Christmas parties

E had his Christmas party at work today. He says they had about twenty different flavors of schnapps lined up on a shelf. At the beginning of the party everyone was speaking English, then High German, then Swiss German. He will go in tomorrow but plans to leave early so he can be part of T's birthday treat. Next week doesn't seem to be a problem. Officially only the 25th and 26th are holidays, but many people are taking the whole week. E has a lot of flexibility with vacation time. Aside from work related trips to his lab or to conferences and talks, though, he is going to limit himself to the pro-rated three weeks he would be allowed under the Swiss system.



The girls have had parties, too. On St Nicholas Day S's teacher scattered peanuts and chocolates all over the floor and let the kids have at them. Why on the floor S doesn't know. She had an origami box to hold the peanuts, but I don't know if that was a craft they did or her own idea. She's not here right now for me to ask. On Friday she has a half day of school which is going to be a Christmas party. In addition, she has had a couple of things like a school assembly during which they all sang Christmas carols. One funny thing - there is a school for younger kids near the shortcut path to the Migros grocery store. It has been strewn with peanut shells since St Nicholas Day.

Even at R's school, which is a high school, there have been activities. On St Nicholas Day there was a group of seniors outside the school dressed as St Nicholases and Schmutzlis ringing bells. Later, they handed out chocolates, nuts, and oranges to R's class. R doesn't know if they did that for all the classes, but them seem to have for the seventh and eighth grade at least. There have been a few other things. I don't think I hear everything, but I did hear about the math class party today since R brought a cake. In fact, she bought a second cake for T's birthday since the shop happened to have his favorite kind.

E brought all our skies and equipment and a suitcase down to the train station. They will send it ahead so it is waiting for us in Saas Fee. E made a small miscalculation. He thought that the cost was 10 francs, but it was 10 francs per bag, with each set of skis and boots in a separate bag. It is still worth it! It would have been absolutely impossible otherwise. We will still have to bring a couple of bags with us - E's computer for skyping the family on Christmas, my backpack full of snacks for the train and diapers*, and a backpack with the clothes that were in the laundry or yet to be bought (L has outgrown everything! Her fleece jacket, her boots, and her Christmas dress - she bursts out of all of them like the Hulk.) I will have to put Christmas cookies and a couple of Christmas presents in there, too, though Santa is going to leave stockings and most things at the house. I hope I remember everything! The thing that I can't pack yet, but keep reminding myself of, and which I am therefore most likely to forget is the camera. Someone please write a comment to remind me :)

* Once we had to travel from Stockholm to Gotheborg on the train and missed by one day a small disaster. A huge snow storm stranded the train for over eight hours. Everyone was cold and hungry and the toilets had problems. Since then I sometimes enter a train wondering how long my provisions would last. It's not usually a concern, but it is when we are going through mountains and snow is forecast. Our usual supplies include lots of water, fruit, rolls, some chocolate, nuts. It's getting dull, though. Any suggestions for different smash-proof snacks that won't spoil?