Friday, April 3, 2009

Oh the Challenges of Expat Living...

I saw this little scene on the way home the other day, as I was passing through the Bahnhof. This fountain is a centerpiece in the RailCity area of the Zurich Bahnhof, and this little gent was so perplexed and confused. How on earth was he going to get his balloon out of that mini-waterfall? (Naturally, I did not help but fired off a few shots of his most deperate moment - what kind of cruel witch am I? :)

I think living overseas is just like that. Things are sometimes similar and familiar, but then again, your surroundings and the culture are so different that while you know the answers to most questions should be easy and quick, sometimes it just takes longer than you think and the solutions are perplexingly out of reach. Oh the joys and challenges of expat life.

Any challenges to share?

I've got some great updates for next week including how we solved the challenge of swapping over our US driver's licenses for Swiss ones, updates on my adventures in the garden, and Easter musings.

10 comments:

Shaun said...

Lots of challenges but rather comment on your picture. It really is good. Well done...

Jessica said...

Thanks, Shaun! There were a couple that were sharper but I particularly liked this one despite the bluriness because of his little outreached hand, pointing at the lost, water-logged balloon... :)

Shaun said...

The blur adds to the atmosphere of the shot, and any possible shorcomings in my opinion are more than offset by the subject and the feeling you get when looking at the picture. I have never been one to like the photoshopped colour vs black and white but I can see why you did it and the ball may have been lost without it.

Unknown said...

That is such a great photo especially to express feelings. Wow... Yes challenges, can't wait to hear more!

Amanda said...

Looking forward to next week's posts, especially about the driver's licenses. I have until September, but Isaiah has until July so we need to get that sorted out!

Tina said...

hehe - poor kid.

Tina said...

hehe - poor kid.

Young Traveler said...

Making through one day without horribly offending the Swiss is challenge enough for me. :)

Love your pictures.

N said...

Hi, I received my blurb book and it looks so great! Thank you for your discovery:)

Le Peachoo said...

Yup. Living in Switzerland can sometimes be deceiving to an expat since it can be so similar yet so foreign. Not sure how to explain it either. A good example is their ice cream. Movenpick is great, but it just doesn't hit the spot like good old fashioned rocky road. Never did get used to the milk either. When it comes to people we had a difficult time feeling accepted. At first we didn't get it then it started to make sense. For instance, we had been smiling at the same woman each day on a walk at the park to no avail. But on the precise two year anniversary of our first encounter she gave us an unbelievably warm smile. It actually stopped us in our tracks and put tears in our eyes. She had been counting the days for two years!

BTW, we have our own sweet story of transferring our US driver's license over to a Swiss one. Looking forward to hearing yours.

 

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