Category: Travel

A to Z: Adam to Zelg

Zelg, Appenzell, Switzerland: 9 February 2016 There are brief moments when I envy some of my peers in the academic world. They have what I call “the Holy Grail for freelance teachers”: a permanent contract with one school that provides all the benefits an employee could wish for – pension, sick leave, unemployment insurance, written… Continue reading A to Z: Adam to Zelg

Eternal Bliss and the Edge of Madness: Gaga over Dada

Zürich, 8 February 2016 “When the going gets tough, the great ones party.” (Bill Murray, Garfield 2) Granted this is an unusual source for a quote to try and sum up the phenomenon that was born in Zürich, spread around the world, inspired future cultural movements and is once again commemorated obsessively this year back… Continue reading Eternal Bliss and the Edge of Madness: Gaga over Dada

Only imbeciles and Spanish professors: Heidi and Dada

Zürich, 8 February 2016 A series of upcoming new classes has necessitated new books, and as St. Gallen and Konstanz (the cities closest to where I live) have limited options in regards to English language teaching materials, I am here to go shopping. It is a rare opportunity, for normally after Vaduz I would rush… Continue reading Only imbeciles and Spanish professors: Heidi and Dada

Not from my neighbourhood

Landschlacht, Switzerland: 13 February 2016 “I often have to remind people I’m from the New World and all the old rules and formalized hierarchies that stifle and overwhelm others don’t necessarily apply to me. Tell me I can’t do something– are you sure, Dude? Let’s see…” The above statement was posted by an American Facebook friend… Continue reading Not from my neighbourhood

Life and death in the field of women

Frauenfeld, Switzerland: 3 February 2016 “A field of women…how bad could that be?”, was my first thought when I encountered the name of Thurgau Canton´s capital city for the first time. I have been to this city a number of times since I moved to Switzerland six years ago: for job-hunting, for bureaucratic reasons, as… Continue reading Life and death in the field of women

Omens and portents from a rodent

Landschlacht, Switzerland: 2 February 2016 I always smile when I think of this day for I recall my visits to two towns that are famous in the minds of Canadians: Punxsutawney and Wiarton. On this day in February, beneath the town hall in Punxsutawney and in a special house across from Bluewater Park in Wiarton,… Continue reading Omens and portents from a rodent

New Switzerland lost and found

Winterthur, 29 January 2016 Wearing my teacher´s hat again this day…conversation class. Topic of discussion: The Swiss Family Robinson, written by pastor Johann David Wyss (1812), edited by his son Johann Rudolf Wyss and illustrated by his son Johann Emmanuel Wyss, is a story about a Swiss family shipwrecked in the East Indies en route to Australia. The… Continue reading New Switzerland lost and found

The future: Older dog, newer tricks

Winterthur, Switzerland: 26 January 2016 Generally speaking I am not a fan of natural museums, for they often seem to me to be: well, unnatural. “On the Mounted Animal Nature Trail, you’ll be sure to see All Mother Nature’s favourite pets, all sitting rigidly. They’re never hungry any more, their last meal left them stuffed.… Continue reading The future: Older dog, newer tricks

Timely sensations of sex in the city

Winterthur, Switzerland: 26 January 2016 I have very little experience of Winterthur as a tourist as I work as a teacher here twice a week. Ute, my wife, is constantly complaining that I need to get out more and acquire some culture in my life. And whenever she is at home I allow her to drag… Continue reading Timely sensations of sex in the city