Our Temporary Housing in Zurich

Nothing terribly exciting in this blog - just a few pictures of our temporary flat. The flat theme is obviously black and white. We've had to dye my gray hair to fit the satyle. Enjoy the pics!

The living room with a small balcony that we don't plan on using this season. What you don't see is a plasma TV across from the couch. We get only a few English channels - mostly news in addition to BBC and ITV..we're deprived off American shows but are slowly becoming acquainted to YouTube. We do get Zee and B4U music..so we're catching up on our Hindi tunes.

The dining room and kitchen. Can you spot a blue streaming light in the background (0n the wall). This light changes color every few seconds ..blue.. green ...red... We can't find an 'off' switch and thus its 24x7 disco at Chez Seemu.

The bedroom. Seema clearly sleeps on the left side as there's more room between her head and the ceiling. I'm sure I'd knock myself out when the alarm rings in the morning and be done for the day! Notice there are no doors whatsoever in the flat.. everything is open.

The sink and bathroom with a skylight above just to make sure there's enuf light to wake you up in the morning.

Below is the view from the window in our bedroom. The small building in the center of the picture is the train station in the area. Seema takes a train from this station to Zug..a 30-40 minute train ride.

Don't tell Seema this picture is in the blog..she'll kill me...already threatened me 5 times today. Like a nice Indian wife, she's busy making us Kadhi and Shag for dinner...a wwwwwwww... she so sweet!

Devan's First Week in Zurich

This Thanksgiving comes with a test for Seema and I - one without out immediate family close to us and knowing that we won’t be seeing/talking to our friends and family on a somewhat regular basis. Not an easy transition!

I landed safely in Zurich on Sunday and busy re-acquainting myself to sleep and my wife :). As sweet as my wife is, she didn't want me to be home-sick so she organized for an Indian taxi driver to pick us up. I got to listen to Taal on our way to the apartment…..’Taal se taal…’ (don't get me going)..I can hear Seema telling me to shut it even though I'm not singing out aloud.

We are in temporary housing at the moment..it’s a modest studio with contemporary charm. Some picture to show you what its like:

Just as I was getting reacquainted, my wife decided to take a trip to Paris for a few days because she had had enough of my nonsense - didn't take long did it! It’s cold here by Bay Area standards but no where close to the winters in the Midwest unless you get Seema's evil look which can freeze the burning hell!

We will start looking for more a permanent space upon Seema’s return from Paris, until than we are trying to make the most of the what we have. Seema can take a direct train to her job from the station across from this apartment. More importantly there’s a grocery store and an most importantly an Indian store walking distance from the flat.

Today (a week from leaving the Bay Area), we had our first date night and Seemu decided to treat me to an Ethiopian restaurant - we stuffed out little tummies (I guess some honesty is deserved here - little in Seema's case - I'm gunning for the bald, fat Indian look at making good progress on both ends!) with the delicious food and are in food comma now. The restaurant seemed like a local hang-out for the East Africans and was quite lively. As with other public places, I believe over 40% of the customers smoked! This is going to be hard to adjust to coming from CA. A day later, my sweater is still airing the smoke out...CA has clearly spoiled us!

Seema, in the picture above, is wondering when's the last time the Rastafari gentleman behind her washed his hair. We're taking bets if anyone is interested..my guess is 4 years, 4 months and 21 days.

On the left, a picture of his Excellency Haile Selassie of Ethiopia who is also considered a religious symbol for Godincarnate among the Rastafari movement.

Seema's Farewell

Who knew farewell parties can lead to fashion statements? It's no secret that Seema is cold..well, she also feels cold most of the time. Her workmates were very considerate and presented here with a pair of UGGS (which she now swears by) as well as other winter accessories to beat the cold out of her.... I mean keep her warm.

As we Indians normally do, a caravan of friends and family gather at the airport to welcome and/or send off people close to them. True to tradition, a 'haar' or necklace was given to the 'sendie' at the airport (we forgot flowers and hence a 'haar' of tissue paper was in order). Neev's obviously proud of the haar or is just happy that his 'Kaki' (aunt) is out of his hair..yes - it takes leaving the country to be separated from the fro. With all the sadness associated in leaving home, 'FRO separation' added that extra drop to cross the half glass full feeling. The primary reason for the smirk on Seema's face. If Neev's so ecstatic on Seema leaving, I can only imagine what he did the day his lecture giving Kaka left town!