Switzerland is an amazing country, but it still doesn't quite feel like home. A recent trip back to the States reminded me what I missed most about being in America.
1) Family and Friends.
Working from home certainly has its advantages (case in point: traveling to the States without taking time off), but it also means it's hard to get out and meet people. Meeting people here takes effort. From what I've heard, (and according to my book on culture in Switzerland) the Swiss are slow to warm up and make friends, especially with foreigners. They are reserved and don't go out of their way to introduce themselves when they meet someone new. It takes them a long time to build meaningful relationships. In fact, they tend to keep to themselves so much that it's said that "Even the Swiss don't like being friends with the Swiss"! During my visits, I had the opportunity to see friends from all over.
2) Incidental Conversations (Not sure what to call this...)
Those pleasantries with the grocery clerk, comments about the weather with the bank teller, the simple "How are you today?" from the security guard...those don't happen in Switzerland. Prior to moving to here, it never would have occurred to me that I would miss those things. The Swiss are friendly, but not in the warm, open way that Americans are. Swiss tend to err on the side of business-like efficiency. In America, it was my habit to greet most people, from the coffee shop barrista, to the front desk attendant at the gym, with a "Hi. How are you?" When I tried the same line for the first time at the train station ticket office, I could tell that my greeting took the clerk by surprise and answering made her uncomfortable. I quickly learned to remove such greetings from my social script. These seconds-long side conversations were always part of my life in the States, albeit a part that I never paid much attention to. As soon as they were absent, I realized how, in a small way, they brightened my day.
3) Sweet Potatoes, Peanut Butter, Greens and Sweet Corn
Despite spending a year in North Carolina, I'm far from a Southern girl, but this list sure makes it look like it. These very American foods are not popular in Switzerland. Sweet potatoes are the only food in the produce section of our Migros sourced from the US and it shows in the price: over 6 CHF per kg. Compare this with any variety of white potato for around 3 CHF or less.
Ah, peanut butter how you have sustained me through the years as my lunchtime companion. Alas, no more. The peanut butter here is sadly lacking in flavor and concocted with tropical oils and sugar. In short, it is not the peanut butter I know and love in the States. 48oz of Trader Joe's PB made the transatlantic flight back to Switzerland with me a few weeks ago. It will be carefully rationed over the coming months.
While salad greens are very popular in Switzerland, cooking greens such as collards, kale and (ironically) swiss chard are not. I have yet to see cooking greens sold in our grocery store or farmers' markets. Unlike cooking greens, sweet corn is available, just ridiculously expensive. The price at Migros this afternoon: 5.35 CHF for 4 ears. In short, don't take your CSA box's overabundance of mustard greens and wormy organic corn for granted! Enjoy, friends!
-Swiss Ms
1) Family and Friends.
Working from home certainly has its advantages (case in point: traveling to the States without taking time off), but it also means it's hard to get out and meet people. Meeting people here takes effort. From what I've heard, (and according to my book on culture in Switzerland) the Swiss are slow to warm up and make friends, especially with foreigners. They are reserved and don't go out of their way to introduce themselves when they meet someone new. It takes them a long time to build meaningful relationships. In fact, they tend to keep to themselves so much that it's said that "Even the Swiss don't like being friends with the Swiss"! During my visits, I had the opportunity to see friends from all over.
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| Friends from near and far...sometimes very far! |
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| Three beautiful weddings this summer! So glad I could be there! |
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| LOVE! |
2) Incidental Conversations (Not sure what to call this...)
Those pleasantries with the grocery clerk, comments about the weather with the bank teller, the simple "How are you today?" from the security guard...those don't happen in Switzerland. Prior to moving to here, it never would have occurred to me that I would miss those things. The Swiss are friendly, but not in the warm, open way that Americans are. Swiss tend to err on the side of business-like efficiency. In America, it was my habit to greet most people, from the coffee shop barrista, to the front desk attendant at the gym, with a "Hi. How are you?" When I tried the same line for the first time at the train station ticket office, I could tell that my greeting took the clerk by surprise and answering made her uncomfortable. I quickly learned to remove such greetings from my social script. These seconds-long side conversations were always part of my life in the States, albeit a part that I never paid much attention to. As soon as they were absent, I realized how, in a small way, they brightened my day.
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| Good ol' visitor's center of Dixon, IL. I cleaned up on brochures and soaked up small town America. |
3) Sweet Potatoes, Peanut Butter, Greens and Sweet Corn
Despite spending a year in North Carolina, I'm far from a Southern girl, but this list sure makes it look like it. These very American foods are not popular in Switzerland. Sweet potatoes are the only food in the produce section of our Migros sourced from the US and it shows in the price: over 6 CHF per kg. Compare this with any variety of white potato for around 3 CHF or less.
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| Imposter! |
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| Salads: yes. Sweet corn: no. (Reminds me of a Nasco food model!) |
While salad greens are very popular in Switzerland, cooking greens such as collards, kale and (ironically) swiss chard are not. I have yet to see cooking greens sold in our grocery store or farmers' markets. Unlike cooking greens, sweet corn is available, just ridiculously expensive. The price at Migros this afternoon: 5.35 CHF for 4 ears. In short, don't take your CSA box's overabundance of mustard greens and wormy organic corn for granted! Enjoy, friends!
-Swiss Ms
We enjoyed the posting and pictures from the weddings. We will make sure to be more appreciative of our peanut butter sweet corn, and sweet potatoes but especially of the hellos and smiles we get from strangers.
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