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.