Country roads

I've been in Basel for six weeks, which is entirely difficult to digest! Last night I had dinner with a friend at my favorite Italian restaurant on the Rhine (which is about five minutes from my house - 10 if I walk). It was a bit warm during the day and then dropped into the upper 60s and sitting there watching the sunset was spectacular (ok so the guys walking by weren't bad either).

And it's May 27 and it was only in the low 60s today. Of course I didn't go out all day and barely made it of my PJs, but it was entirely necessary. We have a long weekend (Monday) off and then I will be in for one day preparing for being out for almost two weeks. Off to Chicago on Wednesday for a major world-wide medical meeting and then home to NYC.

I absolutely can't wait to come home. I'm not exactly homesick, but I miss the conveniences. It's not like Switzerland is a third-world country, but just simple things like online banking, getting mail (because it's all in German), or going to the grocery store can be, simply put, mentally draining. Also, they have a lot of graffiti here and I can't figure out why they don't do anything to get rid of it since they're SO particular about appearances, garbage, recycling, etc. Even in the upscale areas of the city, which I apparently live in, there is a lot of graffiti. It looks awful and REALLY bugs me!

I can't wait for

*ice
* seeing my family (I still think the ice comes first)
*movies (most of the movies are in English, but the German / French subtitles get annoying)
* surfing channels on TV (understanding the language)
* Raisin Bran
* Scott toilet paper
* 60s exhibit at the Whitney
* marathon of the final season of Sopranos on HBO on demand
* air conditioning (not that I've really needed it here, but even though we have it at work it's
not nearly like the U.S. and it gets REALLy stuff)
* noise and grime!

Other than that I really like it here. I still get caught with moments that give me pause that I live in Europe now. Plus, I still wonder where my mail is in the scheme of the universe. Every few days I receive something forwarded, but I know that I'm still missing a ton of stuff and can't quite figure it out.

At work it's pretty funny. Everyone walks around on a daily basis saying, "yea I'm planning to do that after ASCO" (our big upcoming meeting). After ASCO I am planning to join a gym, sign up for German tutoring, find a guitar teacher, and plan some personal trips. Everyone says it will take at least six months to feel settled and I guess since I won't move into a permanent place for at least another two months, that sounds about right. I got an e-mail this past Wednesday that my sea shipment arrived. It only took about 32 days for it to arrive which was shocking! I really want to bank my three months salary, but just the very thought of my "stuff" (including the bed that I'm absolutely mad about) being here in Basel somewhere, makes me want to sign a lease tomorrow! But I want to take my time and feel right about where I'm going to live because leases are pretty much at least for a year or more.

Plus I've internally committed to at least that to really feel like I've had the European experience. Considering a year or even three flies by in a blink of an eye.

So my motto is as long as it remains an adventure, I guess I will stay! I would really love to have visitors!