Top Ten Things I won't miss about Switzerland

OK, Rob is really tired of me about now. I'm getting so mopey about leaving CH. Every time we do something now I say "oh, this is the last time we'll do this in Switzerland." or "This is the last time we'll eat here."., etc. I've also been little to no help in arranging movers, finding temporary housing or buying our plane tix back home. If nothing gets done, then we won't be able to leave, right? So, in the interest of trying to feel better about leaving I thought I'd run through all of the things that I won't miss about Switzerland:

10) Lack of customer service

CH is definitely efficient, but when it comes to friendly service - I can't wait to get back to the states. Somehow shops & restaurants here seem to think that you should be lucky to have them rather than the other way around. Often I'm at the grocery store standing in front of a shelf trying to pick something out, an employee will sternly ask me to move out of the way so that she can stock the shelf - rather than wait 20 seconds. Or they block the aisle with boxes so that I can't get by with the stroller. Clothing stores only stock about 1 of each size of item & would NEVER hold an item for you. Waiting 10-15 minutes to get served in a cafe or restaurant is not unusual.

9) Store hours/shopping

I know, I know -everyone says "but isn't it nice that since the stores are all closed on Sunday that it is a day only to relax." Ummm - NO. All it does is force me to shop on Saturday with all of the other people who are forced to shop that day. Long lines & empty shelves. I have no problem relaxing - I don't need a day imposed on me.

8) Lack of good restaurants

Zurich seems to have Swiss restaurants & Italian restaurants. That's about it. The first time we tried a Mexican restaurant here they had zucchini & corn in our fajitas & it was all smothered with a weird ranch dressing. I can't WAIT to get back to the Bay Area and the Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Thai, Vietnamese, Greek, "fill in the blank".....restaurants.

7) Tiniest parking spots ever

Here's our spot in our garage:

Every time I park I have to first let Lukas out. Then I have to back it in and climb over the passenger's seat to get out. Of course, by this time the automatic lights in the garage have gone off & Lukas starts calling to me from somewhere in the dark.

6) Language difficulties

I love the day-to-day challenge of speaking with the Swiss & trying to improve my German. But when it comes to more important situations I can't wait to feel totally competent . Somehow, Rob, Lukas & I all managed a visit to the hospital in the 2.5 years that we've been here. My german is strained under normal circumstances, but trying to speak German when hurt, stressed & worried - near impossible.

5) High Prices

Common prices in Zürich:

Lukas shoes - $100

2 chicken breasts in grocery store- $14

Dinner entree in restaurant - $40

Single yoga class - $30

We'll be feeling rich once we're back in the States.

4) Recycling

CH was recently named the most "green" country in the world by Newsweek. http://www.newsweek.com/id/143682. That is also one of the reasons that we love it so much - the beautiful green mountains, ultra clear lakes, clean clean streets, etc. Recycling is a way of life over here - just not a very easy one.

We have to collect our bottles & cans & then schlep them over to the recycling bins (about a 5 minute walk - 30-60 minutes if Lukas helps me ;-)

I then have to sort them according to green, brown, or clear glass or aluminum tins. Plastic bottles are also collected, but these I need to bring to a nearby grocery store. No curbside recycling for any bottles or cans here.

Paper & cardboard are also collected separately. They do pick these up curbside, BUT you have to bundle them up correctly according to strict guidelines and have them out curbside by 7am. Don't put them out the night before or mix paper in with your cardboard or you could be subject to a fine! Finally, they only collect paper every 2 weeks and cardboard every 4 weeks. I've had many stress attacks when I realized that I've forgotten that it is cardboard day & we then have to store all of our cardboard for yet another month. Remember our apartment is only about 980 SF - we've had to convert our extra bathroom into a mini recyling area (seriously.)

3) Unpredictable Weather

I love the change of seasons in CH, but it does seem like summer is REALLY short and that it is REALLY rainy for much of the year. Maybe weather is just more important to us here since we're always trying to plan weekend trips.

2) Laundry

According to the building schedule, we have Friday designated as our laundry day.


Doing laundry only once a week doesn't gel that well when you are living with Pukey Lukey who was/is also in toilet training. It has gotten to the point that when Lukas spills, pukes, or wets his pants - his first reaction is to ask me "Is it laundry day?" It also means that we often schedule weekend travel plans to start on Sat. morning so that we can finish our laundry first. Of course, I often - with heart pounding - sneak in a load on someone else's day or during prohibited hours (10pm.-7am). Ridiculous.

1) Apartment living

I will not miss our 980sf apartment. When it rains (which is often -see # 3 above) on a Sunday when everything is closed (see # 9 above) it is quite depressing staying home. Our main living space is a living room/dining room/kitchen combo so there just isn't anywhere to go to get some space. But mostly I hate that we have to be quiet & considerate of the neighbors. I actually get nervous using the vacuum on a Sunday or the handmixer in the early morning to make pancakes. As mentioned in previous posts, our grumpy neighbor has pounded on the wall for these infractions before. (of course I still do it anyway ;-) Above all I hate that we have to tell Lukas to be quiet whether he's playing one of his musical instruments or knocking over towers of legos. He's a kid & kids are just loud. In addition to asking if it is laundry day he also asks "are the neighbors home?" since he knows that when they are at work he can be loud. That's just wrong. On the plus side, I think the small apartment is an additional driving force for getting us venturing out & about Zurich & CH that much more.