Gathering

As you may have well noticed in many of my posts, Switzerland is expensive...like really expensive. The prices in Geneva especially are quite comparable to Tokyo which is surprising considering Geneva is considerably a city in smaller scale. However, taking into the fact that wages in Switzerland are nearly twice as much as other highly developed countries the prices don't see as high. Well, that doesn't look good to us students who earn no money! Stranded in a small city with expensive living standards and what to do? House party is the answer in most cases.

What happens when class gets canceled

We be like..... :D 

Local Genevoise beer

Fun fact: You seen the guy on mug? Yes that's Calvin as in John Calvin from European history class, yours truly. This dude also happens to be the founder of my school. Oh Europe

Another fun fact: my school is older than the ENTIRE history of my home country, dear US (University of Geneva est 1559. Kinda blows your mind huh?)

School Life

I apologize for the massive delay in posts once again! 

School has finally started. My program has 13 people and we have all of our classes. Initially I would've favored a total class around 80-90 but that creates a few factions among the group where as we don't really have the numbers to form such things (at least for now).  I like that we have kind of a strong alliance since we are such a small program. 

  I'm very much amused that we are a diverse group that comes from all walks of life. This is also true in our nationalities and the languages we speak. Of us, we comprise of 11 nationalities (including those that have 2+nationalities) and speak 15 languages total. Talk about globalization? 

More to come on what I am specifically studying and my curriculum but for now, here are some pictures of my dear school. The best part about campus is that it's a 7 min walk from my flat. Nothing beats a short commute. And of course, our main campus building is quite nice as well...except reminds me a bit of the death star building at UC Davis because the classrooms are tricky to find! 

Daily Foods

WI received a request to post my meals I make everyday so here goes a quick glimpse. 

毎日の献立をアップしてとのリクエストがあったのでほんの一部のせますね！

Brunch: German rye bread, red wine stewed tuna, home made yogurt  ドイツ全粒粉パン、ツナのワイン煮込み、手作りヨーグルト

Dinner: Tomato pasta, boiled Brussels sprouts, red wine, yogurt. トマトパスタ、芽キャベツ蒸し、赤ワイン、ヨーグルト

Breakfast: German rye bread with Nutella, figs, grapes, yogurt 　ドイツ全粒粉とチョコクリーム、イチジク、ぶどう、ヨーグルト

Lunch: Brussels sprout and cheese pasta (whole wheat)　芽キャベツとチーズのパスタ

Dinner: Marinated red pepper, Brussels sprout salad, beans, brown rice, wine. 赤ピーマンのマリネ、芽キャベツのサラダ、豆のケチャップ煮込み、玄米、ワイン

Dinner Spinach Tortellini in tomato soup, red wine, bean salad, yogurt 　ほうれん草のトルテリーニ （ヨーロッパ風餃子）のトマト煮混み、赤ワイン、豆サラダヨーグルト　*The tortellini I bought pre-made in the store!

Lunch:  Chinese style joke (with egg and scallions) with lots of chili oil..just the way I like it.  中華風粥

As you can see, I don't eat in large quantities nor do I eat meat but I try to utilise all the food that I buy and most importantly I try to make it balanced and healthy. But then again I have the occational beer and wine. Thanks to my frugal living lifestyle skills I've acquired over the years, my food bills is still quite low. I'll post more details of my bill once they start coming in in the next few months to share ;)  The fruits and produce are fresh and dairy is cheap. Don't worry I'm still surviving!

Second hand shopping

As you know by now, everything in Switzerland is exorbitantly expensive so it's really a brain twister and matter of natural selection when it comes to shopping. You always shop for what you truly need and not put everything in your cart - which is actually quite good for my minimalistic style of living I've been trying out this past few months. 

But then again, there are those few products you don't need but really hand if you had them. For example, a bowl that I can have my yogurt in everyday. And a small plate that I can put my cheese and fruits on when I have dinner. The answer to those questions came by going to a brocantes or second hand/consignment store. It's kind of like a Goodwill/Salvation Army store but with much better taste! 

I went to Caritas which is a favorite chain amongst newly arrived Geneva residents (like me!). One of the good things about living in a city with many expats is that they leave after a few years so they also leave behind many of their daily furniture and goods. 

毎日生活していると、あると便利だなと思うものも増えてくる。例えば毎日食べるヨーグルト用の入れ物が欲しいな、とか台所から部屋に運ぶトレーがあったらいいなとか。が、物価が高いスイス。そう簡単に手に入るものではないので、市内にある大型リサイクルショップに行ってきました☆

スイスは駐在員が多いので本国に戻る際置いていく日用品も多いのでかなり種類も豊富。特に食器類とティーセットはよだれもの（買えないけど　涙）

If you're looking for kitchen utensils and houseware, this is the place to go. There are the most amazing collection of tea sets (I need to come back for tea set shopping when I move into a real house one day!) and glassware sets. Here are some of things I found, most of them a little bit over a dollar. They would've definitely cost at least thrice more should I have bought it at a normal store. In addition I also got a food tray, basket to store my newspapers, and some jars to store my loose teas.

For people with families and living in larger homes, there's also an abundance of furniture, baby goods, books, and lamps.

今回の戦利品はワイン用のコップ、食器用トレー、新聞入れのバスケットなど。大体100-300円ぐらいなのでリサイクルとはいえかなりお得で高品質♪　家族用の家の家具やベビー用品もかなり豊富なのでおすすめです。

Address: Chemin de la Milice 19, 1228 Plan-les-Ouates
Usually open 10-5pm

ヨーロッパ式乾燥肌対策

以前から聞いてはいたものの・・・・

ヨーロッパの乾燥は　ッッンぱないっっ！！！！

どれぐらい乾燥しているかというと、

開けたビスケットの袋をそのまま部屋に一週間放置してますが、

中身は一向にしけることなく、むしろ買いたてのままパリパリです。

そもそもしけるという感覚がないのかヨーロッパッッ！

当然のごとく肌もパリパリで、

日本から持ってきた大量の基礎化粧品の効果もむなしく

ついに赤くポツポツが出てきたので

リサーチをしたところ・・

なぜこうも外人は肌の乾燥に無関心なのかしら？（；；－－）

（外人が老けるのが早いのはこれが原因かと・・・・）

なので頼るはヨーロッパに住んでいる駐在・永住している女性掲示板。

そこで出てきたのが、 

 

日本でもお馴染みのあのニベアの青缶クリーム。最近では某番組で某高級セレブクリームと成分が似ていると話題になりましたよね♪　あたしも東京で使ってはみたんですが薄ーく薄ーくのせないと返って荒れてしまうので、冬の寒さが厳しいときに使っていました。

が、

こっちではパックをしてるのかというぐらい分厚く、頻繁に顔と体に塗りまくったところ、

かなり良くなりました～

やはり郷に入っては郷に従うですね。

ドイツ生まれだけあって、ヨーロッパの人もかなり愛用しているようでどのドラッグストアやスーパーにも置いてあったのでお得でした（大さいずの250ｍｌで2.5ｃｈｆ=300円ほど）☆　ただしこっちの人はこれだけ付けて終わりという感じですが　汗　それだとあまりにも不安なのであたしはベースにこのクリームを薄く塗って、下地、化粧水、そして化粧水＋日焼け止め＋クリームと蓋をしめるような感じで使ってます。

東京にいたら邪道と思われるかもしれませんが、とりあえず肌が現地になじんでくれるまでは続けるつもりです　汗

他にも顔用の加湿器をアメリカから持ってきたのですが、これは正解でした。こっちは水が硬水なのでアジア人の肌に合わないことも多いらしく、ひどい人だとこの水で洗顔をすると顔が真っ赤になるほど。幸い世界中の水に肌を当ててきたので（笑）そんなにひどい反応はなかったものの、やはりお肌の乾燥が気になるので、洗顔はできるだけ控えて加湿器とふき取りのお化粧落とし＋化粧水で朝夕のクレンジングをしています。そして週に一度は日本から持ってきたお気に入りの美顔器で念入りにお肌のお手入れをしています。

またお肌の再生に効くといわれているトマトもなるべく食べるようにしています☆

30代に突入してお肌の曲がり角を通り過ぎたのでお肌ケアに力を入れるようにはしないとね！

[Throwback Thrusday] Japan Part IV: Tokyo (May 2014)

I had 36hours in Tokyo and carefully thought over what I wanted to do. Tokyo was of course, the place I spent almost 7 years of my life. But my life always circulated around work, shopping, and drinking. So this time I took a different approach and decided to enjoy the "views" of Tokyo that I loved and still do. I may be living in a totally different continent but the city still remains close to my heart.

Subway staff with their hats and their white gloves. These men and women keep the chaotic commute sane

Kanda Shrine

People's wishes

Fortunes tied up on branches

People like to line up for hours to get the best ramen but frankly, I like the chain store ramen too. Fast and good service, lots of variety on the menu, and cheap ($8!)

Love the mero subway signs for morality

Tsukiji Hongwanji temple.. back on the home grounds

Tsukiji sells a lot more things than fish... pickles galore!

Fish sold to the public

Simmered seaweed. Best with white rice

$15 watermelons, $10 peaches, $1 PER cherry...yes welcome to fruits of Japan

Izakaya heaven. Best part $3 beers :)

Love Italian food in Japan. Possibly better than Italy itself... (shh!)

Starters were heavenly

The look of utter happiness. It's lasagna time!!!

Stylish cafe

Thank you for meeting up people. Love you all

Cans and cans of coffee

Our family likes to have family meals at the airport..Food at Narita is quite good and reasonable.

Ochazuke goodness at Narita. My favorite place to eat there. 

[Throwback Thrusday] Japan Part III: Country side of My Childhood (May 2014)

Despite all the disaster that the tsunami has caused to the town, miraculously my father's village was more or less unharmed. This I am incredibly grateful of, as not all my childhood memories were destroyed. It's a very quaint and bucolic village which reminds you of the good old days in Japan like My Neighbor Totoro (which explains why I love that movie so much!). The earthquake caused a few monumental destructions and you visibly see temporary housing barracks here and there, but everything is left in tact. And it's beautiful.

Making walnut rice cakes with auntie

Northern region treats, yum

Freshly picked radish from the farm

Uncle just finished planting the rice in the paddies