When I arrived back in Zürich, one of the first things that I did was to go to the grocery store. I noticed a sign announcing that the store would be closed on Monday (today). My first thought was, "I wonder what random Swiss holiday is on Monday?" Then I realized that it is Knabenschiessen, which is the first strange Swiss holiday that I experienced when I arrived last fall. And I came to the strange realization that I have now lived in Switzerland for the better part of a year (10 of the last 12 months) and have more or less experienced all of the bizarre holidays that Zürich, Switzerland has to offer. Little boys shooting and exploding snowmen- been there, done that!
This realization was actually a little sobering, since I have really enjoyed discovering this interesting and (occasionally) totally strange culture in which I am now living. I immediately panicked a little and wondered, "Will I lose my sense of discovery and excitement of living in Switzerland now that there are no more first Bööggs in my future?" I quickly recovered from my brief panic and concluded that this doesn't mean that discovery is over. There is still more to experience with each holiday, and then are are other holidays in other regions of Switzerland. Thankfully, the world of Switzerland still holds interesting things for me to discover.
But, seriously, it is pretty incredible to think that it was only a year ago that I was arriving in Zürich, thinking that I'd just be here for 3 months. Now I'm planning to live here for the forseeable future, I've got a great flat and am making a home here, and I'm making progress in speaking and understanding German (although my time in the US has set me back a little- I lost the impulse to respond to people in German; I understand what people are asking me in German, but I just respond in English...). I've learned the Swiss laundry rules, the recycling system, the cleaning products, the store hours, the train system, the post office, the bank. I've learned to cook without meat and to adapt to the metric system. I've fallen in love with hiking and the Alps, and I've been happier than anyone should be at my job. I've met tons of lovely people and have made new friends.
This is not to say that there aren't hard things with living in a strange place. It can be really incredibly lonely, and even little trips to the grocery store or the post office can be totally exhausting (although that part is getting better as I learn German a little more). Finding a church has been really difficult. Making friends takes time, and no one can replace the friends and family back home.
But I have been so thankful for this experience and adventure that came my way. I certainly never expected to live anywhere but Minnesota, but I am so happy to be here now!
This realization was actually a little sobering, since I have really enjoyed discovering this interesting and (occasionally) totally strange culture in which I am now living. I immediately panicked a little and wondered, "Will I lose my sense of discovery and excitement of living in Switzerland now that there are no more first Bööggs in my future?" I quickly recovered from my brief panic and concluded that this doesn't mean that discovery is over. There is still more to experience with each holiday, and then are are other holidays in other regions of Switzerland. Thankfully, the world of Switzerland still holds interesting things for me to discover.
But, seriously, it is pretty incredible to think that it was only a year ago that I was arriving in Zürich, thinking that I'd just be here for 3 months. Now I'm planning to live here for the forseeable future, I've got a great flat and am making a home here, and I'm making progress in speaking and understanding German (although my time in the US has set me back a little- I lost the impulse to respond to people in German; I understand what people are asking me in German, but I just respond in English...). I've learned the Swiss laundry rules, the recycling system, the cleaning products, the store hours, the train system, the post office, the bank. I've learned to cook without meat and to adapt to the metric system. I've fallen in love with hiking and the Alps, and I've been happier than anyone should be at my job. I've met tons of lovely people and have made new friends.
This is not to say that there aren't hard things with living in a strange place. It can be really incredibly lonely, and even little trips to the grocery store or the post office can be totally exhausting (although that part is getting better as I learn German a little more). Finding a church has been really difficult. Making friends takes time, and no one can replace the friends and family back home.
But I have been so thankful for this experience and adventure that came my way. I certainly never expected to live anywhere but Minnesota, but I am so happy to be here now!
