WARNING:
THIS POST IS EXTREMELY LONG AND
MAY BORE YOU TO DEATH.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
THIS POST IS EXTREMELY LONG AND
MAY BORE YOU TO DEATH.
PROCEED WITH CAUTION!
Since we've been living here, people ask me what I do all day. I know from my posts about traveling that it seems like it is all fun and adventure. The reality is that although those trips are amazing, they are the exception. A few weeks ago while Pete was on a business trip to Monaco, I decided to take pictures of an average day in Switzerland. By bedtime I received a few funny looks, the kids were annoyed and I had taken A LOT of pictures.
Our days start early, sometime between 6 and 6:30 am. We spend our mornings like everyone else, eating breakfast and getting ready for school. The biggest difference with Pete out of town is that I have to be ready to go also. Normally Pete drops the kids off at school but with him gone, it is my job and the kids informed me that I can't do it in my pajamas.
Our days start early, sometime between 6 and 6:30 am. We spend our mornings like everyone else, eating breakfast and getting ready for school. The biggest difference with Pete out of town is that I have to be ready to go also. Normally Pete drops the kids off at school but with him gone, it is my job and the kids informed me that I can't do it in my pajamas.
8:10 am
It is time to go to school.
It is raining this morning and so we drive.
It is still dark out and if you look closely you can see the moon.
It is time to go to school.
It is raining this morning and so we drive.
It is still dark out and if you look closely you can see the moon.
8:15 am
Today Alex gets dropped off at the bus stop.
He takes a bus to another village for an art class.
Today Alex gets dropped off at the bus stop.
He takes a bus to another village for an art class.
Today we cleaned the downstairs
and did some laundry.
We take periodic breaks to play and have snacks.
and did some laundry.
We take periodic breaks to play and have snacks.
She has gym today so we walk to the center of town to pick her up.
We get to take a fun little short cut on this path.
We get to take a fun little short cut on this path.
12 pm
Ruby and Henry lay down for naps.
Ruby fights me a lot on this but I can usually still get 3-4 naps a week out of her.
Ruby and Henry lay down for naps.
Ruby fights me a lot on this but I can usually still get 3-4 naps a week out of her.
12:15 pm
While Henry and Ruby are sleeping it's usually a good time
for Alex and I to work on his homework or read together.
While Henry and Ruby are sleeping it's usually a good time
for Alex and I to work on his homework or read together.
Since it isn't raining, we walk up the hill.
Sometimes we meet friends along the way.
This is Alex's friend Elliot. He speak French and English.
Sometimes we meet friends along the way.
This is Alex's friend Elliot. He speak French and English.
In front of the school they put up a tent in the winter.
This way the kids/parents have something to stand under if it's raining or snowing.
This way the kids/parents have something to stand under if it's raining or snowing.
3 pm
The kids are out of school.
Some days I walk all the way up to get them
and sometimes we meet at the crosswalk.
The kids are out of school.
Some days I walk all the way up to get them
and sometimes we meet at the crosswalk.
The ground has been really icy this winter.
They haven't been great with the snow removal
so they put down wood chips instead.
They haven't been great with the snow removal
so they put down wood chips instead.
Henry usually only watches for about 5 minutes.
Today he's decided to help me put away the laundry I was folding.
Today he's decided to help me put away the laundry I was folding.
They are really big on recycling here and there is a separate bin for everything:
paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, plastic,
(not to be confused with plastic bottles which are a separate bin)
biodegradable, electronics, metal, wood, styrofoam, batteries, light bulbs, bread....
You get the idea.
paper, cardboard, glass, aluminum, plastic,
(not to be confused with plastic bottles which are a separate bin)
biodegradable, electronics, metal, wood, styrofoam, batteries, light bulbs, bread....
You get the idea.
Alex and Ruby both go to English class once a week.
It keeps them up to date with their US grade level in reading, writing and math.
It keeps them up to date with their US grade level in reading, writing and math.
Not every gas station here is pay at the pump.
I'd actually say the majority are not.
The other thing which is different here is that you pump first and pay after.
I'd actually say the majority are not.
The other thing which is different here is that you pump first and pay after.
5:25 pm
Tonight with Pete out of town, we will be eating at McDonald's.
It is not cheap. Feeding the whole family usually costs around $45.
Tonight with Pete out of town, we will be eating at McDonald's.
It is not cheap. Feeding the whole family usually costs around $45.
Of course I get to order in French which is always fun.
I've definitely improved and can usually get through it without confusing them.
I've definitely improved and can usually get through it without confusing them.
5:40 pm
We arrive back at Alex's English class and
Ruby and Henry eat dinner in the car while we wait for class to end at 6 pm.
We arrive back at Alex's English class and
Ruby and Henry eat dinner in the car while we wait for class to end at 6 pm.
6:50 pm
We are home, the kids are bathed and have brushed their teeth.
We read books, tell stories, say prayers and sing songs.
At 7:15 pm they are all in bed and sometimes all asleep.
It is at this point that I unwind and get ready for bed.
With Pete out of town and another long day ahead of me,
I usually call it a night pretty early.
We are home, the kids are bathed and have brushed their teeth.
We read books, tell stories, say prayers and sing songs.
At 7:15 pm they are all in bed and sometimes all asleep.
It is at this point that I unwind and get ready for bed.
With Pete out of town and another long day ahead of me,
I usually call it a night pretty early.
6 comments:
why are you driving you outlaw?
take it easy! i lose my license from april to september. crazy i know...but nothing makes sense here in switzerland.
That was an awesome post! I have SO been there (for 3 years!). One day you will look back and wonder how you did it all--kudos to Christina for living the life of a Swiss Mom--not as easy as it seems, living in a foreign country is definitely not all vacation--although that is an awfully nice perk!
Wow! Christina you are amazing! I cannot wait to hear you speak French!
Love ya, Jenny
From one stay-at-home mom to another, I thought this was pretty interesting. That's a lot of hours of school and I can't believe McDonald's is so expensive!
Okay, this is a really odd question...who does Henry sleep while you are bringing the kids back to school? Though I only have one, I often wonder how moms work around nap times as I have a hard time working around EB's.
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