Resolutions

I interrupt my recent slew of Italy posts to present you with the very first guest post I'm featuring on Queso Suizo. Enjoy!

My Swiss 2010 Resolutions

By Chantal Panozzo (a.k.a. the Hausfrau)

Over on my blog about Swiss life, One Big Yodel, I’m a bit behind in making my Jahre 2010 resolutions, but c’est la vie, right? I figure it’s better late than never (well, maybe not so much in Switzerland) but here we go, anyway:

1. Talk More.

By this I mean, talk more auf Deutsch, of course. Stop being afraid of every der, die, das, den, dem, denen, and des and just turn every single one of them into a “duh” and get on with it.

2. Be so on time, it’s scary.

I mean exactly, precisely, when the bells are dinging four times on the hour, on time. After all, there’s just no excuse in being 30 seconds late for dinner with my neighbor when I’ve got a gigantic clock tower across from my apartment building that dings every 15 minutes, 24/7.

3. Use multiple languages in one sentence.

Warum, do you ask? Because, mes amis, I want to talk Swiss and this is how it’s done. Danke und Merci for your Verstaendnis.

4. Eat More Cheese.

My cheese intake compared to most Swiss is disturbingly low. To be able to fit in, I need to be able to eat at least 10 slices of raclette at one sitting so that my neighbor isn’t offended by my rudeness next time.

5. Eat More Chocolate.

Besides upping my cheese intake, in my effort to be more Swiss this year, I’m going to increase my chocolate consumption to the required 12 kilos. That’s one kilo a month, on average, and shouldn’t be too much of a sacrifice—especially if I want to move from the U.S. rank of 38th to the Swiss rank of 4th on the long life expectancy chart.

6. Stop Smiling at People.

I thought I had trained myself not to do this, but here I was yesterday, running along the river, looking at the people and smiling. They didn’t smile back and I felt stupid. Enough of feeling stupid.

7. Be More On Time With Resolutions Next Year.

This shouldn’t be a problem, because with my increase in cheese and chocolate consumption, I will be so Swiss by next year, I’ll scare even myself.

How about you? What are your 2010 resolutions?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer and blogger. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland, and Writer Abroad. She also blogs for Affordable Calling Cards, a new expat community blog. This blog offers affordable calling cards in Switzerland as well as information about living abroad in Switzerland and in many other countries.

2 comments

  1. #6 had me laughing. So true! I experience that all the time, but I prefer getting strange looks than becoming a complete grump ;-)

    But #3 had me frowning. Multiple languages in one sentence? Big no-no. Speaking Switzerdütsch, however, which sounds like you are in fact doing just that, is perfectly fine ;-)

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  2. Hi Elisa,

    #6, yeah, I know. Sometimes I feel better for just smiling. Always trying to not smile can make a person depressed!

    #3. At my old office, people used to talk on the phone in one language while yelling to someone else in another and at the same time, typing on the computer in another. If only I could be so advanced...

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