What an amazing first week!!! Here are some of the things I was busy doing this week:

• Went house hunting on Tuesday with a relocation agent and looked at a whole bunch of apartments none of which were in the neighborhood I wanted or in my price range. A bit frustrating
• Tuesday night I meet up with two co-workers for happy hour at the Carlton Bar. Beers are only $5 until 7pm and then the prices get hiked up to $8. No appetizers, but there was a sausage buffet (yes girls, they eat a lot of sausage here). The seen was definitely more Bluelight than City Tavern, but I can’t be too picky considering it is my first week
• I also set up my official Swiss Bank Account on Tuesday!
• Wednesday I had my first “full day” of work. Everyone on the team is so nice and welcoming and helpful. They are all ex-pats from either the US or Australia and so they have all been through the relocation stress
• Wednesday night I found my new apartment!! This might not seem like a big deal, but to put things in perspective, it took three of my co-workers over two months to find housing. I found my place within five days. A co-worker sent me an email listing from an ex-pats website for an apartment in the neighborhood I wanted, in my price range. I called the people, went over that night, had a glass of wine and fell in love with the place. A cute one bedroom, one block away from the “Fillmore street” of Zurich with a private front garden, dishwasher and washing machine. The couple was moving out and heading to San Francisco! We got to talking, I was introduced to the land lady, a great woman from South Africa who said the place was mine and I could move in August 1. I just got the contract and will be signing it Monday. There is plenty of room for everyone to come visit at once!!!
• The only downside about the apartment is apparently the last three tenants (all women) have gotten pregnant while living at the apartment…YIKES!! No boys for me!! Feel free to place over/unders on that one!
• This weekend was ridiculous with Zurifhast! I don’t know how to describe Zurifhast other than imagine, Bay to Breakers, Union Street Fair and the Mid-State fair all happening in the same city the same weekend. Pure Mayhem. There were bands and stages every two blocks, huge rides including two ferris wheels, beer stands every and so many places to buy sausage it was overwhelming.
• Aussie Greg came up to visit from Italy and we had numerous parties to attend (all thrown by co-workers). One week here and I already have a semi-social life.
• And the best part so far...apparently you can drink on the streets al the time (not just for Zurifhast) so in theory, I could pop open a cold beer after a hard day at work and relax on the train ride home…man I love this city!

On a more serious note I have some bad news. I have a feeling these next two years are going to qualify me for "least improved" friend. My hair staightener doesn’t work here, pedicures are $75, there is very little sun to get tan, and after a diet of sausage and full calorie beer my appearance (it appears) is about to take a nose-dive. Good thing I am not interested in men right now!