More Swiss run ins

A couple of weeks ago we were walking home from the train station when we met an older couple. They started speaking to us in German so we quickly apologized and asked if they spoke English. They did and we had a lovely conversation for several minutes before walking away and wishing each other a good evening.

Brian and I walked away from this encounter stunned. It's gotten to the point where I expect to be yelled at when someone stops me. This meeting was a breath of fresh air. Nice people who just wanted to say hello and compliment me on my kids? Where am I?!

I have replayed that encounter in my head multiple times in the last few weeks, even telling some friends about the nice older couple I met.

And then I was yelled at by an older woman at the grocery store that reduced me to tears.

The woman started in German. And when I stared at her blankly, shocked by this woman's outburst and meanness, she switched to English.

I walked across the parking lot (distance of 15 feet or so) 5-10 feet away from the crosswalk, with kids! How dare I, I was told, I should walk in the crosswalk when with kids.

I could draw a diagram or take a picture when at the store the next time I go to really illustrate just how out of line she was. But it doesn't matter. She thought I made the wrong choice and felt the need to point out to me what a bad mother I was. I felt I was doing the safest thing for my kids.

In the end, if someone here thinks you are doing something wrong, they will tell you. I just haven't gotten used to it yet. I want to remember the nice couple we met walking home from the train station, not every person who tells me how I am a horrible parent (no hat! no umbrella! walking five feet away from the crosswalk! disciplining your kids too loudly! your 3 year old is yelling! etc)

Expats, how do you deal with Swiss 'policemen'?

Percentage of Sun

I noticed something while checking the weather forecast for this weekend, something I very rarely do since the weather can change in an instant here.

Instead of listing the chance of rain, the chance of sun is listed. How depressing is that? Pretty darn depressing but not as depressing as the 0-5% chance we will see sun tomorrow. Ugh.

Have a great weekend! We will be having a wet one.

Rigi on a clear day

A friend of mine has been visiting so we've been seeing some Swiss sites this past week. We dragged the kids to Rigi Kulm yesterday and my luck with this mountain changed. It was clear! And gorgeous, of course.






My friend is looking through this nifty viewfinder.

You can spin the ball to put the pointer on a bunch of different location names and then, voila! That's what you see when you look into the eyepiece. The Swiss really do think of everything.

Basically, our day was nothing like last time. Gorgeous!

Bern BärenPark

Mark your calendars everyone: the new Bern BärenPark opens October 25.

Two new baby bears are currently in quarantine in the old Bärengraben, or bear pit. And they are super cute! They were playing together when I was there this past weekend.

Note the security fence around the Bärengraben to keep people away from these new bears. High tech quarantine devices ;)

Marion's already bursting to see these new bears so we will definitely be making a visit to Bern sometime in November. Make sure you go to see these adorable little bears!

Bigger in the US?

You know the saying, "Everything's bigger in Texas", right?

Well I have a feeling that here that saying is "Everything is bigger in the US."

Here is the American sized toast we purchased.

Here's the comparison to the bread we typically buy.


Wow.

Crap

She's moving way faster than I expected and would like.

Are you a Cool American?

Brian found some Cool Ranch Doritos on Migros' online shop, www.leshop.ch, and ordered them for me. Love those! And yet, they are a little different here.

I have two theories on this.

1- Ranch flavors don't exist here. Therefore, the ranch flavor is American. Easy substitution.

2- A ranch is a place where cowboys hang. And hey, aren't all Americans cowboys?

So there you have it. I will be enjoying my Cool American Doritos this evening and wondering if that makes me cool by association. Yum!