I’m writing this while camped out at Google Zürich, taking advantage of the wifi and toys for the kiddies, not to mention tables and chairs and working lights.
Everything has been hard. Our main problem is that we foolishly decided not to bring our french press (they sell them at American IKEAs, and so we assumed we could get one easily) for coffee, and it's surprisingly hard to find one here, or even a coffee machine. And my beloved venti mocha would cost $8 at Starbucks. So we’re dragging, while trying to work our way through the Swiss mire with our very shaky German. I think, at least, we're giving the infamously frigid Swiss some chuckles. I certainly did when I ordered "5 hotdogs and 2 drunks" at the snack bar.
I'm proud of the kids, though. Despite having head colds to a man, they're holding up very well. Wide eyes taking everything in, minimal squabbling. Not having a car and having to walk everywhere has especially been a big shock to them, especially with the ice and snow.
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| In front of our new home. |
Alex, especially, has been campaigning heavily for a minivan. But they're doing a great job at keeping up and dashing to catch trains, even Joey. (We decided not to bring a stroller--he's too impatient to sit still--so he's walking the multiple miles along with the rest of us.)
We're getting stronger.
Truth be told, we haven't done much for the kids’ sake week. We're using every bit of our energy and patience, trying to get our house set up for living.
We spent the better part of the last three days at IKEA, buying all our furniture and supplies: everything from beds to sofas to toilet scrubbers and cups. We weren't able to reserve a shipping van until yesterday, but we were in our apartment starting the day before that. Being thrifty midwesterners, we couldn't see our way to spending another $300 to sleep in a hotel one more night when purchasing mattresses for the entire family would cost just as much, so Dennis took it upon himself to train out to Ikea himself (while the kids and I camped at the apartment), bought the mattresses, and brought all four of them (including a queen-sized) home. Luckily they were foam mattresses, so they were rolled up, but still. He carried four mattresses about a mile and took them on a bus and a train as well. More Swiss chuckles.
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| The boys in their new bedroom |
We haven't been able to make a big trip to the grocery store (until yesterday we didn't have anything to cook in, or any plates or forks) so there's not a lot in the house to eat. We've been munching on a lot of bread, cheese, and yogurt, and one night Dennis grabbed a roasted chicken from the grocery store, and we tore it apart with our fingers. With all the walking and lack of snack food, my clothes are looser already.
Yesterday was our big buying day from Ikea, and we spent all of ten hours in the store. We filled 8 shopping carts with furniture and miscellany, staked out a little corner near the check-out, and kept ferrying things down there. One Ikea worker nodded approvingly at all our purchases: "Sehr gut!"
The kids were a tremendous help, hefting carts for us. After we bought everything, Dennis and Ella took everything home on the truck, but at that point they had only an hour and a half to get home, unload, and return. The boys and I stayed at the store and puttered in the children's area, and, when Dennis didn't return on time (traffic, bad directions, and general difficulties) managed to convey to the staff that he was running late. The workers were incredibly kind, and when he showed up a half-hour late after closing, they still accepted the van and didn't charge us extra. Dennis said that Ella worked very hard unloading, and I don't doubt it. While he pulled out all the boxes of furniture, she brought in everything else: light fixtures, plates, pans, curtains...everything.
Dennis had promised Ella ice cream as a reward for all her hard work--there's a super-cool ice cream machine at Ikea--but the restaurant, too, was closed by the time she got back. So we undertook the ridiculously hard task of finding ice cream on a winter evening. There was a large New Year's Eve festival by Lake Zurich with lots of vendor stands, so we took the train to the main train station and walked up to the lake. (The kids were so impressed with the train station, with the all the modern art and echoey halls.) It was incredibly cold, but Joey, who had been awake all day, and who's sick, fell asleep in my arms as we marched around, and I'm certain the other two would have slept as well if they had been carried. Instead, they followed, glazed-eyed, as we looked desperately from store to store. Finally Google (lovely, lovely Google) told us about Mövenpick ice cream, a parlor that was, wonder of wonders, open. Dennis had generously told Ella she could have three scoops...which, oops, turned out to cost $12. When Ella heard the cost she was appalled and embarrassed, but so grateful. She talked all day today about the wonderful treat Daddy got her, and wrote at length about it in her journal. Truly, $12 was a bargain, considering all her help and patience.
We've been waking the kids up early every day, and today we decided to sleep in. Joey finally woke up at 11:30, and Ella and I followed at about 11:45. Joey got a little wooden hammer and peg-board yesterday, but he's been much more interested in the real deal, helping me assemble furniture. He's very good with his hammer aim and very proud of himself, so he and I put together a table and chairs and are starting on the bed.
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| IKEA fun |
The kids were a tremendous help, hefting carts for us. After we bought everything, Dennis and Ella took everything home on the truck, but at that point they had only an hour and a half to get home, unload, and return. The boys and I stayed at the store and puttered in the children's area, and, when Dennis didn't return on time (traffic, bad directions, and general difficulties) managed to convey to the staff that he was running late. The workers were incredibly kind, and when he showed up a half-hour late after closing, they still accepted the van and didn't charge us extra. Dennis said that Ella worked very hard unloading, and I don't doubt it. While he pulled out all the boxes of furniture, she brought in everything else: light fixtures, plates, pans, curtains...everything.
Dennis had promised Ella ice cream as a reward for all her hard work--there's a super-cool ice cream machine at Ikea--but the restaurant, too, was closed by the time she got back. So we undertook the ridiculously hard task of finding ice cream on a winter evening. There was a large New Year's Eve festival by Lake Zurich with lots of vendor stands, so we took the train to the main train station and walked up to the lake. (The kids were so impressed with the train station, with the all the modern art and echoey halls.) It was incredibly cold, but Joey, who had been awake all day, and who's sick, fell asleep in my arms as we marched around, and I'm certain the other two would have slept as well if they had been carried. Instead, they followed, glazed-eyed, as we looked desperately from store to store. Finally Google (lovely, lovely Google) told us about Mövenpick ice cream, a parlor that was, wonder of wonders, open. Dennis had generously told Ella she could have three scoops...which, oops, turned out to cost $12. When Ella heard the cost she was appalled and embarrassed, but so grateful. She talked all day today about the wonderful treat Daddy got her, and wrote at length about it in her journal. Truly, $12 was a bargain, considering all her help and patience.
We've been waking the kids up early every day, and today we decided to sleep in. Joey finally woke up at 11:30, and Ella and I followed at about 11:45. Joey got a little wooden hammer and peg-board yesterday, but he's been much more interested in the real deal, helping me assemble furniture. He's very good with his hammer aim and very proud of himself, so he and I put together a table and chairs and are starting on the bed.
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| My best helper |
Ella and Alex have been busying themselves with making what they call a robot village...I gave them some index cards, tape, and crayons, and they've worked on those the last three days, making some board game/village-type construction. They've been eying the boxes holding all the furniture...two of them are about the same as refrigerator boxes, and I don't think I'll throw away any of the cardboard, ever. It's the best toy we have in the house.
Dennis has been entertaining the kids here at Google--they went on the slide several times, and the big kids are now learning pool while Joey scribbles on the whiteboard. Happy though they are, I should probably stop here. We have to hike back to the train station still, and it's quite dark.
Looking back over this entry, it sounds like we're having a really trying time. I guess we are, but we're all really happy despite it. We're laughing at ourselves a lot as we blunder about, and I love watching the kids adjust and become tougher, physically and emotionally. No regrets yet.
Happy New Year, all!
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| In the midst of a creative frenzy |
Dennis has been entertaining the kids here at Google--they went on the slide several times, and the big kids are now learning pool while Joey scribbles on the whiteboard. Happy though they are, I should probably stop here. We have to hike back to the train station still, and it's quite dark.
Looking back over this entry, it sounds like we're having a really trying time. I guess we are, but we're all really happy despite it. We're laughing at ourselves a lot as we blunder about, and I love watching the kids adjust and become tougher, physically and emotionally. No regrets yet.
Happy New Year, all!
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