Day 3 in Switzerland, Day 1 on the job!

Finally my first post from Switzerland! I have been dying to post a few things since I got here Monday afternoon, but didn't have Internet access until tonight, until I snagged an ethernet cable from work. Who knew that internet still ran using wires...?!?!

So I know I said that I hoped this post would not be as long as the last, but I am not sure if I can stick to my promise. Even in the 3 days I have been here, I have plenty to say! Regardless of the length, I hope you enjoy the trials and tribulations of figuring out how to live in Zurich.

In all honesty, when I got here Monday afternoon, I was on the verge of an anxiety attack. Landing at Zurich Flughafen (airport), I had the biggest knots in my stomach. Was I really doing this?! Was I actually going to live in this city that I really didn't know anything about? Are you kidding me?! For the first time in this process, I thought I was seriously insane. Who does this??? These were the thoughts going through my head as I claimed my luggage and made my way to pick up my keys to my temporary apartment. I have to say that I have plenty of stories ALREADY about how the Swiss like to follow their rules. I am sensing that this might be a common theme throughout this blog. The first story revolves around the fact that I was only able to pick up my keys from 3pm-630pm, not earlier, not later. This would have been alright, but I landed in Zurich at 1pm. I did ask to see if I could come earlier, but was told a vehement no. So I waited around the airport for 2 hours before being able to "move in". That definitely did not help my nerves.

Ok so finally got to my apartment. I don't really think you can call this an apartment. It's more like a glorified shoebox. Let's just say that my bedroom is so small that my suitcases don't fit inside. I have to keep them out in the living room/dining room/kitchenette. Oh in case you were wondering, the three rooms I just mentioned are all one room, a room that is smaller than my bathroom back home. But who's complaining?! Haha. I know it sounds bad, but it isn't really, once you get used to it. I think it was more of the initial shock of getting here and realizing that this is tiny compared to US standards. So for the first night, I entertained myself with the only 2 channels (out of 100) that I understood - MTV and BBC. BBC for obvious reasons, but what was nice is that the shows on MTV had German subtitles, but English Language (I guess it is hard to translate "GTL"....). Here is a sample of the music that is entertaining me right now:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uu_zwdmz0hE&ob=av2e

I am dead serious...this is number 1 on the Euro Pop Charts.

Tuesday was a much better day. I had some appointments to see apartments, and I really think that made me feel better, like I was really working towards getting myself settled. I saw a couple of apartments; 1 I liked, 1 not so much. I guess a batting average of 50% isn't bad. I am hoping to take my time to find the right apartment. Luckily I can stay in temporary housing for 2 months if I want, so I am trying not to rush through this process. This may be the most important thing I do in order to feel like I am truly living in this city. So once I had my apartment viewings, I had to go register with the Swiss Authorities, and make my stay here official. Some more paperwork I needed to fill out in order to get my long stay visa. So I was at the desk, and the lady behind the counter asked for my passport photos. Like the good, responsible person I try to be, I had these taken in the States before I left. She takes a look at the photo, and was like "Maam, I am sorry but this photo is unacceptable. You are not allowed to smile in your passport photo. You will have to use the photo kiosk across the street, and make sure you don't smile." NO JOKE!!!! I could hardly contain my laughter as this lady was as serious as death!! Just imagine the situation! Needless to say, the photo that all of my official documents are associated with for my stay here in Switzerland basically look like my mug shot. HAHAHA!! After that experience, I came home and really just needed to walk around and figure out where everything around me is. I am happy to report that my apartment is a mere 15-20 min walk from city center. On the map, it looks like its way out, but I forget that Zurich is such a small city (smaller than Boston), so the distances on the map are very deceiving. Good thing! Makes this city seem much more manageable.

So today was my first day at work. Honestly, I felt like I was starting my first day of kindergarten. I had gotten my outfit together last night, and prepared everything. I was also a bit nervous because I had to navigate the S-bahn (Zurich Train/Tram system). I was so excited to be able to use public transportation to work. Now I know to many of you, this is not a big deal at all. You use public transportation to and from work, and it is a normal part of your daily routine. I haven't had that since I first got to BU. For the last 5.5 years, I have been commuting 45 min by car to work...this was definitely a big deal. I have to say I was so proud of myself because I was able to navigate without any problems. With my iPod on, I felt like I had been living in this city for years. It just felt so natural. It also made me feel that everything is going to be alright! =)

I got my new cell phone today, so no more 508 area code, but now I will be reppin' the +41!! For those of you who want my new Swiss cell number, just drop me a line (sheena.s.patel@gmail.com) or send me a message on Facebook, and I will make sure you have my contact details.

These first 3 days here have definitely been eventful, as you can see. I know this is just the beginning. Now that I am connected at home, I am hoping to update this more frequently. Thanks to all of those who have been reading and following my adventures. Thanks for your support! Hope to share something new with all of you soon!