to go out or not to go out that is the question?

I like to think of myself as a professional but sometimes its difficult to remain so.  Like last night I had lots of work but stayed out longer than I should because I was having a nice time, the result working well past 11pm.  Tonight I have been invited out, now I know I see my grade 10's for the first time tomorrow my social brain says go my teacher brain says stay in and get your preparation done.  Sometimes its just annoying being sensible!!! 

On a completely different topic I now understand the train announcments in german.  Given my german is barely basic I am quite proud of this acheivement.  Also I can understand some of the articles in the free newspapers that are always on the train.  If I could translate this into talking I would be doing quite well!

Random Observations

I have lived in Switzerland for 6 weeks now and here are some of my observations:

Shoes - they are overpriced and ugly, I dream of office and schuh in the UK, I saw a pair of ballerina pumps 100CHF. It would be ok if the shoe shops looked nice but they just stack the shoes on boxes!  I don't want to look at the prices in nice shoe shops but I reckon I could probably get a pair of paul smith heels for around the same price.

Tourists - they are everywhere they stop in front of you and take a photo of the most bizarre things like the post box??? Also on the bus when you are holding your shopping.  One women smacked me in the face with her backpack and shouted at me for being in her way!  I have devised a system, I propose we have tourist pig pens where they can take pictures until their heart is content and on the Kappelbrucke have a tourist lane and a lane for residents avoiding anymore backpack in the face incidents.

Cheese - I love it some of it is too strong but the emmental is amazing!

Alcohol - I was in a bar the other day and it was 5chf for a coca cola light or 5chf for a beer guess which I chose!  Obviously alcoholism is a not a major problem here for starters they have rooftop bars with fences right at the edge of the roof.  If there were the same thing in Britain guaranteed there would be the following headlines: Murder, Accidental Death, Suicide and Death by Misadventure.  Brits with booze is always bad here they can handle it ............. most of the time

Cinemas - not multiplexes here, I went to see a movie 3 rows from the front I am not tall but the cinema screen looked and felt like it was at the end of my nose, I had to move my head to see what was happening then the film stopped for a break.... madness!! I have never been to movie and asked the person next to me what they thought half way through the film.  Having been slightly scarred by this experience I reluctantly agreed to go a different cinema this one was good you could take glasses of beer in however, there was no break and I found myself disappointed by the fact... which is even crazier!

Banks - oh my god I think you have to be a model to work in them.  The first time I went in I was seriously under dressed so now everytime I go I get dressed up like I am going to a job interview.

Music - Britain has an overinflated opinion of its music lets face it Paul McCartney, the Beatles they are a bit crap............sorry.  However I would gladly listen to the frog song on a loop rather than listen to some of the music I have heard here.  I was at a concert and the band were a rock, jazz, hip hop combo it was as successful as it sounds.  When the singer sang everyone get on your knees everyone did ... its not literal people its a song.  Other musical highlights include a saxophone player playing to a backing track at ear drum splitting decibels, a singer trying (and failing) to be Leonard Cohen, an M People reject act and the worlds most white middle class rappers.  James morrison played two sold out shows here that says it all.  I have seen bands I liked advertising gigs (maximo park, stereophonics, etc.) but they never venture out of Zurich.

Technology

It is driving me mental here in der Schweiz.  First I get my broadband set up but it seems that the wireless password will forever remain a mystery to me.  Then I get a television connection but it does not work with my television so I am paying for something I can not use ..... Excellent!!!!!!!