Meeting the Neighbors... Ps. I've got flour.

Here some neighbors show their Swiss Pride in the run up to Euro 2008

The other day as I was leaving the apartment, I ran into one of our neighbors. Seeing as though we live in a 6 apartment building, you'd think this would be a common occurrence, but alas, it is not. A lot of bloggers have mentioned never seeing their neighbors so I took this opportunity at large and tried to make the most of it... however, I don't think my German skills really faired so well in this rushed exchange. Allow me to give you the translated version of the exchange, and what I realized I said only too late...

(Passing neighbor in stairwell...I'm going down, he up, as he's about a flight up, I yell after him..)

Me: Oh... hello! Do you live up top?

Neighbor: Yes.

Me: Oh! I am your neighbor! We live across from you. I know this isn't the best time, but I wanted to introduce myself.

Neighbor: Oh hello...(he says looking obviously scared for his life as I am now running up the stairs after him, with a bag of recycling, a garbage bag filled to the brim, and my purse swinging around, all of which I dropped at once onto the landing to extend my hand, he drops the 20 pounds of bottled water he is carrying to return the gesture... good start)

We exchange some small pleasantries about where we're from and how long we've been here... I can imagine this exchange is quite foreign to him, as I doubt he's met any of the neighbors before... who knows... all I know is I've run into a few other neighbors and they have only said 'Gruetzi' before shirking away. Let's skip ahead to the part I cringe over now.

Me: So feel free at any time to come over. I have flour. And butter.

Neighbor: Uh, oh, ok, thanks. Yeah, we'll have to knock.

Me: I mean, I know the supermarket is not far, but I have flour. If you need it. Just come on over.

Neighbor: Ok, thanks. (with a look on his face like, how do they let these people in... and why would I go over to her place for butter?!)

Now, let me explain. I was trying to do the average, neighborly (and as Jace explains overly American) thing and let him know that if he needed a cup of sugar or anything to just come on over.

But did I offer sugar? No. FLOUR of all things.

Did I try to explain that if he had an emergency or something or needed help to just ask? No.

Do the Swiss share their groceries here? Do they go a knocking for a cup of sugar or flour as it might be? No!

Does the only other person I know in the neighborhood think I might be nuts? Yes.

No doubt I came across as though I had some secret black market in my apartment. Great first impression. 'Come one, come all, get your flour! Great prices.' Who knows in this economy that might be exactly what he thought! I'll have bakers lined up around the block!

In the end, I think he understood what I meant to say and he said something like 'Ja, wir koennen uns nutzen' which roughly means 'We can use each other.' But whether or not he means 'use eachother' like in a neighborly way or in a 'if I need a quick hit because you've obviously got the goods' - flour included, I'll probably never know.

Zurich 'Must See' #1: Sprüngli Confiserie, Bahnhofstrasse

THE Sprüngli Confiserie on the corner of Paradeplatz and Bahnhofstrasse in Zürich, from tlkativ on flickr

We have a few visitors coming this year (...hello Emily, Becca, Mom, Nate, Sarah and Val! Can't wait to have you here!). So I thought I'd start a list of 'Zurich Must Sees' for my visitors and anyone else coming to Zürich. Here's the first of the list:

Zürich Must See #1: Sprüngli Confiserie
Location: Bahnhofstrasse 21, 8001 Zurich, see Sprüngli Confiserie on Google maps
Website: www.spruengli.ch

Ok, so it's up to you whether you visit for breakfast, lunch, dinner, a mid-day snack - or all of the above! We all know that Switzerland is known for it's chocolates and sweet but Sprüngli is the best of the best. Just take a look at some of these fabulous photos of Sprüngli on flickr... and try to stop yourself from taking home something delicious!

Sprüngli's famous Luxemburgli - flavored meringues - delish! - from missyasmina on flickr

Truffles from sannelodahl on flickr

Petit fours from holdsy on flickr

I just love this photo from Dreamer7112 on flickr

HOT TIP! How to save 50% on IKEA delivery in Zurich

Today I went to IKEA Spreitenbach (surprise, surprise, if you don't know me by now, I heart IKEA by like a million).

Long story short, after checking out I saw this sign that basically says that you can save 50% on the delivery costs at IKEA by showing a valid round trip public transportation ticket when you checkout (or at customer service... not sure... I went to the latter). So since I don't have a car yet and I did come with the bus this was fantastic news to me!!!

However, let it be said that the IKEA customer service rep I went to in an effort to get this discount was a real hard ass. He was reading the fine print of the ticket to make sure that it had enough zones and that it was 'hin und zuruck' and not just one way. He even went so far as to tell me that the zones on my ticket weren't valid and that I was riding 'schwarz' or black despite the fact that I asked for a round trip ticket to IKEA when I bought it! I almost went CRAZY on this man, right there... in my favorite shopping place on earth... we know it would have hurt me more than him... but I held it together and in the end the guy caved and realized he was wrong (only after asking his manager about bus zones!!! OMG!!!!).

Anyway, the point is, if you were to say... oh, I don't know... buy a round trip ticket from Zürich to IKEA before you bought a big purchase that you needed delivered, you could save HEAPS on your IKEA delivery fees. But in an effort to promote being green, I would PREFER that you actually did take public transport to IKEA... okay?

Anyway, a round trip ticket from Zürich to either IKEA near Zürich is way less than the 95 CHF minimum delivery fees (you'll save 50%!). So think about it.

I am actually considering posting a craigslist ad for someone to send me a ticket to IKEA from the day of my mega purchase - and then I'll go back and claim 50% of the delivery fee... but that would just be crazy, I know.*
Also the mid-summer sales are on. I can attest that there are some good deals to be had before the new catalog comes out in August! Go.. run... now! (but for God's sake take public transport, didn't you read this post!) ;)

*(We bought them on 4/26. Post in the comments if you have a round trip ticket to Spreitenbach- for real! You will save me 150 CHF!!!)

How the Swiss keep food prices down & libidos up!

This article contains the lamest segway on earth, but I love it nonetheless.

This Reuters blog post claims that Switzerland has been able to keep farming and food costs down because it's been successful at keeping the farmers... well, farming... and also lingerie modeling...

Whether or not modeling has anything to do with food productivity, I do love the name of the Swiss Farmer and "Farmeresses'" (is that really a word?) upcoming lingerie calendar - it's called "Swiss Cheese."

This country cracks me up. I need to get my hands on this calendar for a good laugh.

Originally read in: Oddly Enough � Blog Archive � How ya gonna keep ‘em down on the farm? Like this! | Blogs | Reuters.com

Summer in Urdorf, Switzerland

Summer is finally upon us. If the overflow of fresh strawberries from the 'pick your own' fields wasn't sign enough, then the sounds of lawns being mowed and the bees and bugs flying through our unscreened windows make it all too apparent.

Summer truly is quite lovely in Switzerland. The village is alive with color at the moment - all the fields alive with green, houses are perfectly maintained with delicate flower and vegetable gardens, and many houses are flying the Swiss flag in support of the Swiss team for the upcoming Euro 2008.

This last weekend we relaxed and mostly stayed close to home except for a short expedition into Zürich on Saturday to attend the AWCZ Spring Bazaar. Jace was overwhelmed with the American-ness of the event, although besides the American accents I didn't notice anything overly patriotic. There were a few stalls with used items for sale and a nice book sale area but the highlight was the bake sale. We happily devoured a delicious apricot slice each after walking from Seefeld to the AWCZ office, getting lost along the way, mostly due to Tom Tom's terrible advice.

Along with enjoying the fresh strawberries I have also been rhubarb crazy. I have made rhubarb compote at least 4 times now and Saturday I made a rhubarb crumble that was/is divine. (Got a great rhubarb recipe? Leave it for me in the comments!) Sunday we mostly relaxed, taking a walk around Urdorf in the afternoon, still recuperating from the very, very long runs on Friday (Jace ran 16 km! I ran 9 km! ..that darn Nike + has us both out there trying to beat the online challenges we are in!). We stopped by the pub for a beer and then went home for a chicken roast, despite Jace's pleas that we should just order pizza. But for 17 CHF per pizza, for an individual sized portion, I convinced him that we should save our money for another day and go out for it- going out for pizza is definitely cheaper than delivery here!

The weather has been a bit sporadic lately - lovely and hot/humid during the day and then thunderstorms around 9 pm or so every night. At least it makes it cooler for sleeping, because being in the roof of the apartment, it gets awfully hot up there at night!

I got out on Saturday to take some photos as the sunset cast some lovely light on the village. Here are some photos of Urdorf, our small village or 'kleines Dorf.' Sounds even more quaint in German doesn't it?

What is Billag? - TV & Radio License in Switzerland

The other day we got a letter in the mail from 'Billag.' Just from reading the return address alone Jace asked, "What did you buy now? That must be a bill...'

Funny that, because that's exactly what it was.

Billag is the branding or name that the Swiss government calls its TV and radio license program.

Basically, if you have a TV or radio within your presence you have to pay a licensing fee per month for the service.

Honestly, this blows my mind - so just to dull the blow for any newcomers to Switzerland, here are my own personal Billag FAQs.

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Q: Is this like...you know, just paying for cable?

A: Um, absolutely not! This is the basic license that you pay to use a tv or radio. Period. ON TOP OF CABLE! (If you get it - or you can live with the four or five stations you get without it...)

In the information we received, it says that it costs 13.75 CHF per month for radio and 23.84 CHF per month for a television (approximately 450.08 CHF per year). From reading the book Living & Working in Switzerland, I learned that one redeeming feature of this whole license thing is that it covers any and all tvs or electronics with a radio in your possession. Thank God.

Have three radios? They're covered with one license. Have two TVs? Covered. Have a TV at home and one in the country house? Hahahah...oh that's just too funny... um sorry, let me compose myself and continue...then this covers them both, too.

But, on the other hand, even if you do have one of these items and you NEVER use it, you still have to pay - hence some angst on the English Form.

(One bloke on the forums made a bit of a scene at the Billag office because he thought it was crazy that he'd have to pay the radio license because he had a car radio. So he said he was going to tear it out of the car - would he have to pay then!?!? To which the Billag customer service rep said, "Oh, ok.. well you have clock radio, yes? Then you still pay...sorry. Ah HAHAHAHHA!!!")

Q: What if I don't want to pay this?

A: Um, well tough nuts. As we understand it, you have to pay it... you can be fined heftily if a Billag inspector comes around and you don't have this license paid up. Actually, if my translation is correct, it's a 5000 CHF fine. Yes, that's right, three zeros there.

Also, the Swiss, a meticulous nation regardless, keep good track of who lives where and when and they'll come by to listen at your door to what shows you watch and return the very next week to interupt your favorite shows and charge you!!! (not really - but they do show up to do inspections I have read!). So... again, it's not worth it to try and work the system.

While it hurts me as much as it (may) hurt you, I don't want them interrupting my Gossip Girl or Ausgezeichnet Alaska (which I'm into now having never seen it when it was new - for all you foreigners that's what they call Northern Exposure here).
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So that's Billag. . . Personally I think it's a bit weird and should just be part of some other tax that you have to pay that gets secretly rolled into something else... very descript, I know.

But who doesn't have a TV and radio somewhere... on the forums they go so far as to say that even if you have a radio in your phone you have to pay!? So just make EVERYONE pay and we can all pay a bit less. Right? ;)