After this past Tuesday evening, I feel the integration into Swiss life has officially begun. The night began with a new Swiss “friend” and drinks at the Storchen Bar. We had met the previous weekend at a club called Zic Zac and decided to meet up for a few drinks Tuesday night. When Tuesday finally showed up, to be quite honest I was a bit concerned given 1) I couldn’t really remember what he looked like (since I don’t trust my eye sight at 2am on a Friday without my glasses) and 2) well, I vaguely remember his English not being too strong.
Needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when I re-met him Tuesday night! (Dad don’t worry I am still coming home after my rotation). We ended up having great conversations and despite the cultural differences, (i.e. the Swiss tend to be incredibly, painfully polite) we had a few good laughs.
I ended the evening with the new Swiss, like any lady would, early (8:30) and headed off to meet my friends for my first Swiss Fondue!! I showed up a little late, but just in time to see the pot of boiling, oozing cheese set down on the table. So amazing!! I am a believer...now I just have to visit the Alps.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Sunday, September 23, 2007
Chip Chip Cheerio (aka my trip to London)
What a great weekend!!! To be perfectly clear, and prevent any misunderstandings, I planned this trip with only one intention. Drinking with my best guy-friend from college, Greg, who has been living in London for a little under a year. Before arriving, I specifically told Greg “no touristy things, just you and me catching up, drinking a few pints and maybe getting some Indian food.” So, based on those expectations, the weekend was an absolute success. I still don’t know where I was in London, what London is famous for or anything at all about the city. Here is what I do know after a weekend there.
Greg lives some place called Kinsten Town which is close to Camden Town (all of which are apparently in North London) Camden Town has a great bar called The Worlds End and below it a dance club called Underworld, which plays 80s rock and pop songs on Friday nights. The dance club attire allows for men to wear neon fluorescent spandex pants with matching pink shirts. Screaming/singing at the top of your lungs along to Bon Jovi is encouraged.
Greg’s flatmate Katie’s brother is dating a girl named Alice whose birthday we celebrated on Saturday night with a beautiful British Garden party. Alice’s brother, George, who is dating another American, is best friends with Katie’s ex-boyfriend. Katie promised to draw a diagram to help illustrate all of the connections. The party was located in some suburb of London about 45 away in a beautiful estate with a massive garden.
If you need a dress for your first official British Garden party, the best and cheapest place to go is TopShop. I have no idea where it is located, although I believe it is between two circuses (Picadilly and one other one). TopShop is amazing and I could easily spend an afternoon (and 500GBP) there. But I don’t recommend going hung over, after a night of singing at the top of your lungs to Bon Jovi.
Contrary to all popular fashion magazines in the US it is acceptable for an American girl to wear leggings under a dress to a garden party. I tested this theory first hand after breaking down and buying my first pair of leggings since 5th grade.
When leaving the suburbs and trying to get back into London on a Saturday night, don’t always believe the information online. The last train in facts leaves at 1am (not 1:12) and the next one isn’t until 6am. In case you miss the train, a cab ride is 65GBP.
And finally, London does in fact offer the best Indian food. The verdict on fish and chips will be undecided until my next trip.
Greg lives some place called Kinsten Town which is close to Camden Town (all of which are apparently in North London) Camden Town has a great bar called The Worlds End and below it a dance club called Underworld, which plays 80s rock and pop songs on Friday nights. The dance club attire allows for men to wear neon fluorescent spandex pants with matching pink shirts. Screaming/singing at the top of your lungs along to Bon Jovi is encouraged.
Greg’s flatmate Katie’s brother is dating a girl named Alice whose birthday we celebrated on Saturday night with a beautiful British Garden party. Alice’s brother, George, who is dating another American, is best friends with Katie’s ex-boyfriend. Katie promised to draw a diagram to help illustrate all of the connections. The party was located in some suburb of London about 45 away in a beautiful estate with a massive garden.
If you need a dress for your first official British Garden party, the best and cheapest place to go is TopShop. I have no idea where it is located, although I believe it is between two circuses (Picadilly and one other one). TopShop is amazing and I could easily spend an afternoon (and 500GBP) there. But I don’t recommend going hung over, after a night of singing at the top of your lungs to Bon Jovi.
Contrary to all popular fashion magazines in the US it is acceptable for an American girl to wear leggings under a dress to a garden party. I tested this theory first hand after breaking down and buying my first pair of leggings since 5th grade.
When leaving the suburbs and trying to get back into London on a Saturday night, don’t always believe the information online. The last train in facts leaves at 1am (not 1:12) and the next one isn’t until 6am. In case you miss the train, a cab ride is 65GBP.
And finally, London does in fact offer the best Indian food. The verdict on fish and chips will be undecided until my next trip.
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
The Rhine Falls
A quicky, but worth mentioning…
On Sunday, after a completely worthless Saturday in bed, Luke (a new friend) and I went to Schaffhausen (a small medieval town on the border of Germany) to watch his friend compete in a fencing tournament and see what trouble we could get into. The tourney was held in a courtyard on top of the Menot Castle, allegedly Schaffhausen’s trademark. The morning was needless to say, surreal.
After a long Swiss lunch in town, we decided to check out the Rhine Falls since we had nothing better to do plus they were only a 10 minute drive away. The Rhine Falls are the largest waterfalls in Europe. While impressive, I am still convinced they could be taking in an intertube (think the upper Sacramento River, but a little bit bigger). Apparently the size is determined not necessarily by height but also width and Europe doesn’t have that many waterfalls. Thanks to two bridges we were able to walk from one side of the falls, over the top and to the other side where there were platforms so close to the spray you can almost touch the falls themselves. After the 50 minute walk back to where we parked, we treated ourselves to ice cream like a true Swissie would. (I can definitely get used to this lifestyle…eat, hike, ice cream).
Unfortunately, my camera has officially died (after 5 years of abuse, travel and bars) so I have no pictures to show you. But please enjoy these that I downloaded from the website.
On Sunday, after a completely worthless Saturday in bed, Luke (a new friend) and I went to Schaffhausen (a small medieval town on the border of Germany) to watch his friend compete in a fencing tournament and see what trouble we could get into. The tourney was held in a courtyard on top of the Menot Castle, allegedly Schaffhausen’s trademark. The morning was needless to say, surreal.
After a long Swiss lunch in town, we decided to check out the Rhine Falls since we had nothing better to do plus they were only a 10 minute drive away. The Rhine Falls are the largest waterfalls in Europe. While impressive, I am still convinced they could be taking in an intertube (think the upper Sacramento River, but a little bit bigger). Apparently the size is determined not necessarily by height but also width and Europe doesn’t have that many waterfalls. Thanks to two bridges we were able to walk from one side of the falls, over the top and to the other side where there were platforms so close to the spray you can almost touch the falls themselves. After the 50 minute walk back to where we parked, we treated ourselves to ice cream like a true Swissie would. (I can definitely get used to this lifestyle…eat, hike, ice cream).
Unfortunately, my camera has officially died (after 5 years of abuse, travel and bars) so I have no pictures to show you. But please enjoy these that I downloaded from the website.
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