Laowai

• I’m getting used to driving around here. Not hard really. There are round abouts everywhere. I drive round and round and round and somehow I get where I need to go. I don’t think I’ll be driving in Zurich though. Driving alongside the trams scares me and besides taking the train is faster and easier.

• Last week we finally got around to adding me to our bank account and getting a credit card for me. We had to actually go to the bank – such a contrast to in the US where you can get a credit card by just opening your junk mail. They showed us into a room and brought us refreshments. The little boxes contain chocolates… of course. Makes me wonder what type of treatment the truly fancy people get.

• I’m bummed we missed the eclipse.

• Migros is one of the two primary grocery stores here. The Migros brand has been around a long time. It’s a cooperative and I guess many many Swiss people own part of the company. Anyway it’s very Swiss and I feel like I’m living the Swiss life because setting up our house and filling up our pantry makes me go to Migros almost everyday. I joke that the church bells are reminding me to go to Migros. There is a lovely park/cafe/playground place not far from our house that was created by the Migros founder. Their logo is orange so they have an orange garden and you can ride the most adorable donkeys.

• Yesterday in the school pick up line I saw a Bentley. Ummm. I don’t know what to say about that.

• They like and use rhubarb here. I feel like back in the US rhubarb is not mainstream you don’t see it in grocery store products. But here you can get rhubarb drinks and rhubarb yogurt. It’s just more popular. I’m pro-rhubarb.

• You should see my view on the way to school. It’s a beautiful wide look with Lake Zurich below and the mountains in the distance. And right now there are apple-full trees in the foreground. Lovely!

• Swiss construction workers don’t have to wear shirts like they do in the US. I don’t have anything else to say about that.

• I watch the sunrise each morning.

 

• There are cows right next to the girls’ school. Tinkling bells and all. Claire said she sat and watched the cows for a bit during recess one day.

• I made some art for my bedroom wall. I am anxious to get some color on the walls and it felt good to get out our paints. I’ll show you the artwork on my bedroom wall one of these days.

• Here’s a family selfie – what else do you do while you are sitting on the car ferry?

OK – gotta go – I promised the girls we would take a dip in the lake today.