Season's greetings to everyone!

From amazing, cold but sunny Seoul, merry Xmas and happy New Year with lots of happiness, success and health!

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank all those of you who read my blog regularly and give me valuable feedback!

Reverse culture shock

Due to an unforeseen event I had to jet back to Switzerland at once to see my family last week. While things turned out fine on my family's side, getting back to the country where I spent my last 20-something years triggered something in me that I later identified as a reverse culture shock.
Certainly the grey-cold-foggy-moist weather (see picture from the Sihltal) didn't exactly help me to accustom myself to the Swiss December month, coming from a cold, but beautifully sunny and dry winter in Seoul.

It was when we went out on a Saturday evening in Zurich when the real reverse culture shock kicked in. When we took a tram to the Seefeldstrasse to go for dinner in my favorite sushi bar, Ginger, I was completely dumbfounded to see EMPTY streets. There was hardly a soul outside. Yes, it was a cold evening, but compared to Seoul, there was no icy wind blowing in your face.

Go to Hongdae or Itaewon in Seoul on a Saturday evening, even if there is icy wind and temperatures way below zero, you will still have to use your elbows to fight your way through the masses!

And then in the restaurant, I ordered water, I just said "Wasser". I completely forgot the fact that I would get bottled mineral water that cost me between 3 - 5 Swiss Francs. For a moment, I expected the ominous water bottle you get for FREE and had to remind myself that I wasn't in Korea. And then it took the wait staff around 15min. until they served us the side dishes - which is normal in Switzerland, however, in Korea, we'd already had complained loudly if it was only 5min!

Of course, the best thing about Switzerland are still the ski slopes. I had the opportunity to hit them the day before I left. There are ski slopes in Korea, but one audacious Canadian once said: "There isn't a slope in Korea I couldn't ski down backwards!" Well, in some sense, he is right.

On the flight back to Seoul, I met an interesting and kind person whom I talked with about Korea and many other things. He asked me if I missed home while living in Korea. Without having to think about it and from the bottom of my heart, I said: "I only miss my family and friends, the ski slopes and sometimes chocolate. Other than that - I am really glad to be on the way back to Korea!"

Do I ever want to go back to Switzerland? Yes, maybe sometimes when need some nice quiet place to settle down. But for the time being - NO THANKS. Switzerland has great qualities and I've enjoyed my 20-something years there. But that was before I got to know Korea.

On His Excellency's Secret Service

6 December: Judgment day for all children, Santa Clause is coming to town!

This year, Ossi and I got the honor to act on His Excellency's Secret Service. As Santa and his Little Helper we examined, praised and critized 40 children in the Swiss Embassy.

Afterwards we could dig into the raclette dinner in plainclothes without being recognized even by some grown-ups. Such as the guy who stood next to me at the buffet and said: "Did you just come now? You missed the big show." Hilarious.