Top Ten Reasons Why We Like Switzerland

I think Tom is finally rubbing off on me.  My last blogs have mostly been complaints about things.  So here goes my own top ten list of why we like Switzerland (drum roll please...)

10)  The people.  We were warned that the people here were very unfriendly, and that it would take us a long time to meet people.  WRONG!  Our neighbors brought us a gift basket complete with chocolate delicacies and stuffed animals for the girls.  You pass people on the street with a "guten mornig," and we have two really chatty neighbors, one of which is 97 who is studying her English again so she can talk with us. 

9)  The weather.  Well, today isn't so great, but we have had a week of sunny, crisp days.  You don't mind walking everywhere in weather like this.

8)  The food.  Switzerland grocery stores are a lot like "Fresh Market" back in the States.  You pay more, it tastes much better.  Most everything is grown organic, and even simple things like broccoli and bananas are fantastic.  Samantha said "this is the best banana I have ever had" yesterday.  I picked up a cheap bag of dried tortellini at the Aldi last week, and it was the best creamy, cheesy tortellini ever.  The air is pungent with fresh baked bread and don't even get me started on the Sprungli store that specializes in top end chocolate in downtown Zurich.  One whiff inside that store and your cravings are all gone, and no calories.

7)  The Village of Dietikon. Switzerland is set up to have concentrated Villages with all the amenities that you could need, separated by designated wooded areas, parks, and pastureland.  Most people use public transportation (see below), or walk, or ride your bike to get anything you need.  It is not unusual to see 60-70 year old women hopping on a bike to run errands.  There are numerous outdoor cafes, restaurants, shops, all within a half a mile from our house. 

8)  The Scenery.  You are never more than a few blocks from a stroll in the woods, or an open area to fly a kite.  This is a hill right behind our house:

You can appreciate the large wooded areas in perspective, then a town.  Looking south you can see the Alps on a clear day.  When you first see them you think, wow, those are some funky, jagged white clouds, then you realize it is actually a ski slope calling for you...

5) Church.  On our look-see trip we found the only Episcopal Church in the area.  We were surrounded by English speaking ex-pats undergoing the same changes that we are.  They have been very helpful, and the kids jumped right in to children's church.  Samantha beat out 40 other kids to answer questions from the rector (some things never change), and they are already enrolled in the Christmas pagent.  I was hit up to volunteer for the Advent bazaar next weekend, and we hope to join the choir soon.  Instant Episcopal family!  They were surprized to find out that the girls receive communion, I guess the England Episcopal church doesn't do that until later.  Here there is no dippin, only sippin.  Interesting reason, to avoid contamination of the wine with the glutens from the wafers for those who have celiac disease.  Now I have heard it all!  When your rector speaks with a British accent it seems so much more impressive, and the service only lasts about 1hour 20 minutes. 

4)   Public Transport.  I know you are saying, what!?  Here public transport is a way of life, and because it is so popular, the schedule is very convenient.  One zone-to-zone ticket can get you on any tram, bus, or train that you need to get on.  It is very organized on line, you enter your address of your destination and it will take you to every platform, bus stop, and give you a map of the exact walking directions, with arrival and departure times.  Public transportation, in general, is faster than driving.  The girls ride free now, and we have purchased our 50% off coupons, so we are very happy.  The Swiss family Betor loves a bargain. 

3)  Parks.  I mentioned that there are parks and open spaces everywhere, but I never mentioned the best park, literally right next door.  The "Chruzacher" is a combination playground and petting zoo, with naturalized climbing equipment and really unique swings.  After a hard day of raking leaves, here was the girls' treat...

There were lots of critters to pet, but why when you have such a cool swing?

2)  Schools.  We heard that the International Schools in Zurch were good, but now we know why.  Samantha is now doing algebra (4th grade), and Nicole is integrating Powerpoint presentations, with Microsoft word translations on her very own tablet at school.  They both have very small classes, and practically skip to the bus stop.  Their bus is actually a taxi, usually a Mercedes.  Nicole was re-writing music for homework last night, and Samantha was practicing her recorder.  They have integrated themselves quickly, and Samantha even went to a birthday party yesterday at the local bowling alley.  I had a great time chatting with the other parents who are also getting oriented to their new lives.  Again, instant family!

1)  Lifestyle.  The Swiss way of "doing" things is well suited to our way of life.  Work hard, play hard.  Everyone is a little OCD and Type A like we are.  Things are neat and organized, people are here to help you, but at 5 o'clock, that's it, time to go home.  Stores are not open on Sunday, which at first was a total shock and seemed a little backwards.  Perhaps it is us who are backwards.  Sundays are the true day for rest, to catch up with your family, enjoy time together, go for a walk etc.  It's not a day to finish all those errands you didn't get done.  It's a forced "mini-vacation", and I think we will get used to that quickly.

Well, it's not Sunday today, and the OCD "Frau" has her long "to do" list.  Some things never change.