km candle lit trail followed by a pasta dinner.  Most of the hike was in the pitch black forest with the trail lit by some 1000 candles according to my calculations.  It took a good 15 minutes to get used to walking in the complete darkness as the candles just didn’t have the power needed to illuminate much of the trail at all.  My sister-in-law described it like stumbling 5km for the bathroom in the middle of the night.  A perfect description.

Our family will be here for another 2 weeks or so.  That is beautiful in a sense that we will have 3 extra babysitters around, and that they will have a chance to spend so much time with the newest member of the family.

 

 
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Posted in Daily Life

 

Glühwein: Great Cold Weather Drink

10 Dec

A cup of Glühwein at a Christmas Market

It is officially Christmas market season in Europe.  Last weekend we made a trip to Innsbruck, Austria with some friends to make the rounds at the local market.  Mulled wine called glühwein in the local language is always a staple.  The hot wine drink is a great way to warm your hands and your heart as you pass the time outdoors.

At most markets you’ll pay about 2.50 Euros for a hot cup, with an additional 2 Euro deposit on the mug.  Once you finish your drink and return your mug you’ll get your 2 Euro’s back.  For the expat, it seems to be a bit more difficult.  My informal poll indicates that other expats like myself tend to keep the mugs as a souvenir from the trip.  After all for 2 Euro’s you get a great little mug, with the city name and the year on it.  What else could you want.

 
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Posted in Festivals, Food

 

Grocery Shopping Like A Bachelor

11 Aug

I have been out of touch the last couple of weeks due to an extended summer vacation.  First we were in the mountains here in Switzerland for a while and then we returned to the U.S. for a week to visit family.

The trip back to the U.S. was the first I have made back to the States in the summer months.  Usually we are flying in for Christmas.  I had really forgotten how hot and humid it can get in the Chicago area in August.  Just unbearable really.

I arrived back in Switzerland this morning and the first thing I had to do was run to the store to get some food.  I did a quick lap around the store only hitting the essentials.  Some fruit, a couple of things for the grill and some dairy items.  That was about it.  Really bachelor style.  My wife is still in the States and will return in a couple of days so I’ll be living like a bachelor for a while.

Although my shopping wasn’t that well rounded it definately was better than the guy behind me in line. His selection was just a little odd.  On the belt at the check-out he had a single piece of sashimi wrapped in cellophane, and a powerade (Isostar) drink.  Now thats what I call bachelor shopping.

 
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Posted in Daily Life, Shopping

 

Happy August First

01 Aug

Traditional Swiss Flag Throwing

Today is the Swiss National Holiday.  With the First of August celebration comes our annual First of August Party.  My wife and I have been cleaning all day to get the apartment and balcony in shape for the big party.

As usually the fireworks still start across the street over the castle at 10:00 pm.   Every year we add one new element to the party.  This will be the 5th year we have had the party.  Last year we invited all of our guests to bring a food or drink that was representative of their home culture.  That turned out to be a really good way to get people taking and trying different things.

This year in addition to the cultural pot luck I of course will be playing a short Alphorn piece or two.   I’m looking forward to it.  Now, just to get in some rest before the guests arrive.

 
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Posted in Festivals

 

Fourth Of July

04 Jul

This year’s fourth was a resounding success.  It started with the ceremonial opening of a box of Cheerios for breakfast. A tradition that is not be be taken lightly here in Switzerland given the scarcity of my beloved breakfast cereal.

After breakfast I raised an American Flag on the balcony to show my pride.  I am sure there was some uninformed locals that probably thought the flag was a left over after thought from our World Cup run.  Not at all my dear friends, not at all.

After that we headed out for a hike through the surrounding woods.  The weather today was warm, not unbearably so, but the humidity was a killer.  After the nice well paced hike we decided it was time to fire up the grill and make our ribs and corn on the cob to celebrate.

The meal was excellent.  After packing away the calories I felt like I should do something strenuous and painful.    It seemed like a good idea to continue working on digging out a few stumps from our garden.  Five minutes into the task our neighbor was yelling across the balcony asking if I wanted to pick up her Hochdruckreiniger (Pressure Washer) that I had mentioned I had wanted to barrow the evening before.

She obviously wanted to take advantage of the fact that I was in a cleaning mood and wanted to get that over to me quickly so she wouldn’t have to look at my eyesore of a balcony.  With the delivery of the pressure washer came a 30 minute tour of my balcony, given by my neighbor to me.  Even though I have been living here for 4 years she still enjoys giving me the tour, and of course with it comes cleaning and gardening advice.

Bless her soul, she is the most wonderful neighbor.  And when she saw I was pulling out bushes she decided she should show me how its done.  Any woman that is willing to pull out stumps in high heels and a skirt definitely has my respect.

Happy fourth, hope yours was as good as mine.

 
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Posted in Daily Life, Festivals

 

Preparing for the Fourth Of July

03 Jul

I was reading a friends blog last night and he was mentioning that he was getting ready for the upcoming holiday weekend.  At first I asked myself, ‘What holiday?!’

Then I remembered, the 4th of course.  Took me a second, but it came to me.

Of course the fourth.  What shall I do.  That is the next question.  We usually go out to McDonalds for our once a year feast.  That could be nice.  But I also  thought of doing a proper American BBQ.  I ran through a list of things in my head and came up with what I actually can buy here.

So this is what I got at the local Migros:

  • Spare Ribs for the Grill
  • Two ears of sweet corn
  • A funny looking soccerball sized and shaped watermelon
  • Cold beer

In addition to that I still have some potatoes and somewhere in the back of the cupboard I think I have  a couple of boxes of Jello.  I might try to make that this afternoon for the big occasion tomorrow.

I think that will make a pretty good spread.  I just hope it is a little cooler tomorrow than today.  It’s just too hot to sit out on the balcony.

Are you celebrating tomorrow?  What are you going to have?  Leave a comment.

 
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Posted in Daily Life, Festivals, Food

 

Happy Eastern

04 Apr

Before I left for the Easter break a German colleague wished me a ‘Happy Eastern’

As soon as she said it she looked and me and said, ‘That sounded wrong, you correct me on that last year, it is Happy Easter isn’t it?’

I got a laugh.  The word for Easter is German is Ostern so I can understand the mistake.

 
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Posted in Daily Life