Category: life
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The magic of growing up Swiss
Kindergarteners walk to school alone, use knives and cook over open flames. Are Swiss children being given too much freedom or are the rest of us holding on too tightly? Tourists in Switzerland may find one of the more familiar sights downright shocking – four- and five-year-olds walking around cities without their parents. The groups…
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Have a peaceful weekend
My son and I are hopping on a train to Zurich this afternoon, where we’ll meet my husband for the weekend. Somehow we’ve lived in Switzerland for nearly five years without ever having visited the country’s largest city! We’re headed to the Zurich zoo tomorrow and hope we can practice our Schweizerdeutsch (Swiss-German). If you…
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Are you going somewhere this year?
I’m not speaking metaphorically about your New Year’s Resolutions, although mine is to meditate more (the ultimate destination, right?). I’m asking if you are literally going somewhere in 2019 because January is the best month to book flights, according to Skyscanner.com. The flight search engine website reported that from January to March of 2018, domestic…
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On visiting Jerusalem
I try to keep my travel writing light and useful — lots of “how to”s and photos of beautiful places. But after visiting Jerusalem last month I was left so speechless, so in awe… I’m still confused how to put my experience into words. Something happened to me in Jerusalem. Some door inside my…
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One reason I’m afraid to move back to the U.S.
This time of year I find myself thinking more and more about stuff. About shoes and gadgets and scarves and face creams. I find myself lured onto websites with the promise of “20% OFF” and Googling “the perfect gift” for family members who would probably be happy to simply spend time together — the…
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Bite-sized Portugal: Within 25 miles of Lisbon
When I began asking friends where we should visit on our family trip to Portugal, their answers ranged from Porto in the north to Faro in the south, from the Douro Valley vineyards to the Algarve coast. And while I would’ve happily spent two weeks zigzagging across the country, I knew one of us would not…
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A quick note from Geneva
Bonjour! Bonjour! How are you? Apologies for an extended blogging break. In short, I’ve been busy. In long, I’ve thrown myself into Geneva life. These days I have French courses, toddler music classes, pre-school and playdates. I went out with different friends last Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights! I’m pretty sure I was in…
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On top of the world: Mont Blanc
When I was seven years old, my family traveled to Paris where we stayed with our Parisian friends. The parents, who have four children, asked me what I wanted to do in Paris. I said I wanted to go to the top of the Eiffel Tower. They looked baffled. None of them had ever…
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Hop Suisse! Hopp Schwiiz! Forza Svizzera!
…or Happy Swiss National Day from Geneva! August 1 marks the anniversary of when the Swiss Federal Charter was signed in 1291 bringing together “three Alpine cantons [who] swore the oath of confederation.” That charter is also why Switzerland’s actual country name is the Confederation Helvetique or simply “CH.” All over Switzerland today you will…
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How to summer like a European
While many of the American blogs I read are already using the phrases “end of summer” and “back-to-school,” Europeans are giddily preparing for the beginning of their real summer: August 1. Schools are out of session. People are leaving town. The restaurant downstairs has put up a sign that reads “See you in September!” Because…
Paige Langton 