OK three months since my last post, but what a crazy summer it has been! To be honest, I have been on the road every week since my last post. I can't even believe that it is already September!! There has been a lot going on, and I am not even sure where to start.
I think it is fitting to start with the work side of things, because that has been the main reason that I have been on the road for the entire summer. Earlier this summer, we finalized the acquisition of another orthopedics company. The powers at be have been working on this for some time, but it only became official at the beginning of the summer. I myself have also been working on this integration since February. At that time, it was something I was doing on top of my day job. I was putting together the plan on cross-training all of the reps across EMEA. No easy task I can assure you since now the Spine portfolios of both companies were going to be combined. Well I am happy to report that all of the hard work paid off. We were able to hold our first cross-training sessions 4 days post close - the first region in the world! I am pretty proud of that. The team worked extra hard to get everything in order in time, and it was well worth it. We decided on the concept of a RoadShow, meaning we would take the training to the markets instead of them coming to us. Great concept, but that just meant that I was literally on the road every week this summer! We were given the goal that we had to train all of the EMEA reps within 3 months, so that is what we did. Essentially we werer in a different country every week. We started the RoadShow in Oberdorf, CH, then moved onto Hamburg, Leeds, Madrid, Rome, Warsaw, Stockholm, and we just finsihed last week in Dubai. So at this point we have trained 95% of the sales force! We just have one more training to go, and that is in South Africa, which is next week. This summer really challenged all of us to try and find some balance. Really hard thing to do when you are on the road every week. Prioritizing our time became of the utmost importance. There were definitely some great days and nights that I missed out on here in Zurich. Such a pity because summer in Zurich is absolutely amazing. I didn't get to do as much as I wanted to, but still enjoyed. One crazy summer for sure.
Along with the crazy travel for work, I did get the chance to do some traveling for fun, so I cannot really complain! Last time i left you, I was just about to leave for Amsterdam. Well I was able to celebrate my birthday there. It was a long weekend here in Zurich so I had the honor that some of my friends from here made the trip to Amsterdam to celebrate my bday. We had dinner at Supper Club on Saturday. OH. MY. GOSH. This place was unreal. It's essentially a club that serves dinner. Set menu, 5 courses. Everyone gets the same menu. But heres the thing. There are no tables, just beds!! They serve gloves with the food and you eat from bed! And in the middle there is a DJ! It was seriously unreal. One of the coolest things I have done. Loved this place, and I would recommend it to anyone. I think there is one in Istanbul as well. So worth it! We then went to this club Jimmy Shoos!!! Oh it was so cool. All in all a great weekend. I was in Amsterdam for work for the week after, for SpineWeek. The week was good, but long. But we had the chance to see more of Amsterdam. We saw some good restaurants, some good bars. Good trip to Amsterdam.
So when we got back from Amsterdam, I had my bday party here in Zurich. Oh man. That was great. Thanks to all that came out!! We started out at dinner at Steinfels and then headed to City Beach Bar. Really cool concept - a beach bar on top of a parking garage!! Loved it. And then we went to the Prime Tower and ended in Plaza. I had such a great time. I am really lucky to have some amazing friends here in Zurich!
In July, Andrea and I took a holiday to Madeira Island, off the coast of Portugal. Oh man. I so needed this holiday. It was only for a week, and I didn't get the chance to completely disconnect, but it was so good to be away. The island is absolutely breathtaking. Not really a beach island but it is all about the nature. Amazing flora and fauna and such different terrains. We had a couple of lazy days by the pool, did some hiking, took some tours around the island, and had one beach day on the island of Porto Santo! Andrea and I tried different restaurants every evening and explored the nightlife. Really laid back and chill scene. We found the one nightclub on the island and visited a few times. We even tried the local poncha (even brought some home with me!), and took a wine tour of the Madeira Wine Company. All in all a perfect holiday and nobody else I would rather spend the week with!!
So I also made a trip back to the US for Sheena and Sameer's wedding! I was so happy to be back and see all my girls. It had been 2 years since I saw them, and I was really looking forward to seeing them again! The wedding was awesome, everything was beautiful! I am so glad I made the trip back home. I even had to do a Bollywood dance - oh dear! Sheen - only for you! I had such a great time. I did get very homesick when I got back. I realized that I really missed my friends. I love my life here in Zurich but I realized how different my two worlds are. It's like one has nothing to do with the other. And it is pretty crazy to think how different my life is here. Two years ago, I never would have been able to imagine what it would be like living outside of the US, and look at me now, I can't imagine going back to the States! It is so crazy! I do really miss all of my friends from back home. I wish I could transport them all here to Zurich. It was good to see the BU girls. Luckily I will get to see them again for Dolie's wedding in November!! Can't wait girls. Miss you much!!
So a couple of other cool adventures/milestones this summer before I wrap up this post. My friends from Zurich got me an amazing Birthday gift - a hot air balloon ride over Switzerland! I was finally able to cash in on the gift on 1 Aug, Swiss National Day. What an incredible gift!!! I was up near St. Gallen and could see Bodensee, Konstanz. It was amazing! They make you put the balloon together and break it down, and honestly, it was one of the coolest things I have done. I also had the chance to go on a dune buggy excursion in Dubai. We had one extra day after the training, and booked a dune buggy ride in the sand dunes of the desert. Oh that was INCREDIBLE!!! So much fun! I was a passenger as I don't know how to ride a manual car, but it was still such a blast. I am so glad we took the time to do that. It was seriously incredible! One last milestone - FINALLY, today, 1 September, the LAST of my furniture was completed. Thanks to handy work of one Alex Sexton, the doors to my wardrobe were finally finished!!! OH MY GOD. Almost 1.5 years to finish all of this stuff. For the record, I still stand by the fact that I hate IKEA.....!!! HAHA
As the summer comes to a close, it truly has been the craziest summer. So much has happened (as you read above) and I cannot believe it is already September. Where did the time go?!?!? In November, I will be in CH for 2 years!!!! I think that is absolutely insane! But it still hasn't gotten old. I still love it here, and still excited for what is to come in the future. Yes, I am just that cheesy. What can I say? Maybe it was in my destiny to move to Switzerland....let's see what the future brings!
Anyway thanks for reading the blog. Apologies for the novel you just read, hope you enjoyed the reading, even if it was long. One thing is for sure - I am never lacking with words, spoken or written!! Until next time, faithful readers!!
PS - apologies for not posting any pics in this post. For pics and of course my Bollywood video, check out my Facebook page. This post was written using my iPad and wireless iPad keyboard. The keyboard was a bday gift....at first, I have to admit that I completely dismissed the fact that I got a iPad keyboard for my bday. WHO DOES THAT?!?!?! But now that I have used it to update my blog, I get it. So in the end, a big thanks to Oli and Alex for such a weird, but practical gift!! haha
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Spring Fever
Hi everyone! So it definitely has been awhile since I last wrote. It is now the middle of May, and we are entering Spring/Summer here in Zurich. I would be lying if I said I am not looking forward to truly warmer weather. We have had a few great days, but here's hoping for some consistency in the Zurich weather pattern!
Since my last post, I have seriously been all over the place. For both pleasure and for work, which makes for a nice mix of travels. And honestly, the work travel is about to get crazy...but more about that a little bit later on. So shall we start the recap??
At the end of March, I had the pleasure of visiting Budapest for a weekend with Ms. Andrea Rappaport! We went for the weekend, and I have to say my first trip to Eastern Europe was seriously amazing. The city of Budapest is truly a sight to see, and I would recommend it to anyone. I have heard that it is pretty similar to Prague, but I haven't been to Prague so I can't say one way or the other. But regardless, Budapest is absolutely amazing. I think the whole trip was made better because I was being shown the city by a local. I think it makes all of the difference in the world - you see the city in a completely different way. And for the record, Andrea was the best hostess! Andrea and I flew in Friday and we spent the weekend visiting some of her favorite hangouts - restaurants and bars. In terms of cuisine, I really like Hungarian food. It has so many different flavors, and the use of paprika just adds to the overall taste. It was a nice change from the Swiss cuisine! Andrea also took me to some of her favorite clubs/bars, and I have to say, i was completely impressed. Each one of these clubs had been old houses that were converted into bars/restaurants. Multiple rooms, multiple DJs....really cool! I also had the pleasure of meeting Andrea's family. It was so nice to meet them. As mentioned before, I love meeting the parents of my friends. It just put the friendship in a whole new perspective. Andrea met my parents when they were here in August, and I finally got the chance to meet hers. They were so welcoming and so nice! Andrea - thanks for introducing me to your family! It was a true honor to meet them! Also, my good friend Andreas was in town the same weekend. It was cool to see the town through his eyes as well. It was like I had a chance to export some of my friends from Zurich to Budapest, which was really cool. I also got to meet some of Andrea's closest friends. That was pretty awesome as well. It was the same feeling I had when Satya was here and got to meet my friends. Here are some pics of the trip to Budapest. Enjoy!
Budapest was an amazing trip, but I had to get on a plane the very next day to Hamburg for an MIS Special Forces. The training went well, but it has been pretty nonstop at work since then. I've been in Nice for a week! I was there for an Integrity Selling coaching course, but let's be honest, there are worse places to spend a week than Nice! I made a couple of trips to Leeds and then spent a week in Wokingham in our Pinewood office right outside of London. I got to spend a weekend in London, catching up with Matt and Palak, which was really cool. Even though I had to say goodbye to Matt last year, it gives me someone to go visit, and just expands my reach and network! I had a great time in London catching up with my friends. I don't have to tell many of you, but London is a great city. There is such a buzz about it which is hard to find. Great times had by all!
I have also had the pleasure of meeting some new Swiss friends here in Zurich. I have to thank one of my good friends for introducing me to his friends, and really allowing me to start to expand my network. Of course it takes time to make close friends, especially with locals. But I am so honored that I have had the chance to start on that path. They have been so warm and welcoming and friendly, and I really appreciate getting to know them. You know, a lot of people say that the Swiss are difficult to get to know. In some ways that is true. But I have to say that if you put yourself out there and are open, I think they would be more than welcoming. Of course it needs time, but if you are willing to put in the effort, it pays off! A big shoutout to O for introducing me to your circle!
So as you can see, the past couple of months have been filled with many trips, for both work and pleasure. Also, I have had the chance to meet new friends along the way, which keeps life movin and shakin! Now that the weather has gotten somewhat better, my friends and I have been doing quite a few BBQs by the lake and at the Letten. You know, Switzerland is so efficient, I love it. A couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to these one-time use disposable grills! Basically a foil tray with coal....you just light the wax paper on top and you have yourself one great grill!! It's amazing the things that this country produces! I love it!!
So I am sitting here preparing myself mentally for the rather insane travel schedule coming up. It starts next weekend in Amsterdam - where I will be able to celebrate the last year of my 20s!!!!! My schedule from here on out is a bit nuts - Amsterdam - Oberdorf - Hamburg - London - MADEIRA!! - Rome - KENTUCKY!! - Dubai - South Africa. So crazy work schedule, but definitely some good trips in the middle! I will be sure to keep you posted on all of the travels. I apologize in advance, but it may be a few months before I can post again, but will do so as soon as I have the chance. I will definitely have a lot to talk about in the next post!
Thanks again for reading! Hope you are enjoying the posts. I'll check in soon again! Cheers!
Since my last post, I have seriously been all over the place. For both pleasure and for work, which makes for a nice mix of travels. And honestly, the work travel is about to get crazy...but more about that a little bit later on. So shall we start the recap??
At the end of March, I had the pleasure of visiting Budapest for a weekend with Ms. Andrea Rappaport! We went for the weekend, and I have to say my first trip to Eastern Europe was seriously amazing. The city of Budapest is truly a sight to see, and I would recommend it to anyone. I have heard that it is pretty similar to Prague, but I haven't been to Prague so I can't say one way or the other. But regardless, Budapest is absolutely amazing. I think the whole trip was made better because I was being shown the city by a local. I think it makes all of the difference in the world - you see the city in a completely different way. And for the record, Andrea was the best hostess! Andrea and I flew in Friday and we spent the weekend visiting some of her favorite hangouts - restaurants and bars. In terms of cuisine, I really like Hungarian food. It has so many different flavors, and the use of paprika just adds to the overall taste. It was a nice change from the Swiss cuisine! Andrea also took me to some of her favorite clubs/bars, and I have to say, i was completely impressed. Each one of these clubs had been old houses that were converted into bars/restaurants. Multiple rooms, multiple DJs....really cool! I also had the pleasure of meeting Andrea's family. It was so nice to meet them. As mentioned before, I love meeting the parents of my friends. It just put the friendship in a whole new perspective. Andrea met my parents when they were here in August, and I finally got the chance to meet hers. They were so welcoming and so nice! Andrea - thanks for introducing me to your family! It was a true honor to meet them! Also, my good friend Andreas was in town the same weekend. It was cool to see the town through his eyes as well. It was like I had a chance to export some of my friends from Zurich to Budapest, which was really cool. I also got to meet some of Andrea's closest friends. That was pretty awesome as well. It was the same feeling I had when Satya was here and got to meet my friends. Here are some pics of the trip to Budapest. Enjoy!
Budapest was an amazing trip, but I had to get on a plane the very next day to Hamburg for an MIS Special Forces. The training went well, but it has been pretty nonstop at work since then. I've been in Nice for a week! I was there for an Integrity Selling coaching course, but let's be honest, there are worse places to spend a week than Nice! I made a couple of trips to Leeds and then spent a week in Wokingham in our Pinewood office right outside of London. I got to spend a weekend in London, catching up with Matt and Palak, which was really cool. Even though I had to say goodbye to Matt last year, it gives me someone to go visit, and just expands my reach and network! I had a great time in London catching up with my friends. I don't have to tell many of you, but London is a great city. There is such a buzz about it which is hard to find. Great times had by all!
I have also had the pleasure of meeting some new Swiss friends here in Zurich. I have to thank one of my good friends for introducing me to his friends, and really allowing me to start to expand my network. Of course it takes time to make close friends, especially with locals. But I am so honored that I have had the chance to start on that path. They have been so warm and welcoming and friendly, and I really appreciate getting to know them. You know, a lot of people say that the Swiss are difficult to get to know. In some ways that is true. But I have to say that if you put yourself out there and are open, I think they would be more than welcoming. Of course it needs time, but if you are willing to put in the effort, it pays off! A big shoutout to O for introducing me to your circle!
So as you can see, the past couple of months have been filled with many trips, for both work and pleasure. Also, I have had the chance to meet new friends along the way, which keeps life movin and shakin! Now that the weather has gotten somewhat better, my friends and I have been doing quite a few BBQs by the lake and at the Letten. You know, Switzerland is so efficient, I love it. A couple of weeks ago, I was introduced to these one-time use disposable grills! Basically a foil tray with coal....you just light the wax paper on top and you have yourself one great grill!! It's amazing the things that this country produces! I love it!!
So I am sitting here preparing myself mentally for the rather insane travel schedule coming up. It starts next weekend in Amsterdam - where I will be able to celebrate the last year of my 20s!!!!! My schedule from here on out is a bit nuts - Amsterdam - Oberdorf - Hamburg - London - MADEIRA!! - Rome - KENTUCKY!! - Dubai - South Africa. So crazy work schedule, but definitely some good trips in the middle! I will be sure to keep you posted on all of the travels. I apologize in advance, but it may be a few months before I can post again, but will do so as soon as I have the chance. I will definitely have a lot to talk about in the next post!
Thanks again for reading! Hope you are enjoying the posts. I'll check in soon again! Cheers!
Monday, March 12, 2012
the oh-so successful ski season!
So hello everyone! We are in the middle of March, and honestly, spring cannot come soon enough. The weather is slightly starting to improve, and we are itching for the sunshine and warmer temperatures. that being said, it wouldn't be right if i didn't dedicate some time to the "oh-so successful skiing season!" ok, i am using the term skiing very, very lightly....its more like rolling down a mountain, which is a new winter sport that i have absolutely mastered! I have been fortunate to go skiing a couple of times this season. that isnt really much skiing time, but no matter how bad I am, I am really liking this thing people call skiing. I definitely feel like a fish out of the pacific ocean, and have gotten to new depths of self-humiliation, but i still love it. That's saying something because the first time i went skiing was last year when I moved here. So let's begin with the tales of my "skiing".
I was lucky to book two skiing weekends in a row. So the first weekend, we were all trying to get to Ishgyll in Austria. Supposed to be great skiing and great apres-skiing. So a few weeks ago, Andrea and I were looking up hotel availability in Ishgyll. Couldn't find anything, so we changed our search to St. Anton. We used this internet hotel booking site that told us that there was a hotel only 30km from St. Anton. We decided to book it right away because we didnt think we could find anything closer. So Andrea, me, Alex, and Vicki decided to spend this great weekend skiing in St. Anton. Well, funny thing is that we were not even close to St. Anton. It didnt hit any of us until 2 days before we were heading off, when one of us decided to finally look at a map....hahaha we booked ourselves in a hotel that was more like 100km from St. Anton. OOOOPS!! well we decided to go anyway, and ended up in the very small mountain town of Lechtal. Imagine driving at night along curvy mountain roads, with snow that was higher than my car! it was probably a good thing we couldnt see where we were going. well we finally get to the hotel. it reminded me a lot of the hotel we stayed at in maria alms back in the summer. so checked in and headed to the bar, where we were 1 of 5 other patrons. the next day our ski adventure began. andrea went cross-country skiing and vicki was putting skis on for the first time. so alex and i decided we would take the lift up to the first blue slope. yes, we stayed on the mini lift. that was perfectly fine for me. alex and i are about the same level...and we had a blast. we rolled down the mountain a couple of times, but it was actually pretty good. and we enjoyed what was apres-ski, although it definitely something to be desired. we finally made our way back to the hotel, and had dinner at the only other restaurant in town, which was part of the hotel across the street. i think lights out was around 10pm or something. anyway it was a good, relaxing ski weekend. alex and i got the chance to ski some and i came back to zurich feeling good and feeling pumped that i could make it down the mountain without any problems...OH MAN, was i so wrong?!?! more about that later....anyway here are some pictures from the skiing weekend in Lechtal, Austria
so now we come to the legendary "ski" weekend in st. moritz. we all decided we were going to go down to st. moritz to celebrate eddy's birthday. so in theory, this was a brillant idea. what better way to spend a wintry weekend that on the slopes and enjoying the company of your closest friends?! Ok we make our way down Friday morning, all of us motivated to get right on the slopes. So we dressed in our ski clothes and drove directly to the slopes. We all take the gondola up and the boys convince me that i should follow them to the top. No mind that it was a red slope. There were 5 of them convincing me that i could handle this slope. And of course, like an idiot, i believed them. So i get to the top of this red slope, started off ok, and then all broke down. I had a crazy fall, and then the panic attack began to settle in! OH man, it took me 2.5 hours to get down the slope!!! there was a moment where i told the boys to go ahead and i literally just sat there for 30 min because i was so scared. then i spent most of the time on my backside or face down just to get down the slope!!! to be fair, the boys were really great and took turns to help me down. ive realized that skiing is 50% mental, and once i had freaked myself out, that was it. HAHAHA just thinking about it makes me laugh hysterically. i wasnt laughing at the time, but i can only imagine what all these swiss skiers were thinking as they passed me on the slope. i looked like bambi on ice...THANK GOD none of the boys took videos or photos...although i wouldnt blame them if they did! So by the time i got down the slope once, i was done for the day. I was so shaken that i really couldnt get back on the slopes. So Andrea and i decided to chill out at the cafe down the hill, and we would meet the boys back at the parking lot. We take the last gondola down...and you won't believe this, WE GOT STUCK IN THE GONDOLA!!!! oh man, my nerves had hit the limit. I cant believe we were stuck in there for 30 minutes or so! Seriously the last thing i needed. But Friday night was a lot of fun. We had fondue at a youth hostel next to our hotel and then went out on the town in St. Moritz. Went to a couple of places and ended up at Vivai - a very swanky club in St. Moritz.
So saturday was another day on the slopes. So you would think that the events of the day before would keep me as far as possible from the slopes...but it didnt! In that sense, i was so proud of myself. I think I might be a bit mad that I wanted to get back on the skis! Well nevertheless i decided that it was definitely worth me taking a private lesson to get back to basics. So i enrolled into ski school. This was a whole other sight to see....as i was waiting for my ski instructor, i realized that the all of the students around me could not be older than 5!!! hahahaha here i was taking lessons with 5 year olds....and most of them skied better than me!!! well the lesson actually went really well. Maybe it was the comfort that i had an expert skier with me. I managed to get down some more blues. So moral of the skiing story - i just got to practice some more. Let's see how long i can keep this up. Here are some pics of the crazy weekend in St. Moritz
Saturday night was another crazy night in St. Moritz. This time Eddy treated all of us to a great dinner at Cascade, and then we headed to Kings Club - another swanky establishment in St. Moritz. The next day I left in the morning and went straight to the airport for a course we were running in Hamburg! CRAZY! But all in all both of my ski weekends were fun. Looking back, they were actually hilarious. Definitely entertaining for those who watched me try to ski! It's ok, I can admit that there are things in life that i am not good at....!!
But other than that, I have been traveling quite a bit for work. a lot going on! But I have to say that I am really loving the new training job. It is really giving me exposure to so many new things...love it! so work continues, and we are trying to enjoy the winter weekends here in CH. no complaints on my side. working hard and playing hard, just like life should be.
hope everyone is doing well. until next time! ciao!
I was lucky to book two skiing weekends in a row. So the first weekend, we were all trying to get to Ishgyll in Austria. Supposed to be great skiing and great apres-skiing. So a few weeks ago, Andrea and I were looking up hotel availability in Ishgyll. Couldn't find anything, so we changed our search to St. Anton. We used this internet hotel booking site that told us that there was a hotel only 30km from St. Anton. We decided to book it right away because we didnt think we could find anything closer. So Andrea, me, Alex, and Vicki decided to spend this great weekend skiing in St. Anton. Well, funny thing is that we were not even close to St. Anton. It didnt hit any of us until 2 days before we were heading off, when one of us decided to finally look at a map....hahaha we booked ourselves in a hotel that was more like 100km from St. Anton. OOOOPS!! well we decided to go anyway, and ended up in the very small mountain town of Lechtal. Imagine driving at night along curvy mountain roads, with snow that was higher than my car! it was probably a good thing we couldnt see where we were going. well we finally get to the hotel. it reminded me a lot of the hotel we stayed at in maria alms back in the summer. so checked in and headed to the bar, where we were 1 of 5 other patrons. the next day our ski adventure began. andrea went cross-country skiing and vicki was putting skis on for the first time. so alex and i decided we would take the lift up to the first blue slope. yes, we stayed on the mini lift. that was perfectly fine for me. alex and i are about the same level...and we had a blast. we rolled down the mountain a couple of times, but it was actually pretty good. and we enjoyed what was apres-ski, although it definitely something to be desired. we finally made our way back to the hotel, and had dinner at the only other restaurant in town, which was part of the hotel across the street. i think lights out was around 10pm or something. anyway it was a good, relaxing ski weekend. alex and i got the chance to ski some and i came back to zurich feeling good and feeling pumped that i could make it down the mountain without any problems...OH MAN, was i so wrong?!?! more about that later....anyway here are some pictures from the skiing weekend in Lechtal, Austria
so now we come to the legendary "ski" weekend in st. moritz. we all decided we were going to go down to st. moritz to celebrate eddy's birthday. so in theory, this was a brillant idea. what better way to spend a wintry weekend that on the slopes and enjoying the company of your closest friends?! Ok we make our way down Friday morning, all of us motivated to get right on the slopes. So we dressed in our ski clothes and drove directly to the slopes. We all take the gondola up and the boys convince me that i should follow them to the top. No mind that it was a red slope. There were 5 of them convincing me that i could handle this slope. And of course, like an idiot, i believed them. So i get to the top of this red slope, started off ok, and then all broke down. I had a crazy fall, and then the panic attack began to settle in! OH man, it took me 2.5 hours to get down the slope!!! there was a moment where i told the boys to go ahead and i literally just sat there for 30 min because i was so scared. then i spent most of the time on my backside or face down just to get down the slope!!! to be fair, the boys were really great and took turns to help me down. ive realized that skiing is 50% mental, and once i had freaked myself out, that was it. HAHAHA just thinking about it makes me laugh hysterically. i wasnt laughing at the time, but i can only imagine what all these swiss skiers were thinking as they passed me on the slope. i looked like bambi on ice...THANK GOD none of the boys took videos or photos...although i wouldnt blame them if they did! So by the time i got down the slope once, i was done for the day. I was so shaken that i really couldnt get back on the slopes. So Andrea and i decided to chill out at the cafe down the hill, and we would meet the boys back at the parking lot. We take the last gondola down...and you won't believe this, WE GOT STUCK IN THE GONDOLA!!!! oh man, my nerves had hit the limit. I cant believe we were stuck in there for 30 minutes or so! Seriously the last thing i needed. But Friday night was a lot of fun. We had fondue at a youth hostel next to our hotel and then went out on the town in St. Moritz. Went to a couple of places and ended up at Vivai - a very swanky club in St. Moritz.
So saturday was another day on the slopes. So you would think that the events of the day before would keep me as far as possible from the slopes...but it didnt! In that sense, i was so proud of myself. I think I might be a bit mad that I wanted to get back on the skis! Well nevertheless i decided that it was definitely worth me taking a private lesson to get back to basics. So i enrolled into ski school. This was a whole other sight to see....as i was waiting for my ski instructor, i realized that the all of the students around me could not be older than 5!!! hahahaha here i was taking lessons with 5 year olds....and most of them skied better than me!!! well the lesson actually went really well. Maybe it was the comfort that i had an expert skier with me. I managed to get down some more blues. So moral of the skiing story - i just got to practice some more. Let's see how long i can keep this up. Here are some pics of the crazy weekend in St. Moritz
Saturday night was another crazy night in St. Moritz. This time Eddy treated all of us to a great dinner at Cascade, and then we headed to Kings Club - another swanky establishment in St. Moritz. The next day I left in the morning and went straight to the airport for a course we were running in Hamburg! CRAZY! But all in all both of my ski weekends were fun. Looking back, they were actually hilarious. Definitely entertaining for those who watched me try to ski! It's ok, I can admit that there are things in life that i am not good at....!!
But other than that, I have been traveling quite a bit for work. a lot going on! But I have to say that I am really loving the new training job. It is really giving me exposure to so many new things...love it! so work continues, and we are trying to enjoy the winter weekends here in CH. no complaints on my side. working hard and playing hard, just like life should be.
hope everyone is doing well. until next time! ciao!
Sunday, January 29, 2012
a strong start to 2012
Ok, I should start off my apologizing that I haven't written in about 3 months. i have been meaning to update, and just haven't gotten around to it. i think this going to be a rather long post, so apologies in advance for the long chapter.
so i think the first half of this post really needs to be a reflective piece of the last year. to be honest, i don't even know where to begin. this past year has been incredible for me. there have been so many changes, so many memories. looking back at it, i wouldn't change it for anything in the world. i really do feel like that 2011 was one of the craziest years in all sorts of ways. i mean i uprooted my life in boston, moved to zurich, made completely new friends, had 2 bosses, and even changed jobs and joined a new team. both professionally and personally this year has been a crazy ride. there were times that this year really reminded me of my first year in boston when i moved out for university. i mean there are a lot of similarities - new city, new friends, new experiences. but this year had so much more. first off, im not 18 any more. a decade older, so the perspective is so different. when i first moved to boston, i was an eager 18 year old who was pretty naive about the world but just wanted to take it all in. when i moved to zurich, i was 27 and looked at the world completely differently. my 20s were marked by so many different experiences, good and bad...long story short, sheena was growing up! ok, i think a part of me is still pretty naive of the world, but i knew the move this time would be something to date i have not experienced. i had a feeling when i moved to zurich that this move would be permanent.....and its looking like things are heading in that direction! for the first time i am living in a country where the prospect is a long-term one and its the first time that there is no looking back! i have tried to take it all in with an open mind and enjoy the ride along the way, and i think i have been pretty successful. there are so many things i remember about 2011....not sure we need to recap all of them right now (just go through and read all of the older posts...that will give you an idea of some of the memories that i made along the way).
since the last post from my one-year anniversary, ive been all over the place. finished the year strong and was so ready for holiday. cali was soo needed and so worth it. i was home in cali for 2 weeks - 2 great weeks. it was exactly what i needed to reboot, refresh, and come back strong. to be honest, we didnt do much when i was home, but that was the best part of being home. i just hung out with mom, dad, and shilen. had plenty of spicy ethnic foods that i cant really get here in zurich. had a couple of firsts - went on a boat ride in long beach harbor with good friends, good food, and of course good wine! saw satya in laguna beach......what a lucky year to see her in both of my homes. ive known her for 10 years and this is the first time i saw her in cali which was pretty amazing. i helped shilen prepare for his Mitek interview, which i am SOOO happy to report that he is now a Mitek rep in southern california - in the IE!!!! what an awesome feeling that my little bro is representing the same company as i am. one thing is for sure, i owe a lot to J&J/DePuy - not only for the opportunities i have been given, but now the chance they gave my brother to shine!!
anyway i was back here in zurich for new years eve, to spend it with my friends. Eddy had all of us over at his place for a house party. we all brought food and wine and had a great night! it was nice not dealing with the crowds of zurich and just doing our own thing. i made guacamole...which i think has become a big hit! had an awesome night with awesome friends.
so 2012 started out great, and professionally was a great start as well since i was now 100% on the new job of sales training manager for EMEA for Spine. if you had told me that i would have a new job when i moved, then i would call you crazy. but here i am with a new job, getting used to the change, but loving every minute of it. its a new chapter for sure and i am excited to see what is in store. since new years, i have been enjoying work, enjoying my friends, and simply enjoying life. its really as simple and as pleasant as that. today i scheduled some great holidays - weekend trips and longer trips, and honestly life is good. upcoming travels include: st. anton, budapest, st. moritz, madeira!!!!!! so looking forward to all of these upcoming trips. expanding my world, and loving every minute of it!
so as we come into february, looking forward to what the year has in store. i have a feeling this is going to be another crazy year with a whole load of new experiences and changes. i will definitely report along the way of the things going on! thanks for your continued support of reading the blog! ill keep you updated on the trials and tribulations of sheena s patel! until next time!! =)
so i think the first half of this post really needs to be a reflective piece of the last year. to be honest, i don't even know where to begin. this past year has been incredible for me. there have been so many changes, so many memories. looking back at it, i wouldn't change it for anything in the world. i really do feel like that 2011 was one of the craziest years in all sorts of ways. i mean i uprooted my life in boston, moved to zurich, made completely new friends, had 2 bosses, and even changed jobs and joined a new team. both professionally and personally this year has been a crazy ride. there were times that this year really reminded me of my first year in boston when i moved out for university. i mean there are a lot of similarities - new city, new friends, new experiences. but this year had so much more. first off, im not 18 any more. a decade older, so the perspective is so different. when i first moved to boston, i was an eager 18 year old who was pretty naive about the world but just wanted to take it all in. when i moved to zurich, i was 27 and looked at the world completely differently. my 20s were marked by so many different experiences, good and bad...long story short, sheena was growing up! ok, i think a part of me is still pretty naive of the world, but i knew the move this time would be something to date i have not experienced. i had a feeling when i moved to zurich that this move would be permanent.....and its looking like things are heading in that direction! for the first time i am living in a country where the prospect is a long-term one and its the first time that there is no looking back! i have tried to take it all in with an open mind and enjoy the ride along the way, and i think i have been pretty successful. there are so many things i remember about 2011....not sure we need to recap all of them right now (just go through and read all of the older posts...that will give you an idea of some of the memories that i made along the way).
since the last post from my one-year anniversary, ive been all over the place. finished the year strong and was so ready for holiday. cali was soo needed and so worth it. i was home in cali for 2 weeks - 2 great weeks. it was exactly what i needed to reboot, refresh, and come back strong. to be honest, we didnt do much when i was home, but that was the best part of being home. i just hung out with mom, dad, and shilen. had plenty of spicy ethnic foods that i cant really get here in zurich. had a couple of firsts - went on a boat ride in long beach harbor with good friends, good food, and of course good wine! saw satya in laguna beach......what a lucky year to see her in both of my homes. ive known her for 10 years and this is the first time i saw her in cali which was pretty amazing. i helped shilen prepare for his Mitek interview, which i am SOOO happy to report that he is now a Mitek rep in southern california - in the IE!!!! what an awesome feeling that my little bro is representing the same company as i am. one thing is for sure, i owe a lot to J&J/DePuy - not only for the opportunities i have been given, but now the chance they gave my brother to shine!!
anyway i was back here in zurich for new years eve, to spend it with my friends. Eddy had all of us over at his place for a house party. we all brought food and wine and had a great night! it was nice not dealing with the crowds of zurich and just doing our own thing. i made guacamole...which i think has become a big hit! had an awesome night with awesome friends.
so 2012 started out great, and professionally was a great start as well since i was now 100% on the new job of sales training manager for EMEA for Spine. if you had told me that i would have a new job when i moved, then i would call you crazy. but here i am with a new job, getting used to the change, but loving every minute of it. its a new chapter for sure and i am excited to see what is in store. since new years, i have been enjoying work, enjoying my friends, and simply enjoying life. its really as simple and as pleasant as that. today i scheduled some great holidays - weekend trips and longer trips, and honestly life is good. upcoming travels include: st. anton, budapest, st. moritz, madeira!!!!!! so looking forward to all of these upcoming trips. expanding my world, and loving every minute of it!
so as we come into february, looking forward to what the year has in store. i have a feeling this is going to be another crazy year with a whole load of new experiences and changes. i will definitely report along the way of the things going on! thanks for your continued support of reading the blog! ill keep you updated on the trials and tribulations of sheena s patel! until next time!! =)
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