I walk with Doug to work on Monday which is about a 30 minute walk from our apartment. Since I have a transportation pass for the week I jump on a tram for my return trip home. I know I need to transfer once to a different line but am not sure what that looks like or where that new tram stops. Since I am not too familiar with my neighborhood and less familiar with the language, I know this might be a problem but I am up for the challenge. When I reach a stop near the apartment I get off and start walking. Thankfully after about 10 minutes I figure out where the apartment is and learn a bit about the neighborhood in the process. I find 2 grocery stores nearby and begin by walking through them observing how things are done. The grocery stores are much larger than I thought they would be, located under ground, and have beautiful produce and amazing breads. Finally I decide I have to start somewhere so I pick up a shopping basket and buy items for dinner and breakfast tomorrow. Fresh homemade basil and ricotta tortellini, pasta sauce, Swiss cheese, salad fixings, cereal and milk and a few other finds complete my order. I know I have enough Francs with me and can see the numbers for my total so all is well. I thought I watched what people had done but I missed one step in the produce department. My clerk sees my confusion and then tells me in English (for which I am thanking God) nothing is weighed. "Oh," I tell her in an apologetic voice, "today is my first day." She works out the details and I am overcome with her great kindness and God's provision. When my phone rings I realize my luggage has arrived. The agent only speaks French and I don't yet but we communicate well enough for my "valise" to arrive at my apartment. I am so excited with all of these little accomplishments that seem so very big to me today. I am tired as my body has not yet adjusted to the 6 hour time change but feeling very excited.
The tram and the street in front of my apartment-
My grocery store-
Doug and I have our biometrics appointment at the cantonal de la Population with the bureau of immigration on Tuesday. It is where we fill out the required paperwork, pay our fees, get fingerprinted, and Doug receives a work permit after everything is checked. It is a bit confusing to us but everyone is very helpful.
The rest of the week has many more little accomplishments like finding a photo booth to get identification photos, traveling to the TPG (transportation office) to get an identification card, purchasing a monthly transportation pass, discovering shopping in Bel Aire (well, window shopping), learning how to cook in Celsius and Switzerland's recycling process, sightseeing at Parc des Bastions to see the Reformation wall with statues of Jean Calvin and others, playing giant checkers at night and walking along the shoreline of Lake Geneva as the moon rises over the water holding Doug's hand. We are honored and thankful to have this opportunity to discover life in another country.
This weekend's plans are to drive to France to go skiing at Les Gets. Be strong and courageous keeps coming to my mind today as I think about the slopes that will be bigger than anything I have ever seen.
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