Will America be delighted with the antics of “Keeping up with the Olsons”?  Will casual acquaintances drop their jaws in shock when seeing our pictures in supermarket tabloids? Maybe someday… but the dream is on hold for now.  For the last few months Melissa and I have been in the interview process for House Hunters International. … Continue reading Reality TV Stars? →

This weekend there was a music festival just a short walk from our apartment, in the town of Renens.  It was called Festimixx, and it took place both Friday and Saturday.  There were many art vendors and food booths, as well as three stages of music. The best part though was that entrance was free, so on Saturday Melissa … Continue reading 14 June 2015 Update – Festimixx →

This week has been hot.  Our highs have been in the 80’s (Fahrenheit) everyday since Tuesday, and we broke into a new decade of Celsius degrees on Friday, when the high was 86°F (30° C).  I don’t remember 80’s feeling this hot in Minnesota, and part of that might be because we don’t have air conditioning in … Continue reading 7 June 2015 Update →

I’m happy to report that our guest bedroom saw some use again last weekend!  My cousin Sam Diedrick, who’s been working for the Navy in Naples since the start May, decided to fly up to see the Swiss life firsthand.  We visited Geneva, Lausanne, the north shore of Lake Geneva, and the town of Sion; in the evenings we … Continue reading Sam’s Visit – May 29-31 →

After living in, and traveling throughout Western Europe for six months I find myself constantly reminded of ways in which Europe still lives in the shadow of World War II.  In some ways it’s very passive, such as a yearly paid holiday in France to mark V-E day. Sometimes you have to look for it, like … Continue reading Margraten →

Switzerland doesn’t celebrate Memorial Day, but by coincidence a holiday that is celebrated, Pentecost Monday, fell on Memorial Day this year.  Melissa and I took advantage of the three day weekend to visit Amsterdam and the American cemetery in the south of the Netherlands where Melissa’s great-uncle is buried. Even though we live in the … Continue reading Memorial Day Weekend in Amsterdam →

This week we went to an event called “Vivapoly” on the EPFL campus.  It’s a fundraiser for all the university’s student organizations.  There was beer, food, karate demonstrations, a person in a panda suit, and a kind of no door porta-potty I’ve never seen before. Food and Beer with Melissa’s Group Karate Demonstration Panda Suit Outdoor … Continue reading 24 May 2015 Update →

Saturday May 16th Melissa and I journeyed to the canton of Fribourg, and the towns of Gruyères and Broc.  On the menu were Gruyère cheese, and the Cailler chocolate factory tours. Our first stop was  Gruyères.  The train ride was an hour and a half long complete with typical Swiss views of rolling hills, pasture, farm fields, and … Continue reading Cheese and Chocolate: a Tour of Swiss Delicacies →

Iconic to Switzerland are the Alps with their sheer snow-capped peaks rising throughout the southeast of the country.  Lesser known are the Jura mountains with rounded tree covered tops running the length of the French border.  The second highest peak in the range is Mont Tendre at 1,679 m (5,509 ft); just 13.5 miles from our apartment it dominates the view … Continue reading Mont Tendre →

Living in the heart of Europe, in one of the oldest and richest countries, we sometimes feel a need to take in some of the sophistication and fine arts that are to be found all around us. Tuesday evening was such a time.  Melissa and I  journeyed to historic centuries old Lausanne to take in … Continue reading 10 May 2015 Update-Swiss Cinema →