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What it’s like living in the world’s ‘best country’
US News & World Report ranked Switzerland this week the “best country in the world” on its annual Best Countries report. The ranking does not surprise me–life here is pretty good–but it’s far from perfect, so I thought I’d delve into what Swiss life is like for an outsider. More on the report The report analyzed 80…
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Traveling with a bump: Should you?
We discovered we were expecting a baby about three weeks before leaving on our planned trip to Thailand, which gave me just enough time to question every part of our itinerary–including whether we should go to Thailand at all. I felt a weightiness in our decision like I had never experienced before. I now realize…
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Joyeux Mardi Gras
Some day, when I am not one month out from having a baby, I will fly to Venice for Mardi Gras and discover what true Carnevale is all about. But that is not the case, so tonight I’ll make my favorite pancake recipe as is my family’s tradition every “Fat Tuesday.” Maybe we’ll go crazy…
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Dreaming of Paris
When I pictured my life in Geneva, it involved many many spur-of-the-moment trips to Paris since it lies just three hours away from us by train. I’m embarrassed to say we haven’t zipped off to the City of Lights as often as I thought we would, but often enough to almost satisfy me…I’m one of…
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Why I’ll never become a Swiss citizen
After a few months of living in Switzerland, I quickly came to the realization that I’ll never obtain that coveted red passport, even if I go through all of the motions of becoming a Swiss citizen. I’d heard enough stories of half-Swiss families and long-distance lovers who’ve been rejected for Swiss citizenship to fill a…
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On tracing my Swiss roots
Have I ever mentioned that I am Swiss? Not in the passport carrying way, but in the way that Americans brag about their heritage–“I’m Irish,” “I’m French”–since we all seem to find being simply “American” so un-exotic. At any rate, my great-great grandfather Henry Rüedi immigrated from Switzerland to California in the 1890s. He was 14…
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On a new year
I don’t know what is going on with you, but I’m really happy to have officially entered a new year. No matter where your political beliefs lie, 2016 was tough. More than tough. Uncomfortable. Unbearable. Almost unendurable. Well, the last nine weeks of 2016 were all of those things. Which, coincidentally, is about how long we…
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Merry Christmas!
“What is Christmas? It is tenderness for the past, courage for the present, hope for the future. It is a fervent wish that every cup may overflow with blessings rich and eternal, and that every path may lead to peace.” -Agnes M. Pharo
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In search of sunshine… Portugal
I’ve got my sunglasses packed and I’ll be out the door in one hour for a flight to Portugal! We’re spending four days in the south — the “Algarve” region — visiting family and soaking up Vitamin D. We don’t have much planned beyond activities involving sunscreen and tapas. With Geneva temperatures hovering around the…
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On unfamiliar territory
This thoughtfully-written piece in the New York Times puts into words some of what I’ve been feeling for two years and some of what I’m just coming to terms with this morning. American journalist Jim Yardley reflects on what it is like to be an expat during these strange times. Be warned, the piece is long…
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Paige Langton 