Does this look like my HAPPY face?

I will cut Nathan a little slack - he did tell me we lived on a "hill". Right - if the Swiss Alps are a hill! I mean - I guess I've seen the scenery - I should have known what I was getting myself into.
So here's the story:

We woke up from having a fabulous night out at our new friend's (Joy, Shannon and their little girl Elsa's) house. They were such great hosts! The food was unbelievable and we had so much fun talking about the trials and tribulations of being an expat in Zurich. It was nice to talk to someone who has been right where I am right now. They have been living over here for around 2 years - since Joy was transferred with her company - a little place called Coca Cola:). Anyway, we had a great time including lots of adult beverages, so I was a little groggy this morning. This is when it all went wrong. I'm pretty sure I wasn't thinking clearly when Nathan asked if I wanted to bike down to Zurich. Sure - why not -right? It IS such a beautiful day.....

Well - I knew I was in trouble when we basically glided very smoothly down hill for the 8 miles from Oerlikon to Zurich. Most people might have thought this was great! But all I could think was - crap we have to go back UP THOSE STEEP HILLS!

Did I mention that I haven't riden a bike since.....hell I don't even remember! And, I've definitely never riden this particular bike given to us by the infamous Zach Kinsaul (thanks Zach - make sure I thank you next time I see you:)). We shipped both the bikes over b/c I thought it would be fun to ride with Nathan - who rode all the time in Raleigh. Raleigh - which is basically -flat compared to Zurich. Why didn't I "train" in Raleigh? At least I could have ridden the stationary bike at the gym - but nooooooo - I'm just like sure let's ride to the bottom of the valley with a slight hangover.

Did I also mention that Nathan isn't much of a rule follower? I almost got run over twice - lots of honking - me going through a ride light. Good Times! I really need to learn what the signs here mean b/c I know Nathan doesn't care!:) There are buses, trams, cars, other bikes and even pedestrians coming at you from all directions! Every intersection is like 5 points in Raleigh - it's never just a regular 4 way stop. Also, there are all the tram grooves in the roads that your bike tires can get caught in - trust me -you don't want that to happen! Very nerve racking!

Either way, we made it to the park without getting killed. I know I was shocked too:) We rode all the way down to Zurichhorn Park. What a beautiful place - you get a Lake breeze and a view of the snow-covered mountains on the horizon. Hundreds of people were out enjoying the day (some were even crazy enough to swim - we were told the water was about 58 degrees F)! Great people watching and a nice place to relax after biking through the busy city. Here are some pics (to prove we really rode our bikes - that is Nathan in the orange shirt in the bottom left hand corner with our bikes):

I, of course, didn't want to leave. I KNEW what was about to happen next! The ride back UP the hills we just coasted down! NOOOOOO - please no - can we puh-leeeeze take a tram back? What do you mean we don't have any money? Can we take our chances on getting caught? Then, I think there was something like "strap a set on" said and we were off - on our bikes - back UP to Oerlikon. Yeaaaaah!:)

Did I also mention that I didn't really know how to work the gears? But believe me - after the first straight up little jaunt - I figured them out REAL quick! All 27 of them! (I also was almost thrown into traffic - but whatever:)).

We finally made it. But here is my question. Does this look like my HAPPY face?

So does anyone want to buy a bike?:)

~Mandy

Nathan needs a new Yob!

Yo..Yo...This is Nate. This is my first post since arriving into Zurich 2 weeks ago. There is no way I can compete with the humor of Mandy, but I will try to write when I feel like a man's view of the world is needed.

Actually it is Mandy that needs to get a yob to take care of Daddy Nate's wants and needs I love it here, but we are going to need to make alot more money to keep up with the Jones. The toys look so awesome...Now I need to find out how I can get me sum. I guess I need to work harder and smarter.

We had the fortunate opportunity to spend some time in Downtown Zurich yesterday. I always knew there was alot of money in Zurich, but I never new until I spent 4-5 hours on Banhofstrasse.

I counted 4 ferraris....3 lamborghinis...2 Bentleys and a Rolls Royce for Nathan's broke ass.

Here's some proof. For those that come over to visit, the people & toy watching is absolutely spectacular.

We can't leave the country - Sorry Mom!

So we are stuck in Switzerland - isn't that terrible?:) The whole thing has been kind of a mess. HR at ABB told Nathan that we needed to take 90 Fr. down to the Migration Office and get a "3 month return visa". SO - we stood in line for 1 1/2 hours and when we got up to the desk this is how the conversation went:
SIDE NOTE: Our VISAs only allowed us to enter and exit Switzerland one time. If we leave we can't get back in. Of course if we never got a VISA we could freely travel whereever we wanted to go on our U.S. Passports - crossing the Swiss border indefinitely if we wanted to- but details - right? (Oh yeah and if we didn't get the VISAs Nathan couldn't work - that's why we got them:)). Anyway...
Agent: (after she types our names into her system) "Sorry we don't have your permanent registration card information so we can't give you the return visa until we get that."
Nathan: "Here are our registration cards."
Agent: "Those are temporary registration cards. We need the permanent ones to get the information."
Nathan: "But the information is right here."
Agent: "No. I need the information from the governement. However, once you get the permanent one you don't have to come down here b/c that proves you live in Switzerland."
Nathan (mad voice): "What does THIS card do for us then (pointing to our temporary cards). We just stood in this line for almost 2 hours and we can't get our return...."
Mandy: "Honey, I don't think it is her fault. We must have gotten bad information. Can you please explain this to us one more time."
Agent: "Yes. We can't issue you a return VISA until we get the Permanent Registration Card information from the government. But in the meanwhile if you get the actual card you don't need a return VISA anyway so no need to come back down here. That cards proves you are supposed to be in Switzerland."
Mandy: "Okay, so how long does the Permanent Registration Card take to get?"
Agent: "About 2 - 3 months"
Nathan (mad voice again): "But I have to go to Finland in like 2 weeks."
Agent: "Come back when you have concrete plans and we will issue you a temporary return VISA for those plans."
Nathan: "Well, then I have concrete plans to go to Finland in 2 weeks."
Agent: (Laugh) "What exact days are you leaving and returning."
Mandy: (mean eye to Nathan then very sweetly to agent) "Okay, let me just get this straight b/c I am REALLY starting to get confused. If we get our permanent registration card we are free to travel. If we don't then every time we want to travel in Europe or US then we have to come back here?"
Agent: "You are free to travel around Europe as much as you would like."
Mandy: "Oh great!"
Agent: "You just won't be able to return to Switzerland."
Mandy (to myself) "*&$#*%! RIGHT - now I get it. Once we get the registration card we can travel but until then we are waiting on her to get the registration card info and if we want to travel before then we will have to stand in a 2 hour line to go anywhere outstide Switzerland. Yep. Got it. I think...."

MORAL OF THE STORY: We are stuck in Switzerland b/c we have to have our concrete plans at least two weeks in advance - which is kind of a bummer b/c it is either snowing or raining all over Switzerland this weekend and I want to go to the Italian Riviera!

Doesn't our life sound complicated?:)

We are going to try again for the Return Visa at the beginning of next week, because when I spoke to ABB's HR yesterday they told me that what the Agent said was incorrect. Who knows?!
I'll let you guys know when we aren't hostages anymore!
Mandy

p.s. - I forgot one important thing! While we were waiting in line I learned how to count to 10 in German! Isn't that great? It only took 1 1/2 hours!:) (I did also learn 11 and 12)

I needed to get out of the house...

so I went to this amazing park near Nathan's work (about a 10 min walk from our apartment.) No grass but so cool that I had to share pics! I love all the steel beams with the plants growing up (or down) them. What an inspiring place to work on Swagger stuff!

These first two pictures are from the top platform looking at the ground:

And the last two pictures are ground level. In the first picture you can see the platform at the very top that I had previously been taking pictures from!

Found the Home Depot!!!!

Well the Swiss version at least:) The "Home Depot" is combined with "Michael's" and is called the bau+hobby. Not too shabby either! It was pretty well stocked and I found all kinds of stuff I need and haven't been able to find! Yeah! It has been hiding underneath the grocery store I found on the first day - who knew? We bought a fan (thank god b/c we have been without A/C since we moved in - they think the windows and wind are enough - really? wtf - I don't think so!) Here are some pics from inside the joint - I thought you guys might want to see what it looked like:) Oh yeah - I looked up the translation of bau (means construction) and I figured out hobby by myself:) I guess that makes since now!:)

I think I just ate a Bologna Sandwich

Not 100% sure but pretty sure. I thought I was buying a ham sandwich - at least that is what the picture looked like:) After biting into it, I also found egg. I threw it out on my walk home, but I should have kept the packaging to look up the word and memorize it for all future sandwich buying! I just looked up bologna on Wikipidia and I think I'm going to throw up... This is what they had to say:
"Bologna itself is made from leftover beef, pork, turkey, and/or chicken. The meat is first finely chopped, with water, salt, seasonings, and other additives, the blend then is stuffed into casings, and then fully cooked, with or without smoke. It is very similar to a hot dog, excepting the shape."

Yuck. No wonder I haven't had bologna since I was 5. I don't eat hot dogs either for the same reason.

Other interesting things I bought at the grocery store today:

• Mayonnaise (again I think it is mayo - there is an egg on the packaging) in what looks like a toothpaste tube. I'll let you know how it is.
• Peach Yogurt - well I thought it was Peach Yogurt - I opened it when I got home b/c I threw out my sandwich but it is of a gel consistency - I'm going to let Nathan try that one first:) He has a stomach of steel.
• Diet Coke! Yeah, Diet Coke! They call it Coca-Cola Light here but as always no matter where you go it looks and tastes the same! Thank you Coca-Cola. Thank you! And a bonus - with the conversion the .5L is basically 99 cents! So I can drink as much as I do at home!

So I have decided that I like to go to the grocery store here! (At home it was one of my least favorite things to do, but here it is kind of like an adventure:) You never know what you are going to find! Also, this is a good thing b/c I have to go almost every day - basically b/c I can't carry that much stuff the 1/2 mile I have to walk to the grocery store!
love and miss, mandy

I'm taking a poll

Who thinks these boxes full of clothes:

Are going to fit in this wardrobe (which already has the stuff from my suitcase in it)?

I guess we will find out soon enough. Time to unpack the rest of this crap!