First Impressions

So a lot of people have been asking me what its like in Switzerland, how its different, what do I miss, etc.  Well here it is...my first impressions...

Miss:

• Everything in English (I can get around but what about the theater or a movie?)
• wildlife at my doorstep (or off my balcony)
• Australian fresh food (I thought for sure that Swiss would be on that same wave length) 
• the beach (of course)
• dinner without reservations (where is the sponteneity people!)
• the quality of food (like everything here it is good, not bad not great but just average)
• spice! (I love it...I miss my Thai)
• Skim milk (Swiss love their dairy, why would they want skim?)
• Shopping on sundays (not even the grocery stores are open)
• and still missing Mexican food!

Love:

• the smaller time difference
• learning German (secretly its been a goal of mine to learn a language fluently and what better than going back to my roots?)
• world class transport
• employee laws (did you know its illegal to work Sundays...dont worry work applied for a waiver)
• water with bubbles (its available everywhere)
• two comforters on the beds, one fore each side (why didnt I think of that?)
• skiing!!!!!!!!!!!!!
• cheese!

Surprises:

• I can't believe how many people smoke, I thought they would be super healthy here with all this glorious outdoors
• I had heard the Swiss Germans were reserved people but wow
• Isnt Switzerland suppossed to be super environmentally friendly?
• I always pictured the Swiss to be very clean people but not really at all

Getting used to:

• the three kisses greeting
• speaking German
• walking on the right side of the sidewalk again
• Even after three years in Sydney I still am not used to the prices, dont know if I ever will be

Worried about:

• My German
• recycling (why does it have to be so complicated?)
• getting my hair done (if I cant even tell the hairdresser what I want, what am I actually going to end up with?)
• meeting friends outside of work (its not Sydney with a constant pool of social wanderers) 
• working too much

Cant wait:

• for more skiing
• to move into our new flat
• beach volleyball at the lake
• to start exploring europe
• and for summer!