A tribute to Geneva

Five years.
On 21st August 2010 we celebrated five years in Geneva. In September, we've been promoted from B- to C-permis which is an upgrade in our residence permit.
And today, on 14th October 2010, this blog celebrates its 5 years anniversary as well.
It was dedicated from the beginning to tell about Geneva and our life here in this city.

Five years in Geneva means for us:
- talking almost each day in French, English & German
- getting to know people from all over the world (in average we have normally 8 nations and 3 continents present when we have a party in our home)
- celebrating 1st August (Swiss National Holiday), 4th July (American National Holiday), Thanksgiving (at the American International Women's Club)
- walking through the same streets in the old town in which Calvin promenaded
- enjoying the spacious and well maintained parcs, especially our Parc Bertrand
- worshipping in the Oratoire where Henry Dunant (founder of the Red Cross) went as well
- living in the city where 80% of the world wide diplomatic work is done and where the number of NGO that help world wide are countless
- discovering Switzerland and our new favourite holiday countries Italy and France
- beginning to organize concerts/events with zoe events - normally connected with a charitable cause
- taking strolls through the city and at the lakeside regularly, being amazed by the beauty of this city (by day & night!)
- sitting in cafés drinking Renversés (word for "Café au lait" here in Geneva)
- soaking in the atmosphere of this city each day: rich of history, inhabited by many high potentials - working in major companies and the United Nations
- getting to know Swiss people as well - sometimes hidden for expats...
- having the honor and joy to live in the smallest metropolis on earth.

I'm just thankful to be here.

If you leave a comment about Geneva until 31st October (no matter if you have been living here or not), you can take part in my raffle. The 3 most creative and interesting comments about Geneva will win ... Swiss chocolat, certainly! But pls make sure that I have your email address...

Urban summer night scenes

What an amazing spring and summer 2009!! So many warm and sunny days! One of the great summer pleasures is surely to be able to sit outside on the balcony or in the garden even late in the night!

It's never really completely dark in the city. There are many lights on in countless apartments, streetlights, carlights....

In some apartments, there are perhaps real "genevois" people - they were born and raised here. Other apartments are the home of expats - singles or families who are here just for a short period of time. Perhaps for an internship in one of the many charitable organizations. Or a short term assignment in one of the big companies.

I hope they all enjoyed this marvellous summer and felt at home in the "City of peace".

Geneva's closed in summer!!

Don't worry, it's not so bad. We have temperature's over 30 degrees (Celcius!) almost every day, we have the Geneva Lake to refresh, we have wading pools for children in some of our parks, we have still possibilities to shop (as Coop, Migros, Manor, Globus don't close!! YEAH!). We can even go for a lunch or dinner outside of our home!!

It's just, you know... you have to know that some of your favorite shops (Thai food take-away, vegetable store, tearoom or hairdresser) might be closed for some weeks. Typically from end of July to end of August. Sometimes their announcements are quite creative, as you see...

So, yes, as today is already Aug 20th, we approaching the end of this "we're on vacation" season.

Politeness in Geneva

Car drivers are perhaps not the politest persons you can find in Geneva. But I found other situations where Geneva politeness impressed me. When you’ve put your groceries on the band at the checkout of Coop or Migros and you place one of those items which separate your groceries from the following client, you receive a polite « Merci » from the genevois.

And probably not only from the real genevois people, but also from many expats. I personally learned to thank for this gesture as well while living here (never thought of thanking for that in Germany!! I can’t remember loads of thank yous for this gesture!!).
Additionally, I made the following experience: When I – certainly by accident bump into someone with my stroller (let’s say at Coop) I always say PARDON. The interesting thing to me as that they always answer with PARDON in such cases as well! As if they hitted me and not the other way round. Now I do fortunately not bump into someone all the time! But there are enough situations where you have to apologize in daily life. It makes you feel nice when you get a PARDON back for a thing that you have done wrong.