Category
Life in Switzerland
-
02.07.08Adjustment periodMy new slippers I found for 5 Swiss francs! I have found that I, personally, have an adjustment period as an expat. It took about 10 months for me to start feeling at home in France and it has taken me about 8 months to adjust to life in Switzerland. Switzerland has slowly become my home. I adore fondue, raclette, all the snow, the traditions and the feeling of being a part of a community. However, if you would have asked me last week how I felt about my life here in Switzerland I would have not been as quick to focus on the good ...
-
02.06.08Le Carnaval du NoirmontOn Sunday, we went to the Carnival of Noirmont. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that the cortège (procession) makes two rounds through the streets of Le Noirmont. At the tail of the parade was the beginning. We got to watch the carnival procession all over again. Even if my feet were frozen solid it was worth it because of the kids faces. There were some things that were different from parades and carnivals I have seen the the States and Strasbourg. In this carnival procession some of the participates carried around warm drinks (non-alcoholic) to offer to the spectators. ...
-
02.05.08Baitchai for the childrenThe children ran to the door of the house making as much noise as they could until the owner of each house opened the door to give them donations of candy, chocolate, cookies and money. If no one was home the children would check the mailbox to see if there were any goodies left for there. Here are a couple photos on the way back to the restaurant where we met up before and after. When we got back to the restaurant the children were treated to free hot dogs and french fries. Perhaps the money that was collected paid ...
-
02.05.08Beauty sleepThe Baitchai didn't keep me up all night. I heard them begin at 10 p.m. sharp. I went to bed soon after. I wasn't woken up until at around 5:30 a.m. as they walked down our street. I have to clear up the fact that even if the word Baitchai means the sound of a cracked bell or broken dishes they sound more like sharp flutes and drums. It is custom to put bottles (I am assuming of alcohol) and envelopes (of monetary donations) into your mailbox as an offering to the Baitchai. I heard someone opening and shutting each ...
-
02.04.08Night of the BaitchaiOur village will be assaulted by the Baitchai tonight. Starting at around 10 p.m. men and women dressed in white will parade through the streets of our village playing musical instruments, banging on pots and pans or whatever else they are inspired by. Basically the goal is to make as much noise as humanly possible all throughout the night. I was told that it is impossible to sleep. Did I mention that it is cold outside? It is even colder at night. We are talking about below freezing. I would be willing to bet that it is more than warm ...
-
02.04.08Confetti in the snowClick here to view photo larger. It is worth the click! Le carnaval du Noirmont This past weekend was packed with carnival activities. I am beat. I will try to make a decent post tonight or tomorrow. Today is laundry day and I still have to clean up all the confetti sprinkled around our apartment that fell off our clothes upon returning from the carnival in Le Noirmont. Sweet Bear had at least four handfulls in the hood of her coat! Too bad I didn't know it before I took her coat off and started shaking ...
-
02.02.08My Swiss Jura under the snowIt is magical. We don't have a car and take the train when we need things we can't buy in our village. Today was one of those days. It isn't hard to love taking the train and the view that goes along with it. We have Internet, a new memory card for one of the cameras and lots of catching up to do. I feel like I am connected to the world again after a long hibernation.
-
11.09.07Winter WonderlandRubbing the sleep from my eyes I stretched to see what the kids were so excited about. Their shrills of happiness pushed me right out of sleep and into the day. Looking up I saw snow not falling but blowing from the sky. It was coming down hard and reminded me of a rain storm. As I am typing this it is still coming down hard but the flakes are visible and criss-crossing each other like in a winter wonderland. It is beautiful. Vilay and I have been waiting for our first snow in Switzerland. We ...
-
11.08.07Snow markersSnow markers have been up all over our village since Monday. I was told that last year there wasn't much snow here in the Jura. However, the year before the snow level was up to the orange! That's a lot of snow. We have already bought snow pants and a coat that is wind and water proof for my five year old daughter. At school, the kids go out and play in the snow at recess. Her school yard is more a yard with park equipment than a school yard typically found in the States. I think my ...
-
11.08.07Perils of the French RI was explaining to a woman that has a child in Sweet Bear's school which I had promised to give the Ultimate Brownie recipe to that I hadn't forgotten to do it. It was taking me a couple days because I had to translate it from English into French. I didn't mention all the other little life chores that have kept me busy the last few days. For example: laundry day, cable guys working in and out of our apartment for an entire day rewiring, knitting...knitting...knitting my mother's scarf as fast as possible because she ...
recent posts
- Busy but happy
- Lego fun
- Life is in the making of moments that you cherish
- Day in Bern
- Nature in Bern, Switzerland
- Junkerngasse
- School is the tops
-
-
-
The Pinky Show - gently poking your brain with a stick
My flickr
-
Ad
Are you looking for a Paris hotel? Try this site called EasyToBook.com
-
Grandma's Girl Etsy Shop
Quality Handmade Goods Everyone Can Afford.
This ad is provided as a FREE service to this shop owner. -
