Jessica From SwissStory Interviews Me

This is a unique kind of chain "mail" or silly survey you see posted on facebook. Bloggers interviewing each other? That's right. Hopefully this will catch on and we can all learn about each other a little more. Especially the community of expat bloggers out there!

Jessica from Swiss Story had a lot of responses to her offering to interview people, including me. Here's my interview answers - enjoy!

Jessica - Q1. Where do you think you would be right now if not in Switzerland?

Tina - A1. I would be back home in California. No question about it.


Jessica - Q2. What do you like the most & the least about living in Switzerland?

Tina - A2. What I like the most about Switzerland is the proximity of everything Europe. So many great places are an easy train ride, car ride, or plane trip away. I also love the scenery. The alps cannot be beat. I also really enjoy all the local farmers markets and the freshness of all the cheeses. I also enjoy the multinationals of Geneva. There are people from every country in the world here (almost). It's not unusual to see a woman in full abayas standing next to an Japanese business man standing next to a old Australian woman on the bus.

I am really starting to be annoyed by the pace of life. People take it easy in most cases. I have only seen people be aggressive when "in line" or in a car when the person in front of them screws up in their mind. They like honking and pointing out mistakes to feel superior. I also think this is isolated to the Francophone parts of Switzerland.

I also HATE THE SMOKING. It is such a hazard. It prevents me from the silliest things. I won't eat at certain places because of the smoking and I won't stand under the bus stop cover, even if its raining, because there is always somebody smoking underneath it. Smokers also seem to put their cigarette out on anything and everything. I am always annoyed to see the young Swiss put their cigarettes out on the bus door button. Everybody has to touch that! It's so inconsiderate.


Jessica - Q3. If you could only eat chocolate or cheese, and not both, for the rest of your life which would it be and why?

Tina - A3. Cheese. Hands down. I'm not a big chocolate fan. I must admit, overdosing on either of those pleasures leads to a major stomach ache. I overdosed on chocolate on my birthday by having a chocolate lunch. Hot chocolate, chocolate cake, and a truffle. Ugh - I did not feel good. I also think there may be more variety in cheese then in chocolates. But that is just my guess. I could never give up creamy goat cheese for a piece of chocolate.


Jessica - Q4. Why do you blog and which blog/s inspire you most?

Tina - A4. I blog because I want to look back and have vivid recorded memories of my year abroad. I don't necessarily care about how many readers I have or what people think. My blog is mainly for me. (and Rob). I always have a million thoughts going thru my head and its a nice place to write them all down. I have considered starting a new blog unrelated to the expat life that is all about politics and religion. I have also connected with old friends - Hi Amanda!  Did you know that Amanda from Quezo Suizo blog is a friend of high school? Funny that we both ended up in Switzerland. 

I think foodie blogs inspire me the most. I love reading all the blogs by the White on Rice couple. 

Jessica - Q5. And stealing from Ms. Mac, if you had to choose a flavor of ice cream that most fits your personality, what kind do you think you would you be?

Tina - A5. This questions is harder then is seems. If I choose Vanilla, I view myself as plain but classic. If I choose chocolate, I view myself as the typical woman who like to indulge. But what I choose is .... lemon sorbet. I am sweet with a sour side. I am also not smooth and creamy but more crystallized and structured. Hence, I don't just go with the flow, I organize and compartimentilize.


Would you like to be interviewed for your blog? I'll continue with the same rules as Jessica . . .

The rules:
1. Leave me a comment saying, “Interview me.”
2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. I get to pick the questions. (here they are!)
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions. Be sure you link back to the original post.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.