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Language of Love
Every morning at 6:08 a.m., my son’s voice can be faintly heard from his bedroom. “Mommy…can I have some milk, please?” The communication is straightforward, and his words convey precisely what he wants. Living abroad gives you a new understanding of communication. Here in Switzerland, four languages are spoken, depending on the region you find yourself in. It also doesn’t help when you don’t realize that you have crossed into a different region. For instance, a simple “thank you” can be “Merci,” “Bitte,” or “Grazie”, depending on where you find yourself. More often than not, when the standard means of communication (language) breaks down, you sometimes have to resort to…
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“Good” Parenting
To act or not to act. To speak or not to speak. To intervene or not to intervene. It seems that these are the thoughts that consume a parent’s mind every day. It is said that parenting is the most challenging job in the world, and most parents who are engaged in their children’s lives would agree. Although we get plenty of advice from others and instinctively draw our parenting styles from those who have raised us, when we are face to face with our children, there isn’t a blueprint. During these times of indecision, we realize that we are left with only our thoughts. We are left with our…
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To Change or Not To Change
There was a moment when it hit me. Deep down, I knew it would never be the same again. Although things looked identical, my relationship with them had somehow changed. My friends were still there, yet my connection to them differed in ways I could not explain. I was an 18-year-old young man and home for the first time after leaving high school, and I was confronted with the reality that I had changed. And this scared me. On the one hand, this community has brought me comfort and security; now, it no longer gives me the same feelings. On the other hand, the thought of me changing made me…
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One Year Later
One year ago, we moved across the globe to Switzerland and began a new chapter in our lives. It feels like just yesterday that we put our belongings on a boat, said our goodbyes, and boarded a plane to a new country with a one-way ticket. It certainly has been a great adventure thus far. Here are ten quick observations and thoughts on our first year in Switzerland: Amy and I are amazed at the overwhelming beauty that this country has to offer. It seems that no matter where we go, either into the mountains or walking the streets of a new city or village, the scenic landscapes captivate us…
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Blausee, Switzerland
A walk in Nature walks the soul back home -Mary Davis The magical Blasusee, Switzerland.
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Time is Love
The thoughts blow in uninvited during certain times of our lives. And the feelings accompanying these thoughts make us pause, at least for a moment, and wonder how the days of our lives keep coming and going like the sea tide under our feet. Sometimes, we welcome these thoughts and can wrestle with a greater truth. On other occasions, we don’t or just can’t. So, we move quickly to replace them with thoughts we believe will make us happier. Or, at the very least, thoughts that masquerade the reality of our current state. Nevertheless, whether we welcome or resist them, we have no power over the truth of where these…
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Bern, Switzerland
Bern, Switzerland, has been our home city for about a year. Even though we live just outside of the city in the village of Worb, my wife Amy goes to work there every day, and it is where my kids love to walk the arcades and look in the shops. The slow pace and beautiful architecture of the capital city of Switzerland captivate us every time we walk its century-old streets. One of my goals for this New Year is to explore a new place in Switzerland at least once a week. Whether that is a day excursion into the Alps, exploring the many different trails and lakes, or experiencing…
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The Corner of Church and Gay
The other day, a friend asked me where I come from. “What part of the world is it?” “What is it like?” My answer was quick, as we had to begin our days…but her questions lingered long after we said our goodbyes. As I drove away, I considered the simplicity of my answer and how little my description conveyed the beauty of my hometown. The more I drove, the more my thoughts painted a picture of the wealthy town we just left here in Switzerland. I thought about the buildings, the parks, the restaurants, the people. Finally, I thought about the corner of Church and Gay Streets. So much so…
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Die Hausmann (The Houseman)
Honestly, the first time I was called, it rubbed me the wrong way. Maybe it was because of the accent “HA-ous-Mah-n.” Perhaps it was because it was something that I never identified myself with before. I mean to answer a question posed by strangers, “Was tun Sie hier in der Schweiz zu tun?” (What do you do here in Switzerland?) “Ich bin eine Hausmann” (I am a Houseman) is awkward. On the one hand, it sounds way too formal for washing floors and toilets. On the other hand, it sounds like I should be getting paid for this. And that’s the thing. There lies the rub. Being a Hausmann has…
