Post from Grandma and Grandpa

My parents visited us for a week at the end of September, and we asked them to share their thoughts. Here is what they said:

They are doing great.  Sarah, Joe, Emily, James and Henry have adjusted well to their new life in Switzerland and are enjoying it immensely.  In short form, that is our assessment from being there for a recent week.  For the longer story, read on.

Emily and James have made friends with, among others, four kids from a good family across the street.  After school, they are out playing soccer or hockey, riding their bikes or secretly spying on the neighborhood while hiding in their tree fort.  It makes a grandparent’s heart swell with glee to hear them chatting away in German as if it is the normal thing American kids do.

We each walked James to school on different days.  Walking along hand in hand, we chatted away and stopped to greet the neighborhood black cat as is the morning ritual.  Nothing superstitious about this kid.  As all In Munsterplatzthe kids were funneling into the building, he ran off to excitedly tell his friends, in German of course, that his Oma/Opa was with him.  James is enjoying his half day kindergarten.

Sarah and Judy with Emily nearby were having a conversation about careers and jobs. Overhearing this, Emily piped in: “Kids have a job too.  Our job is to go to school and learn as much as we can so we can grow up and be good adults.  Parents’ job is to have a house for us, feed us and buy clothes for us.”  Judy asked: “What is the job of a grandparent?”  Emily quickly replied: “Your job is to love us and care about us.”  Emily is doing very well at school, at home and in the neighborhood.  She is also the backup German speaker when Mom and Dad run into problems with the language.

Riding with GrandmaHenry’s German is limited, but he knows “spielplatz” (playground) and “dampfbahn” (a miniature train).  He, however, speaks the universal language of an uninhibited, gregarious two year old.  On the bus or the train, he sits with a family member and chats away, sometimes being engaged with German speaking riders.  Whether young or old, those who have been near him leave with smiles on their faces.

Sarah is a gourmet chef of Swiss food.  We tasted much of the traditional Swiss fare and thoroughly enjoyed it.  She also orchestrated our travels to the Aare River including a raft trip with everyone but Oma and Henry; a bike ride with Emily and James to a neighboring town with the Jungfrau in the background; a city visit to Bern, and our last night at the oldest restaurant in Europe still standing (1371).

Joe seems more relaxed than he has been in the last several years.  He enjoys his work at the hospital, orchestrating travels for the family and, of course, watching and cheering the Packers.  By the AareOk, he is not more relaxed about the latter.

All in all, Switzerland is a beautiful country and Sarah and Joe are A-Plus Hosts.   We say “Thank You” for a truly memorable visit.

Oma and Opa

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