Looking back into the archives of this somewhat under-utilized blog, I see that my first entry was from this exact time last year, Thanksgiving (which was the 23rd, not the 22nd, but you get the idea). So this seems like an opportune moment for a year-in-review, to take stock of how Switzerland has changed me, how I’ve changed Switzerland (not at all I don’t think), and just generally what’s been going on.
Here are some changes and some sames:
This time last year I was finished up A1 German, now I’m starting B1 (and I finished A2 somewhere in between)! However, I am back in Davos for this German class, meaning once again doing the 2-hour each way commute over the UNESCO World Heritage Status train line. I did do my A2 more locally in Samedan which was a nice change, but sadly, they do not seem to have intensive B1 classes (lack of interest I assume).
Back on my UNESCO World Heritage route
While I am still not fully “employed” in the traditional sense of the word, I am more employed than I was a year ago. Well maybe. This specific time last year, I was actually on contract with my old job finishing up a project, which lasted through the end of 2017. Then I was project and contract-less. More recently, I’ve been upping (albeit very slowly) my freelance journalism game and in what I find to be a very promising and exciting turn of events, I am actually doing some translating. If you’ve ever heard me speak German, that might be comical, and indeed, when I’ve met with the people I end up translating for and interview with them in German, I kind of wonder if they speak German, because if they did, they would know how crazy I sound. But I’ve been doing work for St. Moritz Tourism taking German writing and making it into lovely English. The latest project I completed was their winter travel guide book which was actually over 100 pages and was a pretty large undertaking where I read a lot of German and wrote a lot of English and learned a lot about St. Moritz! (And also Sam proofread all of my work). That’s over now, but hopefully tale of my talents will now spread far and wide throughout the valley (we live in a valley).
I’ve also been waitressing occasionally which is some change news. However, I’m still pretty bad at it, so that’s the same.
In same news, I still listen to American podcasts, watch American television, read English-language books, and just generally limit my media interactions to American/English-language media which is obviously not ideal for my linguistic development. However: I’ve discovered that they run old episodes of Buffy the Vampire Slayer here and I think maybe because it’s an action-centric show with quippy humor and dramatic facial expressions for teenagers, I can actually understand most of it (plus I watched it all a million years ago and vaguely remember the storylines) so that’s been my biggest German media engagement.
Also, my hair is shorter.
Ski season starts soon and unlike last year, I have a season pass! So I imagine myself waking up early, skiing every morning (when it’s sunny, I don’t do inclement weather), and just generally becoming an amazing sporty mountain woman. Assume that the next time you see me I’ll be thin and muscular and have permanent goggle tan.
Mountain getting all purdy and snow-covered for me because I deserve it.
And Monty is still the same as in he’s still the best most cutest most amazing dog in the world and that’s all there is to say about that.
Two cute beasts
Unlike last year, I won’t even be trying to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday this year because I have German class today and thanks to my long commute I won’t even be home before 11. But maybe this Saturday I’ll try and make a nice little chicken + potato + veggie + cranberry + pie situation like I did last year (I even snagged a bag of cranberries at the St. Moritz Coop and they’re in the freezer waiting for their moment). Once again, Sam is super busy at work because the whole region is heading into winter tourism season which means lots of brochures, magazines, bus plans, maps, and the tourist book I worked on all need to be printed!
Mostly, the news is just that I’m here now, for good. I mean, technically I’ve been here for good for the last year. But for the last couple of months I’ve been traveling a lot, in the states and a little in Central America, going to weddings (FYI, if you invite me to your wedding, no matter how far away, there’s like a 95% chance I will go, so just think carefully before you do), visiting friends and parents, exploring, networking and just generally not being home. So although I will obviously travel again in the future, I currently don’t have an specific plans to do so, and I’m just generally trying to feel more rooted here.
Which is maybe my final change, a change of attitude (I think that was corny but, oh well, shrug emoji). I don’t think it’s been a big secret that this has been a challenging adjustment for me. Going to a tiny town that also happened to be in a tiny country where I don’t speak the languages (they gave me four to choose from, and my brain was like “nope, none of these”) and don’t know many people and live far from most things has been a real challenge. For much of the last year, I’ve imagined us moving somewhere else, like Zürich or Bern or Luzern. Sam has been pretty great about all of it, dealing with my tantrums and agreeing to move if it was what I wanted. But I vacillated. I had told myself that we wouldn’t make any big decisions before a year, because it always takes time to settle into a new place, especially one as different as Silvaplana. Also Sam has a great job that he really likes, not something you give up carelessly.
And I’m glad that despite my whining, we didn’t give up yet. I still don’t know that this is somewhere we’re going to settle for years and years, but instead of waiting to leave, I’m now more invested in trying to stay, to meet more people, feel more at home and settled, and more integrated, whatever that means. Despite being a bad waitress, that job has helped me a lot, especially because I ended up working at a number of events in town where I met lots of different people (including the mayor!). It has helped me see a version of our life where we are in this place, have friends here, belong here.
Perhaps a quick word on Thanksgiving, which while having extremely troublesome roots remains my favorite holiday, not due to its history, but for what it has always been to my family: basically our Christmas (because let’s face it, Chanukah is kind of bullshit) , a time of coming together and sharing and being among loved ones (but without the presents). So maybe I should do a quickie “things I’m thankful for” thingy:
I’ll give Sam the number one slot because he’s a pretty great guy and I feel lucky to have him.
But what about Monty!?!? Monty, you’re my everythinggggg! Sweet baby angel!
My parents of course. My dad always said the most important choice you make in life is who your parents are, and I feel like I chose well with them.
Other assorted family and friends: I feel especially lucky that I’ve been able to surround myself with friends and family who have good values and are, most importantly, kind.
My extreme privilege that allows me to travel more than most people get to.
My stellar German (eye roll emoji)
My ski pass
My ski boots which really changed the game last winter.
And last but not least, these views!!
So that’s been our (but mostly my) year! Happy Thanksgiving and other assorted upcoming holidays!