Well I'm still here! Yesterday I registered for my health insurance (compulsory and on your own). I swear in a country that is supposed to have socialized medicine and the best health care system in the world...they're still just as screwed up as the rest of the Western countries. Basically I get to pay 225 Sfr per month just for entry to see the doctors with a 2500 Sfr deductible. So basically what they're saying is "don't get sick, or if you do, make sure you can afford it." The 225 Sfr covers me for global travel and any doctors I want to see and a semi-private hospital room should I need it. If I need a hospital, I'll be going back to the U.S.! Although doctors here in Switzerland typically train in the U.S. anyway. But if I took a lower deductible, say 300 Sfr, I would pay about 500 to 600 Sfr per month for the premium. As everyone knows I brought over enough medication to start my own pharmacy, so hopefully I won't need to spend my deductible! It took about two hours to walk through everything with an insurance broker (paid by the insurance companies), but he seemed genuine. When things are in a foreign language you're pretty much at the mercy of the people helping you. So hopefully they are honest. It totally goes against my grain to sign something without reading or understanding it. I can only hope that going back to the U.S. will get me out of a lot of these things. LOL
Then I met up with the "American Women in Basel" club. They were nice enough, but it was all women that followed their husbands here, so alas, their days are filled with stuff that I don't have a lot of interest in, but another way to meet people I suppose.
Then in the evening I went to services. Yes I said services. There was a group started about three years ago that is modeled after B'nai Jeshurun in NYC and it was really enjoyable. The people were welcoming and the kids were very cute. It was nice to be around something "familiar." So I will definitely go back for future services and events.
People are shocked that I've gotten so much done this week. But that's just me. I couldn't imagine landing on Saturday and going to work on Monday. It takes FOREVER for an expat to get anything done, since it's usually in another language. Coming early has gotten me a bit used to the grocery stores, bank, etc.
Day 7
They send random things by special delivery from the post office, like pin codes from the bank. So today I had to be out the door by 10.30 to get to the post office before it closed. Seriously in the States they just send the pin separate from the card. They do that as well here, but you have to sign for anything with a "pin" in it. Then I headed in search of the mobile phone store for my "all in German" phone. Last night I sat in front of the computer plugging words / phrases into a translation Web site and actually was able to change the menus to English. Today I thought they must be able to help me at the provider, even though the company that makes the phone (French company - I should have known) said there was no way to do it. They flipped a switch in the computer and e voila, I had voicemail prompts in English! I feel so balanced now that I have a mobile phone that I understand. Also, the iPod video that my parents bought me for my birthday rocks! If you haven't seen "Weeds" yet, for god's sake get thee to Amazon.com and buy the first season on DVD and download the second season on iTunes. This show is so well written and so funny it makes me pee my pants a little every time I watch!
Did I mention that I fried my wireless router on Thursday? Well I replaced it yesterday and today I'm typing from under the covers! If the router is the only casualty in this voltage wasteland, I won't be too discouraged, although electronics are more expensive here even if you take into account the conversion. If you have recommendations for a make / model of flat screen TV that won't break the bank, please do e-mail me. Once I move into my permanent apartment I will be in the market for a size for the living room and smaller one for the bedroom. As well as all knew electrics for the kitchen. Toys! :) I also did a ton of paperwork for the upcoming work start on Wednesday. It's like being a new student on the first day of school. I'm already thinking about what I might wear. BUT, in between Nadia and I are going to her house in France (Vosges region - thousand lakes) on Monday / Tuesday just to get away for a bit. But the days are going by pretty quickly. Although I can't believe I'm STILL feeling jet lagged. It's 1.21 a.m. as I'm typing and I'm still not tired. Hmmm
I have to say thank you to Perri for going out of her way to figure out how to use a phone card in the 21st century. :) I don't have caller ID here so I'm never sure who is on the other end of the phone when it rings, but I love it when she calls. It means a lot to hear familiar voices, even though e-mail is cool, it doesn't take the place!
I'm still constantly shocked by the fact that young school-aged children (9, 10, etc.) are out and about by themselves (on the trams). I know that Basel is the safest city in Europe, blah blah blah, but still! Also, parents never seem to be holding younger children's hands when they walk across the street, across tram tracks. I want to grab them and shake them, but apparently this is how Swiss children are raised. Maybe they are more street smart than NY kids??? Nah! :) Also, and mind you I'm totally NOT fickle, but even the "nice" parts of town here have XXX shops. And again, while I'm not a prude I don't think that children need to grow up any quicker than they already do in the 21st century. I walked around the main square today and caught some gorgeous roses. 
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