Home in Switzerland

August already! It surprises me every time. We had a busy and fun July, visiting family and friends in the States. Wish we could have stayed longer, but it was still good to get home. It's very quiet in our neighborhood. I assume our neighbors are off enjoying a last couple of weeks of relaxation before the back-to-school craziness begins. As for us, we've been to the local swimming pool a few times, went to the natural history museum and to the annual Fête de Géneve,which is a big carnival on the shores of Lake Geneva. Donald left for Tanzania this morning for a week long company meeting. He's going to spend a couple of days on the island of Zanzibar before coming home. Then we're all going to Barcelona for a week. Sounds so matter of fact, doesn't it! Believe me, I am not taking this for granted.
Meanwhile, we are still a normal (most of the time!) family, doing laundry, walking the dogs, trying to figure out what to cook for dinner, etc. Just doing it all in Switzerland.

Enough Already

I usually avoid getting up on a soap box, but the ongoing wrangling over the budget has me in a state. It's clear that cutting back is necessary. It is also clear that deciding where to make those cuts has got to be almost impossible. Glad I don't have to do it. We are so divorced from the running of our country, understandably so. Most of us have all we can handle getting food on the table and making sure the kids are looked after. Which is part of the reason we have a representative government. We want jobs that pay a living wage, decent schools, health care, a roof over our heads. It's the American dream, right? We want our representatives in Washington, who are spending our taxes, to help us get these things. Unfortunately, they can't seem to avoid the tit for tat mentality. They spend far to much time talking and far too little time listening. They are willing to hold the country hostage to get their way. Kind of like a toddler having a tantrum. What do those of us in the cheap seats do? Give them a better model for behavior, I say. Rather than 'me first', let's try 'you first'. Make 'personal responsibility' a personal philosophy. Agree to disagree and get on with it already.

A New Year's Resolution.

It's been nearly six months since our move from Bellevue to Geneva. We have all gotten into a rhythm:school, work, french classes,walking the dogs, homework, etc. We have a few favorite places for take-out, a favorite destination for a weekend drive, and a growing collection of the basic services needed for family life. The woman behind the counter at a local tea shop knows that we like the raspberry sorbet and chocolate cookies she sells. We are on a first name basis with Bobby, a Bulgarian vendor at the Sunday market, who makes the most delicious grilled pork you have ever tasted. I have almost gotten used to the fact that most things here are twice as expensive as in the US. I have most definitely gotten accustomed to the possibility of fresh croissants for breakfast every morning. I found myself wondering the other day if this routine we have developed is setting a dangerous precedent. Is there a risk that life here will become 'routine'? I'd like to think not, but I suppose it's possible. Unless you are living in a war zone, or struggling to put food on the table, daily life is a rerun of the day before, whether it's in Bellevue, Washington or Geneva, Switzerland. How do we prevent our routines from getting stale? I walk our two dogs every day. If I am in a hurry, it's just a quick bathroom break. When I have more time, there are a couple of routes I usually take. The dogs are happy no matter which one I choose, but I find I am more likely to walk farther if I shake things up a bit. That's good for all three of us. I have never been one for New Year's resolutions, but 'shaking things up' sounds like a resolution worth making.
Keep you posted!