Elisabet's birthday

Elisabet turned four (vier) on Thursday last week and we celebrated with hot dogs (her request) and chocolate heart cupcakes. The cupcakes turned out beautifully- they were more like a brownie than a cake and we polished them off with some tasty Swiss ice cream. For her birthday, Elisabet asked for a doll stroller and playmobil. The playmobil was at the strong suggestion of Leif who thought she would really like playing with a set that had a vet, some animals, and a small building (i.e. and so would HE). They have creatively designed some extra things for the set such as a pyramid from cardboard scraps (Leif is in an Egyptian phase) and a house out of paper and tape. Hanna mined the recycling closet and made a sign for Elisabet's birthday, a special birthday crown for her to wear, and several other pieces of art.

Sunday at Uetliberg

Sunday we took a more local sightseeing trip via the S10 train to Uetliberg, Zürich's local mountain. At 871 m, it is high enough to get out of the fog that often settles in the valley. Sunday turned out to be a sunny day from start to finish, our first since we moved over 2 weeks ago! The mountain is a popular place to visit so we were not the only ones out enjoying the beautiful day. Some people hiked, ran or biked to the summit, and others took the train as we did. Then at the top, a lookout tower lets you view the city down below, the farming fields in the distance and the impressive Alps to the south. Despite the clear day, there was a haze of smog so the mountains were not as clear as we had hoped. We had a lunch of grilled brats and hotdogs with slabs of hearty bread instead of buns, and then climbed to the top of the lookout tower. There is a trail with all the planets in the solar system spaced and sized proportionately along the ridge of the mountain so we walked about 5k along it to a cable car which took us back down into Zürich to another train back home. The trail was still ice and snow covered in spots and proved to be challenging walking sometimes. Only Elisabet needed to be carried for part of it. Leif wondered what we had gotten into.... we had told him the hike was only about 30 min and it turned out to be much longer! Luckily we were armed with chocolate squares for bribery. The cable car down the mountain was automatic (no driver) and we were so packed in, both Travis and I sighed with relief when we pulled into the station. The train back to Zürich's main station took us along a part of the city and a river we had not yet seen. The kids love the larger trains with the upper viewing section and the smooth ride. They can all navigate quite well on the tram system. I think even Elisabet might be able to figure out how to get back to our apartment via tram. She knows the key number (9) and place names of Schwamendigerplatz and Altried/Hirzenbach.

Food and Groceries

Now that we've been here 2 weeks, I am getting a better sense of what is available at the markets. We live close to several grocery store chains, many are small with just the basics, one is large and is the Swiss equivalent of Walmart, and another is a specialty grocer similar to Dean and Deluca. Between the small size of our fridge, and the small size of the milk containers, I've had to stop by the market every day. We drink a 1L container of milk each night at dinner (the largest size they sell is 1.5L)! The bread is mainly available as fresh baked, so that has to be bought regularly also. You can see why they invented fondue to use up the stale and dry, crusty bread. From what I've read, the Swiss have a few national dishes such as Fondue, Raclette (melted cheese on potatoes), and then a meat stew, potato stew, and a potato tart/galette. They sell alot of Italian food in the stores also- lots of pastas, charcuterie (sausage/pancetta/smoked ham), polenta, rice, and frozen pizzas. They usually have a small Mexican and Asian food section, but I decided against making tortillas when I saw they were 5 chf (just under $5) for a pack of 6. If we really get a craving for them, we can make the tortillas ourselves. The food in general is much more expensive than in the US. From what I can tell, most of it is produced right here in Switzerland though.

Quick ready-made foods have definitely made it to Europe. The frozen section is packed with microwave and oven pre-made meals! A couple of the things I can't find anywhere are brown sugar, chocolate chips, and canned stock. I had to use a bouillon cube for stock in a risotto- I guess if I'm going to be particular I will have to make my own stock. But then I have nowhere to store it because the freezer is big enough for a container of ice cream and a pack of peas! The lack of brown sugar caused my chocolate "chip" cookies to taste more like sugar cookies with chocolate in them. I found some molasses and will try that as a substitution. I did have really good results with Elisabet's birthday cupcakes last night. The recipe was fairly easy to convert (oz- grams of butter, etc) and I had brought along some silicone cupcake forms. I might have to buy a scale for future baking endeavors since my conversions are not very exact. As I lug the grocery bags home in my cart, I'm glad that it is not possible to buy flour or sugar in a package bigger than 1kg!

Today we had several heavy rain showers, one as Elisabet, Hanna and I were walking home from the Co-op. At first they were arguing about who would hold the umbrella, but when I took it over, they got distracted over splashing in the puddles and didn't even walk beneath it.

A new President

Even from Europe, we were able to feel the momentousness of the inauguration of Barack Obama. We tuned our computer into an online feed of BBC World News and watched the ceremony on Travis' new 24" monitor (purchased primarily for radiograph and MRI interpretation, but currently serves well as a 'TV'). In some ways it would have been fun to be in the US to be able to feel the excitement among friends, family, and neighbors. But there are definitely positive feelings from here about the new president. I saw Barack Obama "Yes We Can" t-shirts for sale at the mall!

Running

Each place we've lived has presented me with a new running terrain and routine. Maine included runs along the ocean bays and through pine-scented woods (as well as a trail beneath the Naval Air Base landing route), Washington was full of gravel roads and the hilly Palouse, and Minnesota affords expansive miles of trails along the MIssissippi and around the many lakes of Minneapolis (and of course the city streets of St Paul). Zürich is yet another city to get to know on foot. We live 1 km away from a wooded hill that has so many trails I'm sure I will get lost on them. I have also tried a trail along the Glatt river, although part of it is closed off in the winter. In the dark mornings, I've been running on the well-lit city streets towards the Tierspital (Vet Hospital). Although Switzerland is famous for it's triathletes, I'm haven't exactly seen many runners. Maybe the colder winter has kept them indoors. I was told that the trails on the hill is popular with mountain bikers in the warmer months. It's an impressive workout on my legs, which are more accustomed to the flat terrain of MN. On Saturday I ran up to the top of the hill where the city zoo is and it was just high enough that is was out of the fog and the sun felt amazing after a week of clouds. Elisabet and I took a run together (she in the jogger) to the Tierspital and she told me several times that she knew where we were if I got lost. It did not escape her notice that I had tucked a map in the pocket of the jogger. I forgot how much work it is to push her! With Travis leaving for work on the 7:14 tram, I can't get in my typical 9-10 mile morning run.... I've been trying to get out for an hour. I still have to work out some routes in the daylight. Then maybe I'll be ready for that Zürich marathon in April!

Video moments

If you would like to see some videos of our recent adventures, Travis has posted 8 movies on youtube.  To find them, search for videos by tsaveraid.  Make sure you click on the HD button.  They were filmed in HD, so they are crisp and clear in that mode.

Day trip to Lucern and Mount Pilatus

Today we hopped on the tram to the main train station in Zürich (Bahnhoff) and took a train to Lucern.  It was a smooth ride south along Lake Zürich, and then west towards central Switzerland.  The train went through a few tunnels and had great views of mountains, lakes, and a few cities and small towns.  It was the first train ride for the kids so they were impressed with the speed and comfortable seating (compared to the trams).  When we got to Lucern we went to the information desk to ask for a good mountain day trip and they directed us to Mount Pilatus.  We took a bus to the base where we climbed into a gondola car (small for 4-5 people) and road straight up the side of the mountain.  At the mid-point, we had to get off and wait for a bigger gondola car that went to the peak where there was a restaurant and hotel.  We made it just in time to have an amazing view of the surrounding mountains, the lakes down below before the clouds moved in.  Even Elisabet hiked up the stairs to the summit (with Travis trying not to panic from his fear of heights).  Then we walked through a tunnel they made on the side of the mountain and we could see the valley and a small church that looked only accessible during the summer by hiking up the mountain.  The snow started blowing harder so we headed back to the mid-point to try out the toboggan run.  They provided little wooden sleds with runners- it looked perfectly tame, but turned out to be quite a ride.  Hanna and Leif were the perfect weight and size for the sleds, but Travis and I (w/Elisabet as rider) had to spend much of the run with our feet down as brakes.  Travis and Leif chose the difficult section and apparently had some amazing crashes, which included both of them losing their sleds at a few points.  Hanna, Elisabet and I took the easy run and it was like nothing I've ever done.  I think it took us at least 30 minutes to make it down to the end and there were several sections where the snow had gotten icy and we were flying nearly out of control.  Elisabet tried a few sections on her own, but usually ended up crashing into the snowbank (never crying about it though).  When we got to the finish, Hanna wanted to go again, but Travis and Leif were so bruised and battered that we took the gondola down the rest of the mountain and headed back to Lucern.  We were back in Zürich by 4:30pm, thanks to the efficiency of the trains and trams.

Tomorrow it's back to school and work!

Slideshow of the first week

Photos

I'm trying to link a photo album.  Let me know if this works.

Early-out Wednesdays

 The tram stop by our apartment.  We took the tram to the downtown part of Zürich on Wednesday afternoon.  Travis and the kids all have the afternoon off!  We took them to a 4-story toy store where they picked out a couple toys with some Christmas money.  Leif had sticker shock looking at Legos and Playmobil in the Swiss Franc (CHF) and couldn't decide for quite a while.  Even with the exchange, the toys were definitely higher priced than in the US.  They build the taxes into the price though, so it's maybe not as much as it seems.  Hanna picked out some art supplies and a jump-rope and Elisabet picked out a playmobil car, donkeys, and a wand with sparkles.  When she carried it to the schoolyard, it was a big hit with Hanna's classmates who all stood around and tried it, while we wondered what exactly they were saying.  I'm hoping Hanna will be able to help me out in a few weeks!  While she tried out her new jump-rope, she practiced counting to 20 in German.  Leif has successfully navigated back and forth to school on the tram by himself and seems comfortable with the process.  I think it feels pretty grown-up to be able to do it without help from us.  Elisabet is frustrated that they are going to school and don't stay home all day to play with her.  When we bring up the idea of her going to a pre-school or playgroup, she says 'but it's with moms'.  She is not about to be left somewhere without Travis or me in this new, strange place!

Shopping

We are slowly learning how to navigate around the grocery stores and other shops in Schwamendingen (the neighborhood where we live).  It is convenient we are located near a large shopping mall, close enough to walk.  I have been back and forth many times getting our apartment furnished with various kitchen and living necessities.  This morning after we walked Hanna to Kindergarten, Elisabet and I walked up to the mall and sat in the Starbucks (yes, Starbucks!) eating a croissant and drinking a mocha while we waited for the other stores to open at 9am.  I heard a few customers coming in and speaking English and we spoke for a few minutes to 2 women who were from NY/Long Island and had been here for 13 years.  Afterwards we went and bought pillows for the beds and a shopping cart so I can transport groceries more easily.  We had to walk back home with all of this and then we went back and I signed up for a cell phone plan and got a few storage things for filing papers and documents.  At the moment I have all those stacked on the table.  We are still without lights in the living room/dining area because we need an electrician to install them.  Hopefully tomorrow when the janitor comes he can do that for us.  We're fortunate that the other rooms have lights already- most apartments do not come with any light fixtures at all.  Yesterday I was excited to receive the box of kitchen utensils and towels that I had mailed from MN- up until then I had been working with just a spoon and a bread knife!  

Starting school

Today was the first day of school for Leif and Hanna.  On Monday, we registered with the official Swiss/City of Zurich registration office, opened a bank account, got our tram passes for travel within the city, and took them each to their schools to meet their teachers.  Both of them were quite excited.  Hanna goes to a Kindergarten which is located just next to our apartment building complex.  It is only children from ages 5-7.  There are 2 teachers (both of whom speak very little English) and 18 children.  It is similar to preschools and Kindergartens in the U.S. with little chairs, lots of artwork, circle time, and snack and recess.  Hanna will take also a German class on Monday afternoons, and she will have Wed and Fri afternoons off.  When we picked her up for lunch today (they have 1.5 hours to go home and eat) the other classmates were already calling goodbye to her saying "tschüss Hanna".  She spent her lunchtime teaching Elisabet how to say 'my name is Elisabet' in German.  Leif took the tram and bus to Schule Ahorn this morning with Travis.  They learned that you have to push the "stop" button on the bus or they don't necessarily stop at each bus station.  Leif stayed until 11 and then came home for a long lunch.  I took him back at 1:45 for an afternoon of swimming lessons.  They walk to a nearby swimming pool and get an hour in the water of exercise and lessons (each Tuesday).  At Leif's school, all the children are non-native German speakers.  There are 12 children in his class and they are from Turkey, Tibet, China, Portugal, Montenegro, etc.  The teacher individualizes the German lessons for each child and they work on the High German (proper) form of grammar and speaking.  Most people in Switzerland speak a different dialect called Swiss German which is more guttural and has it's own vocabulary.  This is what Hanna will learn from her peers at school - and likely Leif next fall when he goes to the 'regular' school.  Leif's school emphasizes the German and mathematics, and he was excited to hear that he will have Monday and Wednesday afternoons off.  I guess all the schools our out early on Wednesdays for sports/music/clubs.  Most of the older children ride the tram to school on their own and Leif says he's ready to do it himself tomorrow.  He sees a few of his classmates at the next tram stop so he is not worried.  

Jet Lag

Elisabet was up until after midnight last night.  Her evening nap kept her refreshed and wide awake!  Today we will definitely avoid the nap- and hopefully she'll be tired enough to go to sleep at a more reasonable hour.

Here is a link to a video of the apartment and surrounding gardens.  I know it's long.  We'll keep them shorter in the future.

http://www.youtube.com/watch:v=5JoLW5_jKUw

Arrival in Zurich

We made it to Zurich.  The kids were great on the plane- even had a few compliments from nearby travelers.  Getting through Chicago proved to be difficult with our heavy carry-on bags and the stroller.  We got separated from Travis when he went on an elevator and we took the escalator (Elisabet commented "we've never been separated from Daddy before").  It took us 30 minutes to reconnect and we had just enough time to get through the international security gates and to our Swiss Air flight.  The personal remote controls and in-seat movies kept the kids happy while we waited for dinner.... which wasn't served until 8:30 pm.  Elisabet watched one more thing after she ate and then promptly went to sleep (yay!).  Leif and Hanna took a little while to get comfortable but eventually slept as well.  It's not much sleep though, and they had to pry their eyes open when the plane landed in Zurich.  We only found 8 bags waiting for us in baggage claim.  This may have been a good thing, however because we filled the VW van completely with what we did have.  A resident from the vet school picked us up- as well as helped us lug all the baggage up 2 flights of stairs to our apartment.  It's quite roomy and has 2 spiral staircases, 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, and a small kitchen.  Also in the warmer weather we will be able to enjoy a roof-top terrace.  There is snow on the ground and it's colder than I expected.  Not Minnesota cold, but definitely winter.  Right now it is foggy in Zurich, so we cannot see the mountains.  Above 1000m it is sunny and beautiful.  Maybe tomorrow we will take a train to see them.  Today we spent going shopping (all stores are closed on Sundays) and I was able to take a bus to IKEA and rent a van to bring back 3 beds and mattresses.  It was an adventure for me because I wasn't exactly sure of how to get back to our apartment, and I was driving a fairly large Ford work van.  We were grateful that the property manager noticed us carrying things in and opened up a special "driveway" so I could get closer to the apartment. The boxes were heavy enough just getting them up the stairs.  Now we just have to put them together!  Everyone is now in bed (Elisabet keeps falling asleep randomly, but is happy enough despite the jet lag).  Hanna claims she is totally adjusted- despite being up for 2 hours in the middle of the night.  Leif looked pale all day, but at least slept the whole night through.  One funny comment from Elisabet was "I notice there are a lot of people speaking German here" after we had been to the mall.  Our location seems quite good.  Hanna's school is across the field from our apartment, the mall which has lots of food shopping and other things is within walking distance, and the Tierspital (Vet School) is a few tram stops away.  More tomorrow.....

One more day

Elisabet woke up this morning and snuggled in my lap at the table asking "why is this our last day in Minnesota?"  It's difficult to know if she grasps the actual magnitude of our move.  It's been an exhausting but productive day and we have our 10 bags sitting in the living room, waiting for just a few last minute items.  We have carefully weighed each one to make sure we do not go over the allowed 23 kg.  It is no easy task to pack for 5 people for one year..... we have tried to simplify and take only the necessities.  When we arrive in Zürich, we will have to finish furnishing the apartment.  It sounds like the University has provided us with a few things to start:  air mattresses, sleeping bags, and some dishes and miscellaneous kitchen items.  All part of the adventure!

Packing to leave for Zürich

Our house is looking pretty empty right now.  We had help this weekend from family moving our belongings up into the attic and cleaning up for the renters.  The kids will go to school for a two days this week so they can say goodbye to friends and teachers. Travis and I are busy trying to figure out how to maximize our baggage allotment of 10 bags.