10 ways our life has changed :)

1. No cell phones
2. No fast food
3. No riding in cars- only public transportation (trams/trains) = No gas stations
4. Hang dried only clothes
5. Slice our own fresh bread
6. VERY few preservatives in food and drink
7. No job (just me)
8. No air conditioning anywhere - Have to air out the apartment everyday
9. No microwave for leftovers or defrosting or popcorn
10. Google Translate has become our best friend especially for mail (Now if it could only do voices...)

Out of all of this, I think the only thing that really bothers me (besides not having a job) is the hang dried clothes.  Since we have to hang them in the apartment (because it is so cold outside), it gets very humid and the clothes do not feel nice and stay stretched out.  But everything else has been very easy to get along with and I actually almost enjoy it.  I feel like we eat healthier and I love the trams.  The no microwave thing is slowly teaching me exactly how much to cook for one dinner and I dont even notice not having air conditioning (but I'll have to get back on that in the summertime).  :)

On another note, I follow this expat forum for Switzerland which has a lot of good info and opinions IN ENGLISH!  :)  I look there for jobs too but since we are moving into our apartment soon I've been looking at the 'for sale' stuff.  Yesterday, I saw an ad for a coffee maker.  Now I know this is not a necessity and I dont use it but I have been noticing how much Paul has been longing for one- especially since the coffee here is so expensive and more like expresso.  So I took off near the end of the day and got home 7 min before Paul with the Cuisinart Grind and Brew Plus in tow.  Coffee beans are a lot more prevalent here than pre-ground and this does both, can be programmed for a specific time and strength, and is only about a year old and I got it for Fr. 90.  The prefect birthday present.  But I knew saving the secret would be hard to keep especially since we are moving before then.  Long story short, he had been looking on the same forum and saw where I had commented about how I was interested in it.  So the surprise was more that it was already here and he was surprised.  I love giving surprises and his happiness made me happy.  Here is his present: