At the foot of the European sapin de Noël and on the edge of a New Year, warm greetings from Switzerland! So what's been going on? Hope you are well.
Since last writing mid-year, I've changed apartment for the 5th time, returned to visit Montreal and have a new job in Geneva. Im now working at a multinational consumer products company and meeting lots of young people. For Christmas, I'll be with my girlfriend again, near Berne, in a snowy and sleepy little village. Will probably stay there for New Year and ski in-between.
It's certainly been a tremendous first year in Europe and in comparison to NZ, the main thing lacking is the beach but the best thing is the variety of languages here and how that can excite you. The musical flutter of tongues (and body language to accompany) is quite a cacophony in the workplace. The prices of your daily bread, your eggs and your yogurt comes in higher but the instant hit of euro/swiss-wages on your cost of living means you hardly notice it and can actually save generously, something that has insulated the fanatically industrious Swiss from recessionary reverberations. That aside, I had the opportunity to see Sabine Meyer in concert (a world famous clarinettist) for only 10-francs.
I took a 10 day trip in September to Montreal to re-visit McGill mates, (la Banquise too) and actually felt a bit home sick for Canada for whatever reason. It was great to see my sister in New York in the middle and squeeze the most out of party-nights like in 2005.
Should you be travelling in Europe as I know some of you are, look me up, my new address is below. As ever, I'll have the kettle on and may get out the tagine if you arrive near 7pm. There have been 5 or 6 visitors so far and that's been great, especially with Geneva being more or less a transit town and new friends leaving after short spurts.
Well I hope you're kicking back this Christmas, many of you at the beach with the barbie, others in far off lands, deserts, or even in chalets with thick blanketed snow. I wish you happiness and good laughs and hope you share the stroke of midnight with a good kisser.
Bon panettone haha - and send your news this way! feel free to skype me too.
Kirk
Rue Jean-Dassier 5
1201 Geneva
Switzerland
mobile +41 78 884 6922
skype: "KirkHavelock"
Since last writing mid-year, I've changed apartment for the 5th time, returned to visit Montreal and have a new job in Geneva. Im now working at a multinational consumer products company and meeting lots of young people. For Christmas, I'll be with my girlfriend again, near Berne, in a snowy and sleepy little village. Will probably stay there for New Year and ski in-between.
It's certainly been a tremendous first year in Europe and in comparison to NZ, the main thing lacking is the beach but the best thing is the variety of languages here and how that can excite you. The musical flutter of tongues (and body language to accompany) is quite a cacophony in the workplace. The prices of your daily bread, your eggs and your yogurt comes in higher but the instant hit of euro/swiss-wages on your cost of living means you hardly notice it and can actually save generously, something that has insulated the fanatically industrious Swiss from recessionary reverberations. That aside, I had the opportunity to see Sabine Meyer in concert (a world famous clarinettist) for only 10-francs.
I took a 10 day trip in September to Montreal to re-visit McGill mates, (la Banquise too) and actually felt a bit home sick for Canada for whatever reason. It was great to see my sister in New York in the middle and squeeze the most out of party-nights like in 2005.
Should you be travelling in Europe as I know some of you are, look me up, my new address is below. As ever, I'll have the kettle on and may get out the tagine if you arrive near 7pm. There have been 5 or 6 visitors so far and that's been great, especially with Geneva being more or less a transit town and new friends leaving after short spurts.
Well I hope you're kicking back this Christmas, many of you at the beach with the barbie, others in far off lands, deserts, or even in chalets with thick blanketed snow. I wish you happiness and good laughs and hope you share the stroke of midnight with a good kisser.
Bon panettone haha - and send your news this way! feel free to skype me too.
Kirk
Rue Jean-Dassier 5
1201 Geneva
Switzerland
mobile +41 78 884 6922
skype: "KirkHavelock"
