Most who know me know that I have a love/hate relationship with this country that I currently call "home." Here are my top three most common complaints:
1. Coins - If you ever come visit Switzerland (and despite this post, you really should) make sure your pockets are full of coins. I rarely have coins on me at any given time. In the States, not a big deal. Here, not having coins when I need them has the ability to ruin my whole day. Here are just a few everyday things that require coins: public bathrooms 1-2 chf (swiss francs), shopping carts 1-2chf (you get your money back when you return the cart), shopping bags .30 roppen to 2chf, parking at the grocery store 1chf/half hour.
With that knowledge, just imagine this situation...I'm out running errands and I need to pick up some food for dinner. I go to get a cart when I realize I don't have any 1 or 2 franc coins. Danny is crying because he wants the cool cart with the car attached to the front. That cart requires a 5 franc coin! Suddenly I realize I need to use the restroom. I get there as quickly as possible with two kids in tow. Again, no coins so I can't get in! I hold it and rush through the store stuffing everything in the tiny basket while balancing Rach in my other arm and trying to keep track of Danny who's walking a few feet behind me. Finally, everything is in the trunk and the kids are strapped in and ready to go. I start driving toward the exit when I realize I have no coins to pay for parking!!! (the machines don't always take bills or atm cards) I pull up really close to the car in front of me and race through before the bar comes down on my car! To top off the whole experience, I get caught by a speeding camera on the way home for driving 55 in a 50 zone. A 40 Franc ticket arrives in the mail 2 weeks later, a lovely reminder of that beautiful day. Grrrrrr.
2. People staring at me ALL THE TIME! I figured out why a few weeks ago when we were in Italy. The staring was particularly noticable that day. A woman came up to Matt and asked if I was the mother of the children. Matt told her I was and she quickly asked how old I was. Matt said, "How old to you think she is?" to which the woman replied in Italian, "about 15?" When Matt told her I was actually 10 years older than that she said, " Wow! You're a lucky man!" So, I guess being told I look 15 is a compliment...to Matt.
3. Convenience, or rather, lack thereof- examples: see No. 1, no changing tables in public places, 1 highchair per restaurant, stores closing for lunch from 12 to 2 pm, stores closing at 6 pm, my washer and dryer turning off daily from 12 to 2...
Ahhhhh. I feel better. You should know that the purpose of this post isn't purely just to vent, nor is it to make you all feel sorry for me (which to totally shouldn't because my life is pretty fantastic!). The main purpose is to introduce my new plan. Since focusing on these negative things won't make the next 2+ years any easier AND since there are so many things I actually do like about living here, I've decided to quit complaining (at least on this blog) and to post things that I LOVE about Switzerland. Stay tuned for more positive posts!
