Patriot Expatriots

Charlie joined Ella and Alex in strapping on a backpack this morning: the kids headed off to school, and Charlie left us for a few days of adventures in the Alps.

Which left Joey and me with nothing but our chores.

We'd made plans to observe today with our fellow Americans.  Susannah, I think, is craving hamburgers even more keenly than Dennis and I, so this morning I made brownies and Joey and I shopped for ground beef and buns and all those other essentials for an All-American picnic.

The fairer firecracker

I wanted us to grill at the pool, but I'd never gotten a chance to really check out the built-in pits there on the grounds.  Since people here mostly cook large sausages, I was worried that the grill slats would be too wide for burgers, and I had no idea whether the pool provided fuel or not. Susannah remembered seeing disposable grills at the Co-op grocery chain, but, according to one of the clerks, these had gone on sale this past weekend and were now sold out.  I was able, however, to buy a large selection of fireworks in the toy aisle, stocked in anticipation of the Swiss National day on August 1st.

Since they were on the way home, I stopped at two other grocery stores looking for those grills.  One of the stores was very small, and it was immediately obvious that they didn't have what I needed.  At the other store, I tried to communicate my needs in my ludicrous German: "I'm looking for a little grill.  But it is only good for one day. Then it is trash."

The clerks looked at me as though I was the most insane woman they'd ever met, and I'd never felt more like the dreaded Ugly American.  "You want to buy a grill and then throw it away? What?"

So I skulked home, grill-less, and sliced my tomatoes and formed my hamburgers and crossed my fingers that we'd be able to figure out the pool-side fire pits.

The kids came home at lunchtime, Ella with a parent-signed note of apology from her classmate, but also a fair amount of homework to do.  Somehow, she'd managed to lose her assignment from the weekend, so she had to re-do that work as well.  She was good-natured about it, but I suspect she won't be as careless again.

Meanwhile, Alex spent his early afternoon writing and decorating a card for his friend Jonas ("I hope you have a happy birthday. I will always remember you.") for today's birthday party.  Alex was still nervous about going, so Dennis came home to keep an eye on Ella and Joey, freeing me to linger and make sure Alex was comfortable before I left.  But as soon as we arrived, a grinning Alex was engulfed and carried away in the little scrum of five boys.  Jonas's parents speak perfectly lovely English, anyway: it appeared he would be just fine.

So instead Ella and Joey and I headed to the pool early, pouncing on the only picnic table in the grounds. Ella ran off and swam and swam, while Joey and I guarded our turf, soon joined by Susannah and her children and mother-in-law.

And we learned that not only was the grill just fine for burgers, but the pool provides free fire kits, with paper, and logs, and small kindling.  Another family was already grilling in the pit right next to our table, but they welcomed us to share their fire.

Reading and waiting for dinner

However, when the men (including a very happy Alex) showed up at 5:00 and it was our turn to start cooking, we discovered that the fire was much too cool. Susannah risked her arms, trying to build up the fire.  Finally, another two women came over and showed me how to fan the flames. Now I was cooking!

Meanwhile, some other Swiss sitting next to me watched quizzically as I slapped my burgers on the grill. "Hamburgers," one commented, "I don't think of those on a grill.  But they must be very good."  I explained that they were absolutely necessary, this being the 4th of July.  "Ah, oh yes! It is the 4th!  Happy for America! Burgers, yes! America!"

So we're representing our nation well, reinforcing stereotypes at every turn.  And, although it's not saying much, we totally made the best burgers we'd had in six months.

We swam with the kids a little longer before packing them up and luring them home with the promise of snaps and sparklers.  With our noise, we lured out some of the neighbor boys, who shared our fun and our brownies.

When Ella turned in at bedtime, she murmured, happily, "Best. Day. Ever."  I kind of agree.

Happy 4th of July, everyone!