Sunday, May 30, 2010

Lists

I am a big fan of lists. If you go into my bag, you will find plenty of random pieces of paper with lists. In fact, I was writing something down earlier and noticed a few random lists in my purse that I decided to condense and make one big list. Oh the joy lists give me! But where does this joy come from...



I remember during the summers my mom would give us a long list of chores to complete each day. We would groan in the morning when we would see her full sheet of yellow pad paper crammed with our chores. Then, we would put the list aside and go outside and enjoy the day, play with our friends, whatever we wanted, sometimes we would even get started on the list. When she called us at the end of the day to tell us she was heading home, we knew we had T-30 mins to complete the huge list. This now became a challenge, a game, and no longer a chore and we all know how much we love competition. Usually we completed all the tasks and had a happy mother. Sometimes it was evident that things were done in a rush and had to be done again. My favorite part of all of this was to cross each completed task off the list.

To this day, I still love this sensation. Perhaps this is one of the reasons that I like having detailed lists of what to buy, what tasks to complete or what is expected of me. It is concrete and clear. If all things are done and done well, then it is a success. Maybe because I have come to realize the real world is not always this black and white- there are not always lists and clear objectives and tasks- that I long for the days that were. Regardless, you can always count on me to have a pen and a scrap piece of paper in my bag to quickly jot down that next thought which will surely turn into some kind of list.

IMD Backyard BBQ

The students took time out of studying to have a the first backyard bbq of the year. We had a hot, sunny day, lots of good food & company, along with an announcement of the first IMD pregnancy of the year!  





Friday, May 28, 2010

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Chunguang's Birthday on the Lake

Yesterday, Yann and I celebrated Chunguang's birthday on a paddleboat! We went on the lake for an hour and paddled on the sparkling water, to say she got a beautiful day for her bday would be an understatement. We all had such a blast and felt so lucky!

Happy Birthday Chunguang! 


Monday, May 24, 2010

live music outside my window

Happy Monday!

"To inhale Paris preserves the soul. " Hugo, Victor Marie Les Miserables

My 10 days in Paris were simply magical. It was as if I lived my dream of being a Parisian. Eating well, walking and biking the city, seeing exhibits, speaking French, reading in the parks, eating in squares, attending the Gaga concert, spending full days outdoors, meeting interesting people, drinking wine and spending time with new and old friends. Nicholas and I were even able to spend our 5 month anniversary together there. Truly, these past 10 days were a dream come true. Merci a les Clements, Yann et Graz pour partager votre Paris avec moi. Je suis vraiment bénie. 




tour eiffel picnic 

le petit rose, dejeuner 

girls on our bike ride

exhibit on love and marriage in Paris

On the terrace at Printemps overlooking Eiffel Tower*

"America is my country and Paris is my hometown."
Gertrude Stein



Friday, May 21, 2010

Paris Finale

Enjoying every second here in Paris. All good things must come to an end, but we saved the best for last. Our grand finale event of the trip is the Lady Gaga concert tonight!!!

a shot i took from our night picnic at the champs de mars 

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Third Times a Charm

Away we go! Looking forward to rediscovering Paris. Au revoir!


"Boy, those French. They have a different word for everything." 
- Steve Martin
haha :) 

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Coupe de Cheveux

Today I had my first haircut since I arrived here in Switzerland. Yes, it was way overdue, but I was a bit hesitant considering this would be my hair, a stylist and a pair of scissors all maneuvered in French. I worked up my courage and went to the salon.


Of course, once I arrived, I stumbled through my infamous French-Spanish mix, but I got seated immediately and through the act of God, sign language and French, along with my unconscious use of Spanish, I got a really great haircut!

Goodbye Old Friend

Since I am considering running a pretty intense mountain race in August, I figured now is as good a time as any to start running the Lausanne Hills. I was all set and my legs felt fresh. I set my ipod onto to some old favorites and started bounding up the hills to the city center. I have never been a hill runner in my life, so the fact that I felt so great doing the hills surprised me. I even chose a more challenging path up, to really push myself.

My ipod was blaring in my ears, people were parting the way for me (maybe this is an embellishment) and my legs were moving like a kangaroo, bounding up those hills. I almost made it to the top of the steepest point of my run when my ipod wimped out on me. My music went dead and all I could hear was the sound of my keys jingling in my jacket pocket. NO! 

A quick check on the top of the hill and my worst fears were confirmed, my trusty ipod decided that he was not made to do hills and promptly died on that last push up. I quickly thought that at least I had my cell phone and there were a couple songs on there to keep me going. Fail. The phone has a different headphone jack than ipods, in fact, different than every other device out there. Specialty earphones. Parfait. 

Darn. I may have felt strong and fresh and motivated, but without the music, there was no more bounding for me. I slowly turned to the right to make a big loop back through the city home. No worries, I loaded my phone up with my favorite running songs and pulled out the "special" earphones to use for the next trip out. 



RIP ipod-- You took me through many long runs, hills, train rides and walks. You were a trusty companion and will be missed.  

Monday, May 10, 2010

Paris in 2 Days

So after taking a 2-wk break from running after the half-marathon, I went back out in the sunshine - FINALLY :) - to get a good run in before I have to race this Saturday in Paris for IMD. Feeling great and looking forward to the race and trip to Paris.

Not only will I get to spend a few days with the students and partners at HEC, but my old part-time roomie from NY has been in Paris for the past month working with the Brazilian Film Festival and I finally get to see her again, as well!

It is hard to tell if I am so happy because it is finally such a gorgeous sunny day out or if it has to do with the proximity of my trip :) I may never come back!

Sunday, May 9, 2010

Happy Mother's Day

Some things never go out of style. 

haha ;) 
Having a loving, fun, energetic and happy mother is one of them! 
We love you MOM! 
love, 
the kids 

Rain rain...

 

We have had rain on and off for 8+ days now. I know it is great for the flowers, trees, plants, whatever. For me, though, it is enough. Thank you for so generously giving of yourself dear rain, but isn't it time you gave the sun a chance to come out and play? I would love to trade in the parapluie for a parasol.

Friday, May 7, 2010

Countdown to Paris

I leave in 5 days to Paris. The first few days will be to participate in the MBAT or MBA Olympics as they are known around here. The top European MBA programs participate in the weekend festivities and competitions. Should be serious fun. Then, I will stay another week with Yann and a couple other friends to enjoy the city and end the week at the Lady Gaga Concert!!

 Paris Fun Fact 5 days to go and counting: 

Paris is known as the "City of Lights" or "La Ville-Lumière," but it has nothing to do with the wattage, at least not at first. It actually was first given this name during the Age of Enlightenment for being a centre of education and ideas. A place where intellectuals would draw other intellectuals, artists, writers and sculptors.


Thursday, May 6, 2010

National Nurse Day and Week- US

Every May 6, National Nurse Day, through May 12, Florence Nightingale's Birthday, is National Nurse Week. Interestingly, Nightingale's Birthday is considered the International Nurses Day.


"Nurses are angels in 
comfortable shoes." 
~ Author Unknown 
:) 



Thanks Mom and all your nursing buddies at the Geauga Hospital for the millions of ways you care for your patients. Through your head and your heart, you balance the act of medicine and science with kindness and love. No one wants to be sick, but knowing that great nurses will be there to help them get through it makes it more manageable. 



Wednesday, May 5, 2010

Not sure I get this...


Ad Campaign


Although, it is official, I finally received in the mail my resident ID card.

I'M SWISS :) 

Week in Recap: The Week of 1,000+ Photos a.k.a. Mom and Dad's Visit

My parents arrived a week ago to visit and for dad to attend a conference. We had 6 full days to make the most out of and we sure did, even with the rainy weather. In the words of Andrew Carnegie- as I learned this week- Rainy weather, “THAT’S GREAT!” Insert anything not-so-positive and end with saying, that’s great! The week started briefly in Zurich, had two days in Geneva, one day in Evian, two days in Lausanne, then a full day back in Zurich.

Mom cheering to the start of a great week! 


We saw the great things Geneva had to offer: Botanical Gardens, UN, Saint Pierre Cathedral, Beaches, Old Town, our family friends and their beautiful home and garden. We ate the fameux Lake Geneva Perch and tasted some local wines (Chasselas was a Mom favorite). We did most of this walking, and walking we did. Mom is in some contest at work and she is wearing a pedometer. "Oh, we walked 19,000 steps today. Nice!" (that is almost 10 miles…insert exhaustion)

Geneva Botanical Gardens also known as Mom's Paradise

Swiss-style Beach

Mom and me on top of S.Pierre Cathedral with Famous Jet D'eau in Background

Friday, Mom and I had the chance to go to France to visit the city of Evian (where the water is bottled) where we spent a few hours at the thermal spaahhhh:)! and then walked through the city, picked up some muguets for our French friends back in Switzerland and headed home for dinner with the boys and drinks. We ended the night at IMD’s Queen’s Day Party where we found Nicholas with orange hair!

Rainy day boat ride to Evian

Rainy days make perfect days for the spa! 

Don't you agree, mom? 

Nicholas and George relaxing after an intense, no-sleep week

Nicholas and my parents at the Party

Saturday and Sunday were spent in rainy and cold Lausanne. We visited the Collection L'art Brut and then ate fondue and ended the night at the White Horse, obviously. Sunday was spent preparing a bit for Yann's surprise birthday picnic.


Yann's Surprise Indoor Birthday Picnic

 Mom and Dad at the infamous White Horse

Monday we left early for Zurich and had a nice day walking throughout the city, visiting the old town, taking the different cable cars up to get views of the city, going to the Dolder Grand for a cocktail, having the obligatory sausage, pretzel and schnitzel and visiting with A&M :)

Landesmuseum, closed on Monday. Fail. 

 Cocktails at the Dolder Grand Bar


Dinner! 
The visit was way too short and I am hoping there is a return in the very near future. There is so much to show you two! Thanks for coming and for such an amazing week!

love you, snicks

Trains, planes

I just had a conversation the other day with my dad about our preferences, or lack thereof, on where we would rather sleep when traveling: a plane or a train. I said it did not matter. Put me in a car, train, plane, boat and I will be out. He said he preferred a plane since there was a landing and a final destination, whereas a train has many stops and if you fall asleep there is a chance you could miss yours.

Never, I said.


What is that saying... "Never Say Never"...?

Yesterday morning, after leaving Zurich where my parents were flying back to the States, I crashed on the 630am train and only waking time and again to try and find a more comfortable position, I finally gained consciousness to look out the window at the sign that said "LAUSANNE." I grabbed my things and ran down the stairs to the exit of the doubledecker train. Just in time to see us slowly pull away...

Oh great. No big deal, I'll get out at Vevey or Montreux. Whichever the next town was going to be. Until I realized that I was on an express train and I was going to Geneva. Great...

Jet D'eau in Geneva 
I guess I have to set alarms now if I am going to curl up on a train again as I just proved the point of my father. Darn.