The Swiss Standard: Volume 2

There are many benefits to living in the beautiful town in Switzerland which I currently reside. There are the beautiful people, beautiful food, but there's also a surprise around every corner.
I was sitting out on  my patio yesterday morning with my two-shot espresso and apricot tart and was staring at the scenery surrounding me.
Well, first, there's the beautiful mountains, which I can see sitting down. The lawn in front of the building, the palm trees on the perimeter, and the terra cotta steps that cut through town.

There are these trees across the way from me that I have been staring at for days.

I finally figured it out... It's a fig tree... and they're very much in season!

So tonight after dinner, my friends and I were craving something sweet. The gelato stands down town were probably closed by then, as is the market, and every other place unless you wish to pay three times the price for gas station quality.
We decided to give the fig tree a go, and were delightfully surprised.

I'm not going to lie. The first few that my friends and I picked, we just stood there eating. The unwashed figs seemed so dangerous yet so ripe as their red juice ran down our fingers and on to our wrists. Or at least the really ripe ones did.

The picture above are actually not my figs. They're my room mates. I was better at spotting and picking the ripe ones and thus, mine are no longer in a state to take snap shots of!

There's nothing like fresh picked figs at the end of summer. Nothing

The Swiss Standard:Volume 1

Recently having temporarily moved to the one and beautiful Switzerland, there are so many things I am learning. Of course, there are challenges whenever one moves. It could be within the same town, country, or it could be half way across the world. 

We don't realize it, but there are so many cultural patterns that we don't even realize we have- or don't have, with out the comparison of something different. In Switzerland, the people actually have the right and freedom to sleep. Across Switzerland, it's different, but in my specific region this is highly enforced and taken VERY seriously. 

Between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am, it is 'quiet hours' in the town I reside. One can be loud in the club, pub, or bar but the streets need to be quiet and inside of your house too. So what’s a young person to do?

Well lately I’ve been realizing just exactly how loud Americans are- we talk loud, we eat loud, we sing loud, we’re just typically loud people.

So when you’re in a foreign country you have to abide by the current culture’s rules. But it’s easier to do so when you find the reasons behind them. And by realizing the motives, you appreciate the rules. So here is my ‘bright side’ list to the obscure rule:

1.    On those nights that you need your sleep- you don’t have obnoxious parties going on everywhere. It’s quiet and peaceful (except the fast cars and mopeds, but that’s another blog!).

2.    You become more aware of your surroundings when it’s nighttime. You may be less likely to get lost when it’s dark because you’re less focused on all the talking and more on the walking. Probably a good thing in a new country!

3.    Better conversations. For starters, you’re not constantly talking over each other, nor are you listening to such loud music so that one CANT have a conversation.

The Swiss are a funny people, but if you can get to know and understand the motives behind their ways, you might just feel a little Swiss too. 

Affogato....oh la la

My new, possibly fatal obsession, has resolved the four o' clock woes.
It has indeed been justified by keeping away from ice cream and other treats, but still satisfies the caffeine addict's desires.
What could it possibly be?
The simple inclination of something that will keep you cool, make you feel warm and fuzzy inside, and, above all, satisfy your ice cream/chocolate sweet tooth, comes together in one word:AFFOGATO. Or, the trendy combination of gelato and espresso, yum.

The idea DID come from  a wall street journal article:

Here's MY step by step to a heavenly after noon:

1. Locate a demi tasse, or small tea cup, what ever is your fancy.
2. Brew a shot of espresso- hoping you have an espresso machine OR stove top maker. Push comes to shove.... Go down to your local coffee shop and get a single shot (or double for a friend/2 servings) in a to go cup- remember that HOT espresso is ideal for this treat!
3. Scoop a small serving of gelato into your demi tasse:

 NOTE: My favorite is: Talenti Double dark chocolate gelato. But also check out if there's any local brands! Also, experiment with vanilla gelato, dulce de lucce gelato...try out different flavors!



4.Then, pour in a single shot of gelato

5. ENJOY!!!