My first day at the gym

Today was supposed to be my first day at the gym. I had an appointment at 4pm today to go for a "taster training". I had a few thoughts of canceling due to laziness but decided I'll go and find out what it's all about. It could be interesting right? And even if I decide not to join, at least I can blog about it!

Well, I got home from work and immediately put on my gym clothes so I can't talk myself out of it. Then I check my emails and there's an email from the gym saying that they are very sorry but they have to cancel my appointment. The gym is closing down tomorrow!!

It's a sign. I should not be going to gym. Instead I will have a chocolate and read my book. So much better, isn't it.

English speaking Swiss

This is really getting to me now. These Swiss Germans. The Swiss who live in the German part of Switzerland. They speak such good English. We didn't find the same in the French part, there I don't think we found anyone willing to say more than two words in English and then only to sell us something. But here it's amazing. It's actually starting to work on my nerves a little. I don't know if it is frustration because I can't speak German properly or if it's just jealousy because they can speak my language better than I can speak theirs. In their own country.

Today I was on a tram. Relaxing in between teaching little highly energetic kiddies. When an elderly lady got on. She found a seat about three rows in front of me and started talking loudly to herself and whoever wanted to listen. Really loudly. And she was looking all around her. I though if someone makes eye contact with her she would probably start talking to that person so nobody was paying her any attention. But since I couldn't understand a word she was saying (Swiss German is NOT even close to German) I sat watching her.

The lady behind me tapped me on my shoulder. I was quite surprised because people won't really start up a conversation with a stranger on a tram or train. Besides this lady in front of me obviously! So I feel this tap on my shoulder and I think Oh, leave me to my own English thoughts because it's such a mission trying to string together a sentence in German, never mind to try and follow someone's initial sentence in Swiss German when they think I'm local. But to my relief she asked, "Do you speak some English?" I said, "YES!" with a big smile!

She wanted to know what that lady was saying. I said I didn't have a clue. Then the guy next to me turned to us and said in very good English (as the Swiss Germans do), "She is only talking about different things. She is not making any sense. But it is quite funny."

We said Oh, and wished we could understand what she was saying that was quite so funny. Then I went back to my feelings of frustration and jealousy at my lack of German and the Swiss German's ability to speak English.

When the English lady behind me got off the tram she turned to this other lady and said, "Have a nice day." The lady turned to her and spoke in really good English (what did I expect.) Even though something was not quite well with her she was still able to understand that this person is speaking to her. In English. And able to immediately reply in English. Even though she still did not make sense...

How do they do it? It's really bugging me. Before we came here I was excited to not only live in a different country but to also improve my German. It's not happening. Or if it is, it's not happening fast enough. I'm thinking of just giving up and speaking English only. Yesterday I spoke to someone who's been here 10 years and still don't speak German fluently because she can get by well enough with English. It's just that I don't like making mistakes. I want to get it right or not speak it at all.

If there are any Swiss (from the German part) reading this I'd like to say I am really impressed. :-)

Melkbosstrand, South Africa

I haven't gotten very far with the photography studying last night. Instead I've finished a video I've started some time back already. It's about my last days in South Africa before coming to Switzerland.

I read this quote on Kathy's blog:
"The loneliness of the expatriate is of an odd and complicated kind, for it is inseparable from the feeling of being free, of having escaped."— Adam Gopnik

This is so true for us. Although we miss Cape Town, the lovely summers days there, and mostly our friends and family, it is that feeling of being free, of having escaped that makes us feel happy/ lucky/ fortunate to be in Europe. To have been given this opportunity.

I look forward to some holidays in South Africa in the future, but I am happy living in Europe.

So I just wanted to share with you a little bit of the beautiful country I am from. The video clips in the beginning are of the beach at Melkbosstrand. This is where I grew up and where I lived for 26 years. Melkbosstrand is about 30 km up the West Coast from Cape Town. The rest of the photos are of weekends away before leaving.

Click here to watch this video on vimeo.


Melkbosstrand, South Africa from Anneliese Mostert on Vimeo.

Learning how to take good pictures

A few weeks ago, Andre brought home a Canon G11 camera. He felt that his SLR was too big and heavy to carry around on our touristy outings here in Switzerland when we just want to take some snap shots, so that's how the G11 got to move in with us.

Andre has spent a lot of time reading up about photography, practising and teaching himself, learning through trial and error by taking hundreds and hundreds of photos.

And he's taken some nice ones.

In SA he used to spend a lot of time doing bird photography. On our honeymoon we spent some hours in a canoe following Malachite Kingfishers!

Twice he has tried explaining to me about f-stops and ISO and aperture but I'm not a good auditory learner. Not at all. I learn through doing. And doing it myself. Don't tell me. Don't even show me. I wont understand and I'll loose interest. I get impatient because I don't have a clue what he's talking about. Then I just say "Okay" and I snap away in my own way. Like this:

But now I've decided I want to really learn how to use this new camera. It can do much more than just snapping randomly. And I'm going to teach myself. Well I'm going to try. I'm going to do some reading so I can also understand about f-stops and light and all that. And I'm going to start with reading this blog here by the Pioneer Woman. I love her blogs, the way she writes, and her photos. You should go check out her blog. Not just the photography sections, go read her actual daily blog. I haven't actually read any of her photography posts but tonight I'm starting. This will be my new project and hopefully soon I will be able to post some of my own good photos.

Dinner with friends

Friday night we had a great dinner with friends at our house. I mean flat. I'm still used to saying house. We drank wine and chatted until the early hours of the morning. Here they are:

But what I really want to show you is the biscuits I received from these good friends.

Aren't they beautiful?

And they are just so delicious.

Each made up of many different layers and each one different.

I think I'll go have another one now!

Räbeliechtli

Last night André and I took the train to Richterswil, about a 45 min train ride down the Zurich See. A very full train ride. We knew we must be on the right train if the rest of Zurich is on it too! There were lots and lots of people.

Every year on the second Saturday of November Richterswil holds the biggest Räbeliechtli festival in Europe. Turnips are hollowed out and a candle lit inside.

There were lots of little children with their turnip lanterns and huge beautiful floats made of little turnip lights. The whole town is decorated with these lanterns. Really every windowsill and balcony. At 18:30 last night there was a loud gun shot (or something which made a big bang) and all the lights went off. All of a sudden it was pitch dark and all you could see were the lights from the turnip lanterns. Bands began playing and the parade started. We were lucky to have good spots to stand and watch the parade. It was a bit rainy and windy at times but I'm really glad we went. It was magical.

Here are some pictures Andre took and then also a video. You can also view the video by clicking here if it won't play at the end of this blog.

This is what we saw when we came out the station:

Little kids with their turnip candles.

Aren't they sweet...

But wait, look more closely, there's a little devil amongst them! Bored with just walking carrying a turnip, this little dude had some fun blowing out the candle of the girl in front of him. Repeatedly. The teacher kept lighting it and he kept blowing it out when he thought no one was looking. But ha! We got you on camera little man!

And then there were the floats. Really impressive.

Hey, hey, Vicky!

People were watching from their windows.

After the parade we strolled through the town. I definitely want to come back to Richterswil in the day time to see this town.

Räbeliechtli - Richterswil 2009 from Anneliese Mostert on Vimeo.

Watch out for the Polizei

Today I was on my way home from work, changing trains at HB like I do everyday. Except today as I got on the train I was welcomed by nine members of the Swiss Polizei. They stood at the entrance of the very first carriage. I was curious and wanted to see what's happening so found a seat right in front where I can watch them.

As soon as the train left the station they started walking towards the back of the train. The second last person, a lady stopped by my seat and said "bkflicnlsdh bitte." (There was one more quite large police man behind her for back up.) The lady opposite me took out her train ticket so I did the same, even though I wasn't so sure that this was what they wanted to see. She smiled and said "Nein, sdjkdcijnjsdn Ausweiss?" So I tried showing my other ticket: my brand new permit. Yep, that's what she wanted. They were checking everyone's ID's, making sure you were legal.

After reading my permit thoroughly she handed it back. Phew. What would I have done if this happened 3 weeks earlier?! I wouldn't want to be caught without identification, they were carrying guns...

So Swiss-expats, you've all probably heard that you're supposed to carry some form of identification with you at all times because you can be stopped in the street and asked for it. I know of some people who just don't bother carrying it with them. But I recommend you rather do.

I'm really glad this happened today, because if it didn't I would probably soon started leaving my permit at the bottom of a drawer somewhere at home. That's what I'm like. It's safer at home you know. But now I'll make sure I have it with me every day!

For those still waiting for their permits (like we did for 6 months..) I suggest you carry your passport and that piece of paper you get from the Gemeinde which says that you have applied for your permit. We never thought of doing this and I'm just very grateful we weren't checked before now!

Andre said I will be "put in a cage in Basel" for taking photos of the Polizei and their guns. But I had to show you some proof!