Christmas Gifts

When we realized, our Christmas tree who arrived naked to our home was gorgeous.



Godzilla and Ursula brought lots of presents underneath the tree!!

We kept the space for dessert and came back from the restaurant to enjoy cake and presents!!



our second party has started:)



Chocolate cake was baked by aunt but Zeno already had a slice before the party..;-)



So lovely, the Christmas Card from my family in Japan arrived on this day. We opened it together. Funny my brother as usual.. he wrote "I wish you all happiness for new year so please also pray for my happiness". That's typical my brother,,, he's now looking for a girlfriend:)





my dearest Ms. Dior......

I can kiss to the shoe.



I gave my husband CD of Alicia Keys and Paris Hilton. He's a fan of Paris. Sometimes I'm jealous because she's too sexy but I also like her style.

I also gave him comfortable long sleeve pajama since he catched cold during cold night. But the present from Godzilla beat it up!!



Japanese Yukata designed by Godzlla, super cool!



Zeno is more than happy with the gift!! Hey,,, don't you like my pajama!? Ya, I have to admit that this yukata is much more special than boring pajama.

Zeno also gave me sexy dress where I can wear in nice party! I can't wait to wear my shoes and this dress together.



Colorful son and father:)
I baked Lebkuchen (special Swiss Christmas cake) on the day before and invited Godzlla and Ursula for tea party. Lebkuchen was a present from me to them. But if we do such a huge present exchange, next year I will arrange some small gifts to them as well. I had no idea how our Chirstmas will be..

They even wrapped up "Neo Zitron" (medicine for cold:), electronic toothbrush and small book, which are very practical. I didn't want to give them non usuful present but now I know what to do for the next year. I learned something.

1 st Christmas in Switzerland

We are now having our first Christmas in Switzerland. Last 2 years, my husband always visited me in Japan. This year is a little bit different, we have our apartment and ready to have a Christmas as a married couple.

First work we had together for the prepatation is..



getting a Christmas tree!!

I thought we will have small fake Chritmas tree but my husband told me that we will have REAL one!!
Real Christmas tree!! I've never had it in my life!! Our family used to live in US so we always decorated Christmas tree,,, which was "fake" one. As a Japanese standard, anyway it was great to have huge Christmas tree at home, even it's not a real. (having real tree is Japan is almost imposible) Plus, not so many family can afford huge Christmas tree in home in terms of the size of the house. So I was always totally happy at least to have a big tree. I've never imagined myself arranging huge, real Christmas tree in future!!



In our neighbor, there is a Christmas tree market. My husband is carefully chosing which one to take.



and he decided one. So interesting how you wrapp up the tree. you put the tree into a huge ring..



and it is already covered in a net..



pull it out from the other side!!



bottom part is slightly cut to adjust to the base.





we carried it back home.. It's heavy than it looks!!



safely arrived to our home



gently carried it into out living room, on to the base.
My husband took good care of him!!





and take the net away..



slowly showing it's beautiful tree shape:)



all the way up!



the height of the tree was perfect to the height of the ceiling. Just 10 cm away from the ceiling. The christmas tree is standling on the corner of our room but look a little bit lonely.. it's because it haven't been decorated.

I asked my husband to go and buy ornaments. When I asked, I had mixed feeling.
1. I want to enjoy Christmas shopping with him. 2. It's better to go shopping without him so that I can buy only the things I want.

He decided to come with me:)




Ornaments corner of the Globus was beautiful.
First my husband told me that he has no interest to decoration so I'm in charge of chosing it. Yes!!!
So I had an image of the decoration, orange-gold base with a little bit of silver. The photo on the top is my ideal selections. So I carefully chose these items.



But suddenly, my husband came to me with one ornament...



What's this... Did you grab it from disco??



and then came this one. No, you can't see such a tranparent item on the tree!!

I was trying to buy ornaments in package so that you can get similar colors in a good price. But my husband is only intested in those "unique" ornaments which cost almost 15CHF for each!! He said he will pay for all of them..
I couldn't say anything further..

on the way to cashier, these things were added..



so our Christmas tree look proud now. (i hope)


But when you look close,, you'll find funny items such as,,



!?

my husband thinks this bird is like Sandro, his friend:)



oh my god. I don't want black Owl on our tree.. But my husband treat him like VIP.. He is especially satisfied with this owl.. Whatever..

SO does our tree for this year is completed which is a little bit different from what I have planned..

But it's indeed nice to have a real tree in our living room. It smell so nice like in forest.

Thinking of every Christmas I had in Japan, I really feel that my life has drastically changed this year. I've never had such a cozy Christmas for last couple of years. In Japan, you often go out on Christmas with boyfriend and stay outside whole day. This year, I'm spending comfortable time with my husband at home. It makes me realize again that I now have a new family!!



but next year,, I try to have my style of Christmas tree!!
Merry Christmas!!

I cannot write only about beautiful experience!

I had another family Christmas event yesterday. Which was,,,,, most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced!

In Japan, there is a word "和　WA". This one Symbol means "harmony", "amiable", "relaxed", "unstrained".
Moreover, Japanese food are called "和食　Washoku" = "Food of WA". Harmony and collaboration of each foods are important but also "peaceful dining atmosphere" is extremely important!!

Where was peaceful atmosphere yesterday??

Of course I'm thankful for those who spoke high German for me upon their speech. But otherwise, I had no idea what they were talking about. I only felt tension from the way they speek. Ok, maybe it was worse if I understood what's going on. But anyway, was it not a Christmas dinner??

I know I have to learn Swiss German, that's my problem. But even without speaking Swiss German, I can enjoy in many situation. It was not only my language problem that I felt uncomfortable.



So, I have to drop bomb by writing. Those who destroy "WA" have to be prepared for Japanese attack.

Additionally, my grandma-in-law doesn't like me to take photo all the time so I don't have so much this time.

Thank you for the host who organized the party. I understand that it was lots of work. Thank you for my mother-in-law who introduced me officially to the family. But I hope it would be different atmosphere next time.

Girl's day in Geneva

I don't have so much close friends in Switzerland but I have two really good friends happened to got to know before I move here.

One is actually my only colleague now in Zürich. I have to say it was miracle that I got to know her while she was doing internship in Japan. She is Swiss. The other girl is German who I have been introduced by this Swiss girl before she left Japan.
So we all known each others when we were in Japan but who even imagined that all of us end it up living in same country, Switzerland:)

A German girl is now living and working in Geneva. She once visited us in Zürich so it was our turn to visit her in Geneva.

It was really cold day.


After having a real good French style lunch, we went to check Christmas market. Interesting how it's different from the one in Zürich. The shops standing along on the narrow street, but you feel quite open. It's because there's no tall building on this street.



Suddenly comes huge St. Nicolas giving candies to children.



There were lots of artistic, unique, hand-made items.



We bought Maroni (marrons) from friendly woman,



and hot apple juice to make ourselves warm.



We love Maroni!! But I learned that "Maroni" is actually Swiss German. I was using it without knowing it! They told me that something sounds cute, ending with "i" are often Swiss German. Maroni, could turn out to be very bad one or good one. If it's skin are difficult to peel, that's a bad one. Then you have to crush it's inside while you trying hard to peel it. Good maroni are easy to eat.



Hot apple juice was first experience for me. There were some spice inside and indeed make your body warm!



It was a corner of the city, full of French atmosphere. Sometime I have to wonder if Geneva really a city of Switzerland. It looks like completely a part of France.



We tried ice skating to warm up our body again. But I was so scared since there were too many children going crazy and can be easily crush into you. I like ice bahn where I often go in Zürich better.
But skating with friends are fun!

Time went by so fast. It was already 5pm when we left ice bahn. Geneva and Zürich has 3 hours train ride so we had to leave latest at 7:45.



We went to highly recommended cafe which is super stylish and modern louge cafe,,,



but they serve dinner only apart from 7pm. Shame that...



So we went Italian restaurant near the station where serve everything in jumbo size! The portion of pasta was for 3 people!

We had to crack up seeing other guests who are attacking such a huge pizza and pasta alone. This kind of moment, I miss a lot. Joking around and making fun of others with girl friends.



It was cold winter day but heart warming day with good friends. I could have fun even speaking German entirely. I always have feeling that I cannot find real good friend when I speak German. But they know me from Japan and also patient enough to listen to what I say. I really appreciate that.

Thank you a lot to my sweet friends!

First Dentist Experience in Switzerland

I knew it's gonna happen!! One of my teeth had huge operation 6 years ago and it's gum started swelling since 2 months. The dentist who was in charge of me 6 years ago told me that this tooth might won't last 10 years. As he has said, it started showing problem. The problem is that I don't feel anything since all nerves were removed in last operation. Since I don't feel anything, the situation went worse without realizing. I showed to my husband and he instantly decided to send me to his friends who are dentist!

They are actually dentist couple!



(post card found at their home)
They kindly opened their office after working hour so I visited them after my work. I was so afraid.

The clinic was very nice with a view of city. It reminded me of the clinic in Roppongi which I used to go.

I was nervous but it was funny since dentists are actually friend and nobody was there besides us. My husband joined me so it was relaxing atmosphere.

They checked. The most recommendable solution was to pull it out;-) I knew it.

Anesthesia was stronger that the one in Japan. I felt it all the way up to my head, the surface of the skin was twitched.

A girl, who is actually professional dentist for children really treated me well. Her small conversation made me very relaxed. My husband was holding my hand during whole operation. Of course it hurts me when the tooth was really pulled but I went through.

They I heard! "Japanese tooth!".

I was exhausted but opened my eyes and saw,,,, my tooth with 3 roots!!

Normally tooth has only 2 roots but mine has 3!! They said they never seen such a tooth:) That's why it hurt even with anesthesia. It has strong roots!



My mind was quite occupied for a while and I couldn't think clearly. Only thing I remember is when my husband asked them how we could pay. They said "don't worry, it's Christmas present!!". I couldn't believe it! They worked overtime for me but... Dentist in Switzerland is expensive so that was another reason that I was postponing going there. In fact, there are many dentists on the boarder of Germany since Switzerland is too expensive and many Swiss people also willing to have operation outside of the country. So I was also anxious how much the invoice will be.

My first dentist experience in Switzerland turned out to be such a nice one. I've never imagined this. I went into bed with slightly a taste of blood in my mouth but I was so happy surrounded by super kind people including my husband next to me!