Switzerland

Switzerland is a great place to live but most people don't know much about our little country. There are many clichés and not all of them are true. OK we do have the best chocolate and cheese but not all of us can jodle ;).

I found these videos made by Americans and they explain to us what they know about Switzerland (random stuff). I think they did a good job :). It's interesting to see how foreigner see our country.

Languages:
Switzerland for Dummies

Greeting:
Swiss kiss

Food:
Swiss Fondue

Swiss German:
Swiss German for North Americans part one
Swiss German for North Americans part two

and don't miss this video of a Swiss chocolate shop

Swiss Chocolate shop

plus a little Swiss play by

A Bit of Fry and Laurie

What happened to tolerance and mutual understanding?

I don't like argues at all. I think it's because I'm a libra and we are kind of addicted to harmony. It's not that I'm scared of confrontations, I just don't like them. I do have my own opinion and let other people know but if they don't share my opinion I'm perfectly fine with it. Wouldn't it be boring if we all share the same thoughts and views? And where is the point in trying to convince someone who doesn't want to be convinced anyway?

I think the problem is that a lot of people don't know how to listen properly. They only hear what they want to hear. Online argues are the worst cause mimic, gesture and tone are as important as the actual words and the missing of that is often the reason for missunderstanding.

I'm not always the voice of reason but I try to listen carefully. If we all put on someone else's shoes from time to time our point of view might change a little and we'll learn to understand that we are not the only one with an opinion….

I love food

I know, it's kind of strange to write a blog entry about food but because of all the food talking lately I just felt like it . I'm going to the US and UK soon and got lot's of food recommendations so my mission while I'm there will be to taste as much "new" food as possible. Whether it's grits, jaffa cakes, peacan pie, pancakes or tim tams (ok that's something from Australia but I'm gonna try this anyway ;).

I love food. No honestly, food is amazing. I think that people who can enjoy food, also can enjoy life, it's that simple. I would even go that far to say that I don't entirely trust people who don't enjoy food. How can you not love chocolate or fruits or pasta! I have to confess that there are some vegetables like fennel or brussels sprouts that I don't like but most food is just YUMM.

So everyone who reads this will have the impression of a woman in a hotel room eating 24/7. Don't worry, it's not gonna be that bad. I'm doing this trip with some lovely friends and between the eating we will go to two rock shows, travel with a greyhound bus, get a tattoo and do some sightseeing as well (not bad, eh?). I mean in the end I have to fit in my seat on the flight back ;).

PS: I'm gonna let you know about the most delicious food I've tasted.

Lost in translation

Here's the thing. I'm going on a journey to the US and meeting my friends from England, Scotland, Australia and the United States. They are all native English speakers and I'm not only dealing with a foreing language I'm also dealing with several different accents. I've learned English in school for seven years but they only teach you some basics and useless stuff that's not helpful at all in an every day conversation. Most annoying is that the focus in school is on writing and not speaking. Therefore the speaking is my biggest weakness. I usually read and write English quite often and also watch my favourite tv shows in English but I barely speak for obvious reason (talking to myself doesn't count ;). All in all my English skills are rather average and my pronunciation sucks but that won't stop me from talking. It's generally frustrating that I can't express myself properly and I know from experience that it can easily happen to offend people by accidentally picking the wrong words (appologies in advace if that should happen). That there are quite some differences between American and British English is confusing as well. Next time someone tells me that he/she is pissed I won't know if he/she is drunk or angry ;).

None the less I'm looking forward to use and hopefully improve my English skills. I hope that my travel mates have patience with me and feel free to correct me whenever I make mistakes.

Focus on me

I'm not going to dig in the past but the past couple of years were not the best. The focus was on what all others wanted (mostly some friends, or so called friends and the company I'm working for). That became my life and it wasn't easy to break out. It needed a painful incident to wake me up but in the end I'm thankful for that. This year is finally all about ME - my dreams, my needs, my god damn life. To make one thing clear I would do everything for my family and dearest friends - but only because this relationship are a giving and taking like it should be. I'm not willing anymore to give and give and give without getting anything in return. I might not stay strong all the time but I'm working on that.

That may sound like I'm a big egoist and I can't entirely deny that. I found out the hard way that you need to be a little bit of an egoist to survive in our society. I just make sure that I'm not going to fall by the wayside.

Please don't wake me up

I just had the best dream of my life. I dreamt that I'm going to Birmingham, AL and Nashville, TN, that I will see Kings Of Leon twice while I'm there, that I will do all this together with some amazing gals from England, Scotland, Australia and that I'll meet more from all over America, Canada, New Zealand and maybe Singapore. I know it's not very realistic. What are the chances that I'll ever do something like that - maybe 10% or even less? I've always been a dreamer but didn't most good ideas start with a dream? A trip like this would be crazy, exciting, scary (especially the looooong flight) and a lot of fun that's for sure.

Wait a minute, that wasn't a dream although it still feels like I'm dreaming. But holding my new passport in my hand and seeing all the bookings I've made makes it very real. I can't wait to start this adventure and enjoy it to the fullest and most of all I can't wait to meet some people that became a part of my life even though I've never seen most of them. We're gonna have a blast and this WILL BE the trip of our lifetime!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Woooohoooo Birmingham and Nashville we are coming!

I'm wide awake now. To be continued....