Same Diff

If you've ever spent an extended period of time in my presence you have no doubt heard me utter the title phrase of this post at least once. Now, as a general rule, I try to avoid shortened versions of what are, in fact, perfectly simple words--in this case, the word difference. As for the colloquialism itself, I have always taken it to mean that while one may be speaking of apples or bananas, Tuesday or Thursday, it really doesn't matter because fruit is fruit and a school day is rather like any other school day. Thus, I am of a mind to point out (mostly just for myself) things that I've experienced here that are similar to back home. Here goes:

The food. While almost every meal is an exercise in grease endurance and an adventure into the land of new flavors and textures, somehow there is also a constant---something familiar to look to and enjoy. Case in point, I have yet to know what something is before I eat it by name, seeing as I know exactly 1 name of a german food item (bratwurst, something that keeps constant company in my new domicile...sigh) but even so, I know well that "there are no new ideas under the sun" and as a result, I at least recognize some ingredients, if not the Swiss form they take. I have particularly enjoyed a traditional Swiss meal that amounts to an indoor picnic of famous local fair---dried meats, "real" Swiss cheese, a million different kinds of bread, and various oils and seasonings to share. A favorite of my new charges that I have been converted to has been translated for me as "the baby of the Dutch." Whatever. It looks something like balls of crepe dough shaped like popcorn and about the size of a large strawberry. Each can be filled with almost anything, as well as topped. A house favorite is cheese and garlic, or nutella and honey. While not exactly bacon or fried chicken, it'll do for now.

The school. I have yet to visit the local school house that Jamie and Raina attend during school hours, but from what I have seen, it is typical. And perfect. White walls, watercolors for decoration, little tables for crafts and even carpet squares. Their playground has facilities for soccer and basketball, but also ropes courses and a wooded area with a cabin and odd little teepees made from bound saplings wrapped with other branches. Raina, like myself at her age, is overly fond of monkey bars and swing-sets, and sometimes we walk down after school so she can show me tricks. It is grand.

Out-of-doors in general. Most days (minus the rainy ones or when I have been too sick) I take a morning walk around Malix. I have yet to do one as ambitious as my first, which was in fact a hike over a mountain pass toward the next village in the neighboring valley, but simply walking a mile or two away from the house leads to quaint bridges over babbling brooks or steep fields of wild daisies. Innumerable pines cover the hillsides that encircle Malix, not so unlike the Ponderosa kingdoms found in Colorado and North Spokane. Though, I'll admit my favorite feature is a tall, wide-reaching Aspen in the Bruesch family's backyard. Its leaves are soft and green now, and they bob in that friendly, Aspen like way when the breeze moves through them. Soon they will be solid gold, and I will see home again.

And finally, the music. To no one's surprise, I am sure, it is kind of a given that no matter where you go on this planet American music is near at hand. Rural Switzerland is no acceptation. The local radio DJ will mumble something I can't decipher, randomly peppering his speech with names like "Toby Keith" and "Miley Cyrus." My host, Chrigl, is big into American rock music, while Carrie likes country, so my days are often filled with such musical gems as "Highway to Hell" and "Margaritaville." Naturally, this musical flavor has influenced young Jamie, who is a big Tom Petty fan. In a moment of sheer awesomeness, he and I bonded over his guitar lessons. Like most kids his age, "practicing" might at well be a vegetable, he's so fond of it. But when I told him I'd teach him some Petty if he played me his chords--voia! That kids is fast too. I played him the grand total of three chords it take to play "Free Fallin'" and off he went to play it for his dad. Sweet success.

And then there is, of course, my own essential music library, the soundtrack to my life, if you will. Like a lot of people, I have songs that are intrinsically tied into certain places, certain events, certain people. Tom Petty's "Saving Grace" is now the official song of Lindsay in Switzerland, track 1. Any other suggestions for my ever-hungry musical appetite?

In short, I am learning that "here" and "there" and "home" and "far" are words only as scary or as  important as we make them. That doesn't mean I'm not lonely, or that life at this moment is any less challenging that it was a day ago, it's just that I can see the sameness better now. People, places, food, fun. Life is just life, no matter who you are, or where you are.