I fear that I may have accidentally given the impression that the differences between life here and life in the US are inconsequential and that is far from the truth. First, to expound more on how people spend their money, a "nice" home here does not necessarily have all the sections of it in tip-top shape. Most of the places around here, including ours, are just plain huge however, the majority of the inside is not modernized or (in some cases) weather sealed. So, you come up on a place that looks from far like one of the places in a fancy development back home and on closer look you see that only a few of the window sills have actual glass windows in them. Most of the homes also have a huge area in the back that is integrated into the architecture of the house that is like a giant carport/storage area. My understanding is that many of these places have been in families for many generations and when the people who remain living in them get whittled down, it does not nessicarily make sense to modernize the entire place. And the furniture here is more like the stuff my grandma used to have. But it feels clear to me that the way it is styled is more a reflection of a culture that is less consumerist than of the economic well being of the owner.
On that note, in general I feel like people here take themselves a lot less seriously which is I think the corollary to the fact that society here is less about the individual. Not to say that it feels like the borg here, but people generally are more laid back and accommodating. For example on the narrow streets, everyone is happy to be the one to pull over so the other can pass. (Ironically, they are also happy to speed to a million miles an hour in order to pass on a one lane roadway).
Passing aside, people move at a slower pace (even in Paris, I recall). Out here, most shopkeepers even take a siesta without any regard for the fact that they could probably make more money if they stayed open. Another thing I love here is that the old architecture and winding streets give even city centers a magical feel. Esspecially in the winter months, walking down a European street in the afternoon sun makes me feel a little like I am in Hogsmeade rather than a major metropolitan center. Speaking of winding streets, except on the tollway, you never go to fast here cause there is a turnabout every few miles and the roadways are not littered with billboards. The occiasional billboard we have seen is small, with just the facts listed.
What I meant by my comment yesterday is that in the context of the ways things are different, things are surprisingly the same. If I think about the things I would be doing at home, they are all available to me here. There is Mommy and Me swimming, Yoga and library time. There are huge stores where I can do my shopping, etc. I was hoping to do some of these things here, but just like it took me a few months to get into the right ones in the US, it would take equal time here. I know I could just drop in and check them out, but it is a long drive and I feel like an idiot with such poor language skills. My comprehension is improving daily, but my speech is impaired as I know a number of words, but nothing about grammar. I end up feeling like a gringo when some one tries to talk to me and I can only respond with one word answers or "Parle Vous Anglais?" I wish I had more time to work on my Rosetta Stone. Perhaps I will work on it in the car tomorrow if the roads are not too windy.
Next stop, Geneva!!
PS: Lilah had a nuclear meltdown today, requiring a 1.5 hour drive in the car. We decided to drive the one direction we had not yet gone. We were winding through green farmland when suddently the view opens up and below us is a deep valley and you can see what feels like the entire Alps mountain range towering above, including some rock formations that certainly give Yosemite a run for its money. Spectacular. Camera was, of course, left home due to our quick egress.
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