Some Shopping Tips
So I am learning. Some things I am learning the hard way... but nonetheless...Here are some tips for your next visit to the grocery store in Switzerland (you never know when you might need this helpful information!) 1st- When shopping for mayonnaise don't look too hard for a jar. You will end up spending say ... 20 minutes or more... searching for something that might not be there. Mayo and mustard here are more often found in the tube (see photo). Okay Smarty. YOU knew that! How about this one? 2nd- When shopping for produce, you must weigh it and tag it. You have to find the name of the item and the corresponding #. When you purchase this: (see photo) you should punch in the # for "Knoblauch" (not to be confused with the closely related "Zwiebel" - which oddly enough turns out to be onion?) Who knew? So don't do that. That could result in embarrassing confrontation with the Swiss cashier. 3rd - Bring your own bag for groceries and don't stand around like a fool waiting for someone to put your purchased items in a bag for you. It will not happen and you will be standing for a long time (would I know from personal experience?... food for thought eh?) So... such are your handy, dandy Swiss shopping tips for the day.

I also went to German class today. I am learning a lot. For example, did you know that I do not speak German? That has become most evident. I also learned that the verb "laufen" doesn't actually have anything to do with "laughing". What does it mean? Consult your German dictionary and you will soon know.

Last night we went for a hike and every muscle from meine Taille to mein Knie is hurting. India is in similar condition. Can you feel our pain? Actually, the hike was lovely and great fun for all. Our friend Wolfram is going to whip us into shape I think. (and we appreciate it) xoxo to all.

Well we are in Switzerland and it has been ages since we updated this blog. Perhaps we will be better about it now :) We are researching what will need to happen next for the adoption. We have decided it will be best to wait to be settled before taking on parenthood. We will have to get special permission from the Swiss government to continue the process from here. It is complicated as we are US citizens, but Swiss residents. In the mean time, we have many other things going on. I have been here for less than a week and I feel very much like a foreigner. The upside of that is that I feel like a foreigner on vacation. We went white water rafting in Interlaken last weekend. The pictures above are from the train. I have to say... I am in love with Switzerland in the summer time. If it would stay like this for more than one or two months... I could be more than a little happy here. It is breath takingly beautiful everywhere you go and it is so easy/fun to walk or ride a bike when it is warm and sunny! There has been lake access to nearly every city we have been to. The lakes are crystal clear, but cold. Sunday we went out for a hike and a swim with one of Rene's colleagues. Wolfram and Claudia lived in Germany before coming to Switzerland and they could not be nicer. Wolfram made a strawberry torte with fresh berries from his garden and invited us to their home for cafe and cake. They have a charming home and garden with a view of the mountains and lake. They live on the 2nd floor of a 300 year old farm house that has been updated. It is like... out-of-a-fairytale-lovely. Take a look: Their home is on the second floor of this farm house. You should see the front door and cellar! Sitting on their patio... summer time in Switzerland on their farm was amazing.They grow veggies, berries and herbs in their summer garden. We hope to be hiking and snowshoeing with Wolfram and Claudia in the future.
Today I went bike riding in Arth. Another of Rene's colleagues is from Barcelona and his wife is Thai! She made lunch for me today and took me on a biking tour around (well near - it's quite large) the lake. We are having lots of fun, but missing everyone terribly. Please keep in touch! Add a comment with your e-mail address if you want our new address. We can't wait to get real mail! xoxo, erika