I'm just back from my flamenco lesson. Yes, you read that right. My flamenco lesson.
I feel like I've lived in Switzerland for years. No, not years--- more like, all my life. (That would mean three whole decades. : ))
From dance lessons once a week, to playing tennis with my co-worker Laura, to never having to wonder "Oh no, what will I do this weekend?"-- these past three months in Switz have been divine. No joke, I feel like I've been here forever, and that I could stay here...... though not forever.
I'm getting used to the cool, crisp, fresh mountain air.... to my walks by the lake on Sundays... to running into people all over town - whether on the bus in the morning, or while doing some shopping at lunchtime, or having a drink after work... it's nice to be able to start recognizing people here and there about town and exchanging a polite "Bonjour. Ca va?" Even the old lady at the boulangerie recognizes me now, and knows that I like the ciabatta with brie and tomatoes.
I feel like I fit in, I have become familiar with the quaint streets of Lausanne, I read my book on the bus, listen to my MP3 player on the way to work (and no, I don't have an iPod) ...
I pick up the phone at work, "Noble, this is Dorothy" and switch rhetoric if necessary, "Non, elle n'est pas disponible, Madame. Si vous voulez, vous pouvez laisser un message."
It's feel like I've been here all my life.
As I'm trying to appreciate each day as it comes, and take life one moment at a time (thanks to recent inspirational words by my mom), I haven't given leaving much thought. People ask me if I'm sad to leave, but... I'm not. Or at least, I haven't thought about how I feel about leaving. Why? Because it's not time for that yet. I still have over two weeks, and I plan to make the most of them. I still have two more flamenco lessons! (I will hopefully have some pics for you next week- FB will update you : )), at least one more tennis session, a dinner of "la chasse", a trip to Lyon, and maybe even a trip to Zermatt! Throw in a "soiree des messages" at the Bleu Lezard, a trip to Geneva to pick up my passport with my brand-spanking new Brazilian tourist visa inside, a night at the theatre, maybe two.... I have a lot to do before November 30th!
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Friday, October 31, 2008
By the time I leave Switzerland, Nothing will surprise me
Thought I would share some idiosyncracies particular to Switzerland. Hope you get a kick out of them.
The following happened to me last Sunday, by far the nicest day this week, weather-wise.
I went for a walk along Lac Leman from Pully, where I now live, to Lutry, one town away.
I try to be outside on the weekends, especially when the weather is nice, as I am cooped up in the office from 9-6 during the week, even though I try to get out for an hour at lunchtime.
So I left the apartment, and headed down to the lakeside. I sat on a bench in the sun for a while, and then a little further on, found a picnic table half in the shade, half in the sun, not five feet from the lake. So I sat there for a bit, and then continued my walk. Once in Lutry, I went to a cafe that I have been to a couple of times. The waiters are not so nice, but the view is great, and it's right next to a football pitch (ahem, I mean, soccer field) and just... as the French would say... "sympa."
So I sat down and had a coffee, enjoying the beautiful sunny day. The Lausanne marathon also happened to be taking place that day, so they were running through the main street in Lutry, right next to the soccer field.
After my coffee, I went and sat on the seats by the field and watched the cute guys warming up. Soon thereafter, a soccer match started, so ..... very much enjoying the weather, and the view (and I'm not talking about the Alps), I stayed to watch the game.
30 minutes into the first half, this man and this woman are making their way down the walkway between the field and the bleachers. They are talking to everyone in turn, and I don't notice them until they arrive at the men next to me. I see the man next to me put 5 Francs in the basket the women is holding and then they get to me.
"C'est 5 francs pour regarder le match." -- "It's 5 francs to watch the game."
(in my head) WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
"Vous rigolez." -- "You're joking."
"No. It's 5 francs to watch the game. We have expenses, you know, and so we ask spectators to pay 5 francs."
Now, I can be cheap, but here it wasn't ever a question of money. (Despite the fact that I didn't have 5 francs on me, but that's besides the point.) I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING TAXED ON THE SUNSHINE AND BEAUTIFUL WEATHER.
So our dance around the question of 5 francs continues,
"C'est pas vrai." -- Non-literal translation: "You have got to be kidding."
"No, you didn't know? This surprises you?"
"Completely."
"You've never been to a game here before?"
"No, it's my first time."
Still starting at him dumbfounded, and making no effort to retrieve the 5 francs he was asking for, my stupefaction finally caused him to say to me, "On vous laisse alors." -- "We will leave you alone then."
Unbelievable! And they say California has a sunshine tax... did you know Switzerland does too?
The following happened to me last Sunday, by far the nicest day this week, weather-wise.
I went for a walk along Lac Leman from Pully, where I now live, to Lutry, one town away.
I try to be outside on the weekends, especially when the weather is nice, as I am cooped up in the office from 9-6 during the week, even though I try to get out for an hour at lunchtime.
So I left the apartment, and headed down to the lakeside. I sat on a bench in the sun for a while, and then a little further on, found a picnic table half in the shade, half in the sun, not five feet from the lake. So I sat there for a bit, and then continued my walk. Once in Lutry, I went to a cafe that I have been to a couple of times. The waiters are not so nice, but the view is great, and it's right next to a football pitch (ahem, I mean, soccer field) and just... as the French would say... "sympa."
So I sat down and had a coffee, enjoying the beautiful sunny day. The Lausanne marathon also happened to be taking place that day, so they were running through the main street in Lutry, right next to the soccer field.
After my coffee, I went and sat on the seats by the field and watched the cute guys warming up. Soon thereafter, a soccer match started, so ..... very much enjoying the weather, and the view (and I'm not talking about the Alps), I stayed to watch the game.
30 minutes into the first half, this man and this woman are making their way down the walkway between the field and the bleachers. They are talking to everyone in turn, and I don't notice them until they arrive at the men next to me. I see the man next to me put 5 Francs in the basket the women is holding and then they get to me.
"C'est 5 francs pour regarder le match." -- "It's 5 francs to watch the game."
(in my head) WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?
"Vous rigolez." -- "You're joking."
"No. It's 5 francs to watch the game. We have expenses, you know, and so we ask spectators to pay 5 francs."
Now, I can be cheap, but here it wasn't ever a question of money. (Despite the fact that I didn't have 5 francs on me, but that's besides the point.) I FELT LIKE I WAS BEING TAXED ON THE SUNSHINE AND BEAUTIFUL WEATHER.
So our dance around the question of 5 francs continues,
"C'est pas vrai." -- Non-literal translation: "You have got to be kidding."
"No, you didn't know? This surprises you?"
"Completely."
"You've never been to a game here before?"
"No, it's my first time."
Still starting at him dumbfounded, and making no effort to retrieve the 5 francs he was asking for, my stupefaction finally caused him to say to me, "On vous laisse alors." -- "We will leave you alone then."
Unbelievable! And they say California has a sunshine tax... did you know Switzerland does too?
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