It has been almost a month here in Switzerland, and I think the whole family would agree that we really like it here. There have been LOTS of challenges but those have been well outnumbered by the moments when we realize how blessed we are to have the opportunity to see and experience life in Europe. Everyone we've talked to who has been an ex-pat says there are highs and lows. At first they are very drastic but as time goes by they begin to even out. I have a fear that we are at a "high" point right now and that there will be a horrible low around the corner. I've stocked up on Chardonnay, just in case.
One of the hardest parts of living in Zurich, has been living in our temporary apartment. It is in a great location for exploring the city, and has a beautiful view of the lake and mountains. But other than that, to put it bluntly, it blows. So as we just received the news that our freight container has arrived and we will be moving out of this apartment on Friday, I thought I would celebrate the occasion by blogging about the 5 biggest things that suck about this apartment. So here goes...... ( I feel like a half ass David Letterman)
#1 The lack of sound proofing
My little angels have made quite an impression on the residents of our apartment building. Since I don't speak German, I'm not sure what they are quietly chuckling about when I trapse past them in the entryway with the three kids. If I had to bet, I would guess they are referring to my kids as "The American Screamers" or perhaps "The kids that belong to that mother who always looks like she needs a drink". Bryan discovered that when one of the kids is crying and wailing, it can be heard very clearly 5 floors down in the lobby. Which leads me to believe that when I yell at the kids (hardly ever happens), that too can be heard all the way down to the bottom floor. This has caused me to invent something I like to call the "whisper scream". It's a lot like yelling at the kids. I get the same "crazy mama" look on my face, and speak in a "mama's gonna lose it" way, but I do it in a whisper. In my opinion, it's a lot creepier than the common yell, but unfortunately not very effective.
#2. The elevator
Now, I know some people have a fear of small spaces and find elevators to be very intimidating. I am not one of those people and have never thought twice before getting on one. That is, until we encountered the elevator from hell. Before the kids and I arrived, Bryan mentioned that the elevator was small. He didn't mention that it feels like you are being entombed every time you step into it. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that there is no way for the elevator ride up to our apartment to be a family affair. The 3 kids and one adult can hardly fit in it. When we first arrived, Bryan needed to fix our stroller and had to drag it up 5 flights because JUST THE STOLLER ALONE would not fit in the elevator.
Fortunately, they do have a button to push in case you get stuck in the elevator. I only know this because on several occasions, I have inadvertantly pushed it while trying to manouver myself around to "whisper scream" at the kids. When the German voice comes over the speaker, I assume asking us if we're still alive and well, I very loudly say "I'M SORRY! I DON'T SPEAK GERMAN! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" and then quickly try to hang up on her. It recently occurred to me that she probably has no idea what I am saying, and if I did in fact become trapped in the elevator with the 3 kids, the communication barrier would be my demise. They'd probably find the kids sitting atop my dead body several days later eating whatever snacks I had stashed in the backpack. I can just see the doors finally opening and the maintenance man finding me curled up in the elevator with dum dum lollipops stuck in my hair. What an undignified way to go.
#3. The bathroom/laundryroom.
There are 2 bathrooms in this apartment. One has a shower, a sink, and a toilet. All normal bathroom items. The other has 2 sinks, a toilet, a bathtub, and a washer and dryer. That alone isn't a big deal. The big deal is that if you are not under the age of 8, or a dwarf, you can't sit on the toilet without having to wedge your knees between it and the washer. This doesn't make for a very relaxing place to hide from the kids and I may need to start hiding in the elevator. To make the bathroom situation even more comical, we quickly realized that the washer is hooked up to the bathtub faucet. When we do laundry, we turn the handle on the bathtub to adjust the temperature setting. There are several hoses that hang over the side of the bathtub so the washer and dryer can drain into the tub. It's quite an ordeal at bathtime with the kids when we have to unhook the washer and dryer to fill the tub. I considered sticking the kids in the washer to save time, but C wouldn't fit.
#4 The dishwasher
See blog entry, "My Nemesis". I have conceded defeat and will continue washing dishes by hand for ONE MORE DAY. Damn Klarspuler.....
#5 The lack of wireless internet.
I know this one makes me sound like a spoiled American brat, but let me explain. Our computer serves many purposes in this apartment. My laptop is our only TV, our only means of communication back to the States (thanks to skype), my means of therapuetic ranting (a.k.a. this blog), and our translator for all things in German thanks to Google Translate. This makes it the most sought after item in the apartment. I've even stooped to luring my kids away from their Webkins activities with chocolate, so I could get on the computer. As if it's not bad enough that we all have to fight over it, when we do use it, we have to sit in the most uncomfortable chair at the dining room table. Have you ever tried to sit and watch 2 hours of The Biggest Loser while sitting upright at a table? It's almost enough to make you want go get off your butt and exercise. Almost.
But tomorrow is a new day and a brand new apartment. The difference in the two is night and day. Literally. The old apartment is dark and dreary and the new apartment has windows throughout and just feels bright and cheery. Plus, we'll have all our favorite furniture and comforts from home to make us feel at ease. I've always thought that "stuff" was very unimportant and found it sad that people got so attached to the the "things" in their lives. And though I still believe that the friends and family in our lives are more valuable than any material things, the "stuff" in our lives plays a part in the memories we build and gives me a sense of who I am. Hmmm.... I think that sounds both deep and shallow at the same time. To put it in simpler terms, I can't wait to sit my back side down on my comfy couch and enjoy the beautiful view from our new apartment. And let me just tell you, the dishwasher better damned well work.
One of the hardest parts of living in Zurich, has been living in our temporary apartment. It is in a great location for exploring the city, and has a beautiful view of the lake and mountains. But other than that, to put it bluntly, it blows. So as we just received the news that our freight container has arrived and we will be moving out of this apartment on Friday, I thought I would celebrate the occasion by blogging about the 5 biggest things that suck about this apartment. So here goes...... ( I feel like a half ass David Letterman)
#1 The lack of sound proofing
My little angels have made quite an impression on the residents of our apartment building. Since I don't speak German, I'm not sure what they are quietly chuckling about when I trapse past them in the entryway with the three kids. If I had to bet, I would guess they are referring to my kids as "The American Screamers" or perhaps "The kids that belong to that mother who always looks like she needs a drink". Bryan discovered that when one of the kids is crying and wailing, it can be heard very clearly 5 floors down in the lobby. Which leads me to believe that when I yell at the kids (hardly ever happens), that too can be heard all the way down to the bottom floor. This has caused me to invent something I like to call the "whisper scream". It's a lot like yelling at the kids. I get the same "crazy mama" look on my face, and speak in a "mama's gonna lose it" way, but I do it in a whisper. In my opinion, it's a lot creepier than the common yell, but unfortunately not very effective.
#2. The elevator
Now, I know some people have a fear of small spaces and find elevators to be very intimidating. I am not one of those people and have never thought twice before getting on one. That is, until we encountered the elevator from hell. Before the kids and I arrived, Bryan mentioned that the elevator was small. He didn't mention that it feels like you are being entombed every time you step into it. I am not exaggerating when I tell you that there is no way for the elevator ride up to our apartment to be a family affair. The 3 kids and one adult can hardly fit in it. When we first arrived, Bryan needed to fix our stroller and had to drag it up 5 flights because JUST THE STOLLER ALONE would not fit in the elevator.
Fortunately, they do have a button to push in case you get stuck in the elevator. I only know this because on several occasions, I have inadvertantly pushed it while trying to manouver myself around to "whisper scream" at the kids. When the German voice comes over the speaker, I assume asking us if we're still alive and well, I very loudly say "I'M SORRY! I DON'T SPEAK GERMAN! IT WAS AN ACCIDENT!" and then quickly try to hang up on her. It recently occurred to me that she probably has no idea what I am saying, and if I did in fact become trapped in the elevator with the 3 kids, the communication barrier would be my demise. They'd probably find the kids sitting atop my dead body several days later eating whatever snacks I had stashed in the backpack. I can just see the doors finally opening and the maintenance man finding me curled up in the elevator with dum dum lollipops stuck in my hair. What an undignified way to go.
#3. The bathroom/laundryroom.
There are 2 bathrooms in this apartment. One has a shower, a sink, and a toilet. All normal bathroom items. The other has 2 sinks, a toilet, a bathtub, and a washer and dryer. That alone isn't a big deal. The big deal is that if you are not under the age of 8, or a dwarf, you can't sit on the toilet without having to wedge your knees between it and the washer. This doesn't make for a very relaxing place to hide from the kids and I may need to start hiding in the elevator. To make the bathroom situation even more comical, we quickly realized that the washer is hooked up to the bathtub faucet. When we do laundry, we turn the handle on the bathtub to adjust the temperature setting. There are several hoses that hang over the side of the bathtub so the washer and dryer can drain into the tub. It's quite an ordeal at bathtime with the kids when we have to unhook the washer and dryer to fill the tub. I considered sticking the kids in the washer to save time, but C wouldn't fit.
#4 The dishwasher
See blog entry, "My Nemesis". I have conceded defeat and will continue washing dishes by hand for ONE MORE DAY. Damn Klarspuler.....
#5 The lack of wireless internet.
I know this one makes me sound like a spoiled American brat, but let me explain. Our computer serves many purposes in this apartment. My laptop is our only TV, our only means of communication back to the States (thanks to skype), my means of therapuetic ranting (a.k.a. this blog), and our translator for all things in German thanks to Google Translate. This makes it the most sought after item in the apartment. I've even stooped to luring my kids away from their Webkins activities with chocolate, so I could get on the computer. As if it's not bad enough that we all have to fight over it, when we do use it, we have to sit in the most uncomfortable chair at the dining room table. Have you ever tried to sit and watch 2 hours of The Biggest Loser while sitting upright at a table? It's almost enough to make you want go get off your butt and exercise. Almost.
But tomorrow is a new day and a brand new apartment. The difference in the two is night and day. Literally. The old apartment is dark and dreary and the new apartment has windows throughout and just feels bright and cheery. Plus, we'll have all our favorite furniture and comforts from home to make us feel at ease. I've always thought that "stuff" was very unimportant and found it sad that people got so attached to the the "things" in their lives. And though I still believe that the friends and family in our lives are more valuable than any material things, the "stuff" in our lives plays a part in the memories we build and gives me a sense of who I am. Hmmm.... I think that sounds both deep and shallow at the same time. To put it in simpler terms, I can't wait to sit my back side down on my comfy couch and enjoy the beautiful view from our new apartment. And let me just tell you, the dishwasher better damned well work.
