Swiss people seem to like to do things in unison. I took a walk tonight and was startled by the sound of a very loud runner behind me. In fact, it was two strapping young fellows, of similar height, trotting along at a good clip, their steps perfectly together. Sure, maybe this happens everywhere. But then I remembered a picture I saw in a magazine that came with the paper today. It was something like this:
That, of course, reminded me of something my friend Wendy showed me before I moved over here:
I wouldn't normally have put in the whole video (maybe just a still) but the voice over at the beginning was too funny to miss.
Also, during Fasnacht (the carnival that happened the week after I got here) normal-looking people were walking around playing similarly complex patterns on drums they wore, with the kind of ease that made me think they'd been doing it since they were wee. This leads me to draw one conclusion. People from Basel are joiner-inners. They may not smile at you on the street, but they'd love to be on your team. (Particularly if you have a lot of talent.)
As I am neither a joiner-inner nor actually willing to go outside very often, I must use my handskills to keep myself occupied and solve the myriad problems that come up throughout the day. For instance: I don't have a music stand. My first thought was to wonder where I could buy one; that thought was rapidly replaced with a vision of the cardboard box I broke down and stored for I did not know what purpose. In order to be repurposed, as it turned out.
sans-music
Tools used: xacto knife; awl; binder's needle; some staples. This is why I sent myself so much crap; I knew I'd use it.
As seen on top of my closet: three crates, two of which had a shelf built-in. Crates (and a book) support one side of a rack from IKEA's kitchen section. The other end is hung from the heating pipes.
Speaking of making things, I just made some toast, with peanut butter and strawberry preserves. People don't eat a lot of peanut butter here, it doesn't seem; there was only one brand, and in fact only one option at all (kind of a Crunchy, for Creamy fans; it goes pretty light on the peanut chunks, for which I am grateful); it cost 3.50chf; and, most telling, it has serving suggestions on the back, one of which is... wait for it... Peanut-Pizza. They recommend piling on peanut butter, onions, tomatoes, and grated cheese.
Just now I thought I'd use Google Translate to make sure I was telling you the truth about this pizza, and the result was better even than I had expected. For those of you who have never used a translation program, I'll tell you, they can be a lot of fun, though not often this fun:
A pizza base spread with peanut butter, to inflict onions, tomatoes and grated cheese.
YES.
That, of course, reminded me of something my friend Wendy showed me before I moved over here:
I wouldn't normally have put in the whole video (maybe just a still) but the voice over at the beginning was too funny to miss.
Also, during Fasnacht (the carnival that happened the week after I got here) normal-looking people were walking around playing similarly complex patterns on drums they wore, with the kind of ease that made me think they'd been doing it since they were wee. This leads me to draw one conclusion. People from Basel are joiner-inners. They may not smile at you on the street, but they'd love to be on your team. (Particularly if you have a lot of talent.)
As I am neither a joiner-inner nor actually willing to go outside very often, I must use my handskills to keep myself occupied and solve the myriad problems that come up throughout the day. For instance: I don't have a music stand. My first thought was to wonder where I could buy one; that thought was rapidly replaced with a vision of the cardboard box I broke down and stored for I did not know what purpose. In order to be repurposed, as it turned out.
sans-music
Tools used: xacto knife; awl; binder's needle; some staples. This is why I sent myself so much crap; I knew I'd use it.
As seen on top of my closet: three crates, two of which had a shelf built-in. Crates (and a book) support one side of a rack from IKEA's kitchen section. The other end is hung from the heating pipes.Speaking of making things, I just made some toast, with peanut butter and strawberry preserves. People don't eat a lot of peanut butter here, it doesn't seem; there was only one brand, and in fact only one option at all (kind of a Crunchy, for Creamy fans; it goes pretty light on the peanut chunks, for which I am grateful); it cost 3.50chf; and, most telling, it has serving suggestions on the back, one of which is... wait for it... Peanut-Pizza. They recommend piling on peanut butter, onions, tomatoes, and grated cheese.
Just now I thought I'd use Google Translate to make sure I was telling you the truth about this pizza, and the result was better even than I had expected. For those of you who have never used a translation program, I'll tell you, they can be a lot of fun, though not often this fun:
A pizza base spread with peanut butter, to inflict onions, tomatoes and grated cheese.
YES.
yes, "inflict." That's perfect. ;)
ReplyDeleteI'm in total agreement.
ReplyDeleteAt least the currency conversion rate is similar enough right now that I can understand the prices without looking each one up....
ReplyDeleteMe too, it saves me a lot of head-scratching.
ReplyDelete