Airport Observation Deck

Switzerland is child-friendly.  This fact (or opinion), was confirmed today at the airport. After saying our goodbyes to my Mom, Luke and I headed to the observation deck.  Luke was blown away by the airplanes, airport vehicles, and control tower.  We watched several planes take off - including the plane my Mom took.  However, the highlight of the observation deck for Luke was the playground.  He quickly made friends with two other boys, soon they were involved in a game of airport.  Luke was one of the pilots.  The "plane and tower" actually had a speaker system so the boys were able to communicate with each other. I posted a couple of pictures and a short clip of Luke as a pilot- its in German.  Basically, Luke is saying "Können wir los?" (Can we go?)

Ostereier Färben

Last Easter Luke and I dyed eggs using food coloring with an Expat playgroup.  Today we visited a local Spielgruppe (Swiss playgroup) for Ostereier Färben- or Easter egg dying.  First let me say that EVERYTHING was in Swiss-German!  I can usually get by with High German, but Swiss-German is a different story.  However, Luke was amazing!  One of the helpers told Luke what to do, Luke completed the tasks and responded in Swiss-German.  It was ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL!

The egg dying was unique.  The children each received 6 white hard boiled eggs.  Luke dipped 4 of them in water and then proceed to place petals and leaves on them.  Each egg was placed in a nylon stocking and secured tightly with twine.  The eggs were dipped in a pot of boiling flowers.  After they cooled the children removed the stocking and any remaining leaves and petals.  The leaves and petals left prints by blocking the dye, see picture below.  Luke dipped his remaining eggs in a vinegar solution and then covered them with crepe paper.

When the children were done with their eggs, they were given sirup (similar to Kool-Aid), warm bread, and chocolate.

Felsenegg

Once again I am posting something that happened several months ago.  Last May we rode the Felsenegg up the mountain, which is a cableway car located about 10 minutes from our house.  Once you reach the top of the mountain, there is a restaurant, playground, several trails, farms, and an incredible view.  We rode the cable car up the mountain and then we followed a windy trail across the top of the mountain before following it down towards our house.  Click the link below for a slideshow of our trip on the Felsenegg.

http://gallery.me.com/jcs1274/100143

Pumpkin Carving

http://gallery.me.com/jcs1274/100141

I realize that the topic of this post is set in October and its now January.  I wish I could say that we have been really busy, but I just haven't felt like writing.  Still not really in the mood, but I'm falling behind.  Anyway, Halloween is not fully celebrated here in Switzerland.  There were a couple of costumes in stores, a few carnivals, but we didn't see any trick-or-treaters.  I was informed of several Expat activities, but we kept our halloween low key- Luke isn't real sure what it is anyway.

In our household, we celebrated October by watching the "It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown," eating Kürbis (pumpkin) soup, and carving a pumpkin.  To carve our pumpkin, we went to the Jucker Farm in Seegräben.  The farm took pumpkins and gourds to a whole new level.  They had sculptures made out of various fruits/gourds, a restaurant - which had yummy Kürbis soup, a store, winery, and coffee shop.  I enjoyed a pumpkin latte while Luke devoured a Spitzbuben (shortbread cookie with jam).  The farm also had several pumpkins you could purchase and carve on site.  Luke enjoyed scooping out the meat from the pumpkin- although he didn't like getting it on his hands.  After Luke carved the pumpkin he played on a small red tractor- which brought back memories of my brother and I playing on my Grandpa's tractor.  Luke also climbed, jumped, and ran through a hay bale maze.  The farm also had a petting zoo with rabbits and goats.  Unfortunately, the line to get in was extremely long, it was getting cold, and I was ready to head home.  Fortunately, leaving without petting the animals was an easy task since we live near a farm with goats and rabbits that Luke can pet on a regular basis.

Hope you enjoy the mini slide show at the top of this post, it has a couple of pictures from our adventure at the Jucker Farm.

"All On, Strange!"

Yesterday afternoon, Luke and I went to the grocery store for the third time this week.  Going multiple times a week isn't only normal, its a necessity.  Reasons:  1.  Everything we purchase, we carry home.  So small/light loads - which hardly happens, are better.  2.  Our refrigerator/freezer is the size of one you would typically find in a dorm room.  3.  Oh! And back to the smaller loads being helpful, we carry our groceries up 68 steps before entering our flat.  Grocery shopping should count as a workout.

As I was saying earlier, Luke and I went to the store yesterday.  While waiting for our bus home, we ran into our neighbor from across the hall.  As we are struggling through a conversation with her limited English and my limited Swiss-German, we didn't realize our bus never showed until the second bus didn't come.  Our neighbor promptly asked another bus driver and then rushed back to us, grabbed my arm, and said "Come!"  I later learned our scheduled bus had been in a minor accident and we were running to another location to catch a different bus.  By the time we make it home its 5:30 and dark.  As we are walking towards the apartment building, my neighbor notices my lights are on.  We both find this strange, because I'm pretty sure (and hoping) I turned them off and we both knew that Bill was in Japan.  My neighbor looked through the peep hole and said, "All on, strange!"  As she held onto Luke, I opened the door and called into the apartment. Bill answered from the shower- he was home early.  My neighbor was relieved and I was grateful that I wasn't crazy- I did turn the lights off.

Reminder to self- make sure I always turn the lights off when I leave.  Switzerland for the most part is safe, I never considered that someone was in our flat.  If someone had been this would have been a real concern for us and our neighbors.  I don't think it ever crossed my neighbor's mind that I could have possibly left the lights on - people turn out the lights when they leave.  I was grateful Bill was home - I think my neighbor was ready to call the police, I'm not sure she would have believed that I may have left the lights on.

Summer is over!

It's hard to believe that summer is over, yet I'm reminded each time I step outside- its already cold!  So, I guess I should catch everyone up.... we spent our warm summer days walking trails and visiting the zoo.  In July, we traded our warm 70 degree days for Texas' 100+ degree days and air-conditioning.  We spent several weeks visiting our parents, eating out, and shopping.  I was amazed at how noisy it was - and then I would realize I could understand others' conversations.  Here in Switzerland, I'm guilty of blocking out conversations- simply because I don't understand.  However, my understanding is getting better with time.  Won't be long and Luke will be translating for me.

In August, we returned to Switzerland.  Jet-lag was difficult to overcome coming back.  Luke didn't sleep through the night for several days, until his Ghinny promised to buy him a toy.  Amazing how bribery works!  Once we got settled back into our routine, we took a trip to Luzern.  While in Luzern we rode a boat around the lake and road the Pilatus-Bahn (train) up the mountain.  The views were breath-taking.

Luke also started Swiss Kindergarten in August.  Oops!  I should be saying "Lukas" started Kindergarten - Lukas insists on going by his German name now!  Anyway, Kindergarten is a two year process here and kids can start as early as four if their 4th birthday is before mid April.  Luke is a July baby, so we waited until he was 5.  Luke has 15 other students in his class.  All of the students go to school Monday-Friday in the morning and return to their homes for lunch.  Then 3 days a week the 2nd year students return in the afternoon and the 1st year students (Luke's group) return 1 afternoon a week.  Luke loves his school and teacher!  I love that its a neighborhood school and we often see his classmates at the playground, on the bus, at the store, etc.  We have even seen a couple of his friends when we have gone into Zürich.

Click link below to see August photos...
http://gallery.me.com/jcs1274/100088/August%202011-Display

New Life

Today, I decided to take Luke to der Park im Grüene in Rüschlikon.  The park has a playground, sandboxes (Luke’s favorite), a water feature, donkeys, room to run, and its only a 25 minute walk from the house.  However, our walk took longer today due to a semi-pleasant surprise.  As we walked down the trail, we noticed a small gathering of people.  When we approached the group, we saw the farmer on the other side of the fence with a cow.  The cow was giving birth to a calf.  Luke and I had a pretty good view - the cow delivered just feet from the road.  The experience was amazing to watch.  As we left, Luke and I were discussing the calf’s cuteness when he asked, “How did he get in there?”  Immediately my mind thought about how the cow got pregnant and how could I dance around this question.  As I started to explain the calf was in the cow’s belly - Luke stopped me and said, “No, how did the farmer get in there.”  You see, the fields are surrounded by electric fences and Luke wanted to know how the farmer got into the field without getting shocked.  Whew!  I was comfortable answering that question - “He went through a gate.”