First off, I apologize for being so MIA in the last few weeks. I cannot believe that its been almost a month since I last wrote. Where the time has gone I have no idea. Also, I can't believe we are a few days from Christmas!! That means I have been here for a full 6 weeks!! Sometimes it feels like I just got here, and other times I feel like I have been here forever. Strange how that happens.
I guess theres been quite a bit that has happened in my absence. Picking up from my last post, I not only got accepted to the apartment I wanted in Seefeld, but moved out of my temporary residence and finally into my own apartment. That, as with everything else, has come with its own case of hilarious situations that would only happen in Switzerland.
Let me just say that I haven't felt the type of relief that I did in a long time when the movers were unpacking my very own furniture. I know it sounds so simple and mundane, but I finally felt like I was home. There is something so personal about your very own furniture. I think that was the moment that I started to feel like I was home and that I am here for the long haul. Up until that point, I felt like I was on extended holiday and this whole Switzerland thing wasn't reality. But now, I feel like I am here for good, and that's some pretty heavy stuff. Ok so first off, if any of you ever decide to join me here in Switzerland, if there is one point of advise I can give when moving into an apartment - don't expect any of the fixtures to be there. What do I mean? Well I didn't realize that when the previous tenants move out, they take EVERYTHING with them, I mean everything, including the ceiling and hallway lamps. Lets just say I have been living in the dark for the last few weeks. Apparently, I am really lucky that the tenants left the stove, oven, and refrigerator for me. Everyone keeps telling me that I just got so lucky......also luckily, the landlord left me a construction style flood light that I have basically been plugging into room to room to see my way around the apartment. But funny enough, I have a routine down, and can almost unlock and lock my door in complete darkness. That's a skill for sure...
What's also pretty comical is that all my mail comes in German. So, in all fairness, I haven't started my German classes yet, but I basically take all my mail to work and have someone else translate for me. Good thing I am on the good side of the law. Could you imagine having your co-workers translate something incriminating?!? Just another joy of living here in Switzerland. Good thing for all the translator apps out there......
I also got my company car in the last two weeks. The first drive home from the office was pretty interesting. But after the anxiety of the thought of driving here, it isn't all that bad. They are extremely strict with their traffic rules (surprise, surprise) with speed cameras and meters everywhere. And they tag you even if you are 2km over the speed limit, and fine you ridiculous amounts. Better hope you are not over 5km over the speed limit, or else your pockets will start to feel lighter and lighter. And don't even think about crossing the intersection when you see yellow. For all intense purposes, yellow means stop. No ifs, ands, or buts. But once you get used to ALL of that, its actually not bad. And all of the drivers, for the most part, are pretty courteous. They usually let you pass or change lanes without any problems.
Ok so what other adventures have I encountered?? Oh yes, my passport and visa issues. Last week, I made the trip to Bern to submit my passport for my visa to India. I had been diligent and researched everything I needed to online, through the official Indian Embassy website. So according to everything on the website, I was eligible to apply for a same-day visa. That was great news because my travel schedule wouldn't allow my passport to be gone for 3-5 days. So I take the first train out to Bern, ready to get this process over with, I get there with all my paperwork....and OF COURSE, the guy at the Visa Application center told me that I do not qualify for a same day visa, even though I had a confirmation page from the website saying I do...and this guys was SO unhelpful....he basically looked at my confirmation page and says "oh yes, it says here, but this is wrong"....great, so I was going to be without a passport for a week...He did recommend that I go to the US Embassy, which is down the street. OK, good idea. I can just get a duplicate passport and travel to Germany as planned. Well if you think the US Embassy was any more helpful, just forget about it. They might have been worse than the Indian Embassy, which is quite a feat. Needless to say, I was on the train back to Zurich, without my passport....
I tried to make the trip to Bern to yesterday to pick up my passport as I was supposed to fly on Monday. I don't think it was in my destiny to fly on Monday because of course, on my way to Bern I hit a MAJOR snow storm and basically was stuck on the highway for 3 hours. So I have to go back on Monday, and had to change my ticket to India to fly on Wednesday instead of Monday....what a complicated process!! Only now am I finding out how hard it is sometimes to have a US Passport...
Other than that, I have really just being enjoying Xmas time here in the city. It is absolutely beautiful, and one thing that Switzerland does really well is all of the Xmas markets and decorations. You do feel like you are in a Winter Wonderland. I am pretty sure this is where they got the inspiration for what the North Pole looks like. Even when it snows, it is just absolutely breathtaking, where the snow sits perfectly on the branches of the trees and the roofs of houses. As part of the Christmas tradition, I tried Gluhwein for the first time. Gluhwein is hot red wine with spices like cinnamon and things. I know it may sound gross, but it is actually SO good, and perfect when it is cold outside. It warms you right up and just makes you want to break out into a Christmas carol. I have loved being here around Xmas time - another thing to do if you come to Switzerland. Yes its cold, but its also stunning!
So there you have it. My life over the past few weeks in a nutshell. Before signing off, I would like to thank my local Starbucks for providing free wi-fi so I could update everyone on what's been going on. I hope to get internet at my place when the new year starts.
This will probably be my last post in 2010, as I am off to India for 1.5 weeks next week and don't return until beginning of Jan. Happy holidays everyone and happy new year!!! See you in 2011!! =)
