Random Traffic Through Nick's Brain

• We need to figure out how to order tap water. Defaulting to a $5 bottle of water isn’t a viable long term solution.
• I’ve always been partial to the goth look. The goth-Heidi look rocks!
• Some random Indian tourists doted over Alex and took pictures with him. It was flattering at first, but then degenerated into disconcerting.
• We saw 11 flats, applied to 3, will apply to 1 more when we get the application form, and someone is seeing another one for us this Thursday.
• Alex can now identify cyan and magenta if prompted (he already knew black and yellow). Sometimes you have to ask him “What other colour is that?” to get him to switch off of blue or purple.
• Series of events: Deplane in Philadelphia. Go through immigration. Pick up bags. Go through customs. Drop off bags. Go through security again. I understand that we could have taken something out of our bags… but it’s still a ludicrous procedure.
• German (Swiss-German) has words with 6 consonants in a row, not across syllable boundaries. Help!
• Winterthur has a juggling shop. I’m sold.

• They don’t have screens on their windows. They also tend not to like AC here.
• They generally have outdoor venetian blinds for their windows, and sunshades on their abundant balconies.
• Swiss construction is of high quality. Very high quality. The apartments we’ve been looking at tend to have 6 inches of concrete for the inner walls, an air gap, and another 6 inches for the next apartment. Windows tend to be triple pane. Have I mentioned they love balconies?
• One of the places we looked at, maybe a 10 minute drive to work, overlooks corn fields, wheat fields, forests, mountains, cows, and a castle. Did I mention that it has 3 balconies with views of the sunset?
• I didn’t notice the other day that the ATM gave me a 200CHF (~=200USD) bill. This isn’t the ATM at a casino or something… just the one at the train station. No one bats an eyelash when you pay for a 12CHF bill with a 200CHF note.

• Push-button 2x espresso machine (from whole beans). Mmm.
• Remember what I said about cheese yesterday? Well… the one place that doesn’t cook with much cheese is the Mexican restaurant in the center of town.
• Continuing the cost of living thought, whereas the ATMs in Baltimore dole out cash in $10 increments, the ones here in Winterthur (forget Zürich) dole out cash in $50 increments.

We are in Winterthur now on an apartment hunting trip. Not knowing any German or Swiss-German has been a bit tough, but we’re making our way. Knowing English, Italian and French certainly helps. I’m going to take a cue from Alex on how to make friends and communicate…

We were out having dinner the other night when this interaction ensued…
Alex saw a little girl and started holding her hand and running with her, she was happy to oblige. At one point they started running off too far, the girl’s father stood up and yelled “Ciara, vieni, gioca qui!” When they came over to our table, Alex said, “Mommy, girl! Alex hold hand, running with girl.” We said yes and we asked her if she spoke English, she said “nein”. We said, “parle
Italiano?” “Si!”, with a big smile. “Come ti chiama?” “Ciara” “Quanti anni hai?” Two fingers went up. “Il suo nome e Alex.” A puzzled look on her face. “Si chiama Alessandro.” “Ah, Alessandro. Vieni Alessandro, gioca qui.” They ran off with big smiles. A few minutes later, they came back and Alex was trying to get her to go play, we told him “Vieni” means come. Within 45 seconds you could hear him calling “Vieni” from across the piazza.

Kids have the right idea… just make it work, what ever language(s) is/are needed, just keep having fun… at least until your parents make you sit down to eat dinner.

I’ve been in Switzerland 2 days and I’m at the point where I’ve had enough cheese… in fact, I’m close to being tired of eating cheese. That’s saying something.

You know you’re in an expensive country when they have what amounts to a $5 (5CHF) coin instead of a $5 bill.

Germany is closer than New Hampshire.

It’s amazing how something all the way across the map is only 300km, not 3,000 miles.

Mercedes A-Class: Not designed for idiot North Americans with a toddler, stroller, and 2 suitcases.

Alex: Awesome travel companion (other than wanting to chat before going to sleep).

I’m going somewhere fun for a week… if you want a postcard or something, email me or comment.

I’ve created a Facebook account, mainly to keep in touch with some family members that are phone-phobic.

<sigh /> I was hoping to avoid this.

Has there been a better action movie (or at least, an action movie that I’ve liked more) since The Matrix?

Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, maybe. I’d have to re-watch Wanted to tell… besides, the former is very different from a mood-altering perspective.

I need to rethink my favourite movies… Clockwork Orange, Trainspotting, Matrix, Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, Shawshank Redemption… it’s been a while since I’ve mentally tallied them…

I haven’t posted new pictures here since late 2006. Amazing how much time a toddler takes.