I got the whole weekend off. I don't mind having time off during the week, but I like not having to work on Saturdays and Sundays. First they are the most busy and tiring days of the week, and second it feels more like "normal" life to have the weekend off, like everybody else. Sunday still is a holiday in Switzerland and considered as a day of rest and renewal. Hanselmann is the only food store open on Sundays - hence we also sell wine, milk, tea and coffee, as well as a few other basic food items. Today, Saturday, is my resting day, while tomorrow will be my renewal day: I intend to go downhill skiing to a new area, Piz Corvatsch (http://www.corvatsch.ch/). Although we had fresh snow this week, the ski runs in Zuoz are in poor shape and now is the time to tackle the high elevation areas.
This also is my first weekend alone after a welcome flurry of visitors: after Marlyse and Jacques, then friends Pierre and Peter, last weekend my sister Brigitte was here. I had not seen her since October and it was fun to catch up. We also showed the apartment to two new prospects and she became aware of how much time it takes to set up the showings, and then tidy up and clean the apartment. She helped - and I am still trying to find personal items she stashed away into some drawers and cupboards!
Last weekend was the 43rd Engadiner cross-country ski marathon. Of course I had to work, so saw very little of it, except for the hungry athletes at the bakery in the afternoon. The conditions were less ideal than last year, so I am glad I got to experience it then. The marathon marks the official end of the high winter season and indeed, work was rather slow early last week. However, the Italians had Thursday off, so many also took Friday off and treated themselves to an extended weekend in St. Moritz. Since the weather was dismal (rain!) it seemed like they all spent time at Hanselmann's, making for my latest return home ever at 8:10pm (except for when I have to go home by train, like last night).
I too have spent much time watching TV and CNN news on my computer about the disaster in Japan. Once again the horrors other people are experiencing have forced me to count my own blessings. My inner turmoil has somewhat subsided and I am trying to decipher whether I just managed to numb myself to my pain, or whether, thanks in part to my yoga practice, I am slowly adopting a more zen-like attitude. Or perhaps I am just too tired to feel and think. I am hoping that when I am done with work (April 27!) I can once again focus on myself and start feeling, thinking and planning. I am trying to embrace the "adventure" and my upcoming freedom. Perhaps after leaving Switzerland on Sept. 15 I can take advantage of the fact that the house is still rented and my belongings safely in storage to go on a real adventure. Perhaps go back to Australia for a few weeks, or... ? Do you, my reader, know of a volunteer gig that would more or less pay for itself? The costly working vacations are out of the question, but I am willing to work for room and board. Or, are you planning to take a trip and looking for a companion? If so, let's talk.
Pierre called last week with a tip for a job for an environmental foundation in Bern with which he is involved. I will spend the rest of the afternoon working on my resume (in German - still a major challenge). My daughter would like me to come home - a touching and comforting thought - but as I explained to her, at this stage I have to look out for myself, and if I were to get the job, I'd accept it. Pierre says that it would pay relatively well, and that they are a good team. I yearn to belong, to work with a supportive and smart group of people, to once again give meaning to my life and to meet one last professional challenge. Then, Claire, I'll be ready to come home, to again be Mom, and perhaps even, some day, grand-ma. Brigitte and I had an interesting conversation about not knowing how to be a mother to adult daughters, as we ourselves never had a mother beyond our teenage years, and therefore lack a model. We compared notes on how we constantly have to reinvent our role, hoping that we are doing it right. Of course we also are mothers to sons, but not having been sons ourselves, we are less wondering about their expectations.
I was fortunate to have March 10 off, when the ladies from the gym did their winter outing. We hiked up Val Bever, leaving with the last light and arriving after one hour walk and in the deep night at the restaurant where we were treated to the house drink (white wine, sparkling water and their home made mountain pine syrup) and cheese fondue. Then we all rode the train back to the parking lot.
I waited for my sister's visit to undertake a new winter hike, up Val Forno, off Maloja. Maloja is the top of the pass from the Engadin to the Val Bregaglia. To the right of this picture is the series of lakes, of which Lake St. Moritz is the farthest. To the left is the abrupt drop off into the Italian-speaking Val Bregaglia.
We were blessed with a gorgeous day and stunning vistas.
There was noticeably more snow than in the Engadin and it still was deep winter.
This also is my first weekend alone after a welcome flurry of visitors: after Marlyse and Jacques, then friends Pierre and Peter, last weekend my sister Brigitte was here. I had not seen her since October and it was fun to catch up. We also showed the apartment to two new prospects and she became aware of how much time it takes to set up the showings, and then tidy up and clean the apartment. She helped - and I am still trying to find personal items she stashed away into some drawers and cupboards!
Last weekend was the 43rd Engadiner cross-country ski marathon. Of course I had to work, so saw very little of it, except for the hungry athletes at the bakery in the afternoon. The conditions were less ideal than last year, so I am glad I got to experience it then. The marathon marks the official end of the high winter season and indeed, work was rather slow early last week. However, the Italians had Thursday off, so many also took Friday off and treated themselves to an extended weekend in St. Moritz. Since the weather was dismal (rain!) it seemed like they all spent time at Hanselmann's, making for my latest return home ever at 8:10pm (except for when I have to go home by train, like last night).
I too have spent much time watching TV and CNN news on my computer about the disaster in Japan. Once again the horrors other people are experiencing have forced me to count my own blessings. My inner turmoil has somewhat subsided and I am trying to decipher whether I just managed to numb myself to my pain, or whether, thanks in part to my yoga practice, I am slowly adopting a more zen-like attitude. Or perhaps I am just too tired to feel and think. I am hoping that when I am done with work (April 27!) I can once again focus on myself and start feeling, thinking and planning. I am trying to embrace the "adventure" and my upcoming freedom. Perhaps after leaving Switzerland on Sept. 15 I can take advantage of the fact that the house is still rented and my belongings safely in storage to go on a real adventure. Perhaps go back to Australia for a few weeks, or... ? Do you, my reader, know of a volunteer gig that would more or less pay for itself? The costly working vacations are out of the question, but I am willing to work for room and board. Or, are you planning to take a trip and looking for a companion? If so, let's talk.
Pierre called last week with a tip for a job for an environmental foundation in Bern with which he is involved. I will spend the rest of the afternoon working on my resume (in German - still a major challenge). My daughter would like me to come home - a touching and comforting thought - but as I explained to her, at this stage I have to look out for myself, and if I were to get the job, I'd accept it. Pierre says that it would pay relatively well, and that they are a good team. I yearn to belong, to work with a supportive and smart group of people, to once again give meaning to my life and to meet one last professional challenge. Then, Claire, I'll be ready to come home, to again be Mom, and perhaps even, some day, grand-ma. Brigitte and I had an interesting conversation about not knowing how to be a mother to adult daughters, as we ourselves never had a mother beyond our teenage years, and therefore lack a model. We compared notes on how we constantly have to reinvent our role, hoping that we are doing it right. Of course we also are mothers to sons, but not having been sons ourselves, we are less wondering about their expectations.
I was fortunate to have March 10 off, when the ladies from the gym did their winter outing. We hiked up Val Bever, leaving with the last light and arriving after one hour walk and in the deep night at the restaurant where we were treated to the house drink (white wine, sparkling water and their home made mountain pine syrup) and cheese fondue. Then we all rode the train back to the parking lot.
I waited for my sister's visit to undertake a new winter hike, up Val Forno, off Maloja. Maloja is the top of the pass from the Engadin to the Val Bregaglia. To the right of this picture is the series of lakes, of which Lake St. Moritz is the farthest. To the left is the abrupt drop off into the Italian-speaking Val Bregaglia.
We were blessed with a gorgeous day and stunning vistas.
There was noticeably more snow than in the Engadin and it still was deep winter.
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