Ali – I know what you are thinking. Do the Swiss celebrate Halloween? Absolutely not! That goes against every orderly Swiss fiber in their bodies. However when you are a country infested with ex-pats, Halloween parties happen despite your best efforts to maintain decorum.
So Maya was invited to join the British girls at a Halloween party on the 30th. Usually she would be in a state of frenetic excitement over this invite but instead she entered into a Halloween costume manic depression – listed in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders as a state of cycling angst and demoralization over a lack of an appropriately awesome Halloween costume. So off we went to Bahnhoff Strasse to Claire’s, where for only 62 CHF we purchased a blue wig, makeup and some accessories. We found a sparkly top at H&M for only 40 CHF. Thus for a mere 100 CHF Maya was transformed into…..errrr…..well we still aren’t sure but she looks pretty cool.
Joe and I are just waiting for November 1 so we can try to return everything. Well everything but the blue wig, which I may have to borrow.
Joe: Happy Halloween! Maya actually went trick-or-treating this evening. This is not so easy to do, since children are more likely to be greeted by a befuddled Swiss Großvater as a cheery expat. There is strength in numbers, so Maya met up with some friends, and their friends for a costumed night on the town. And they had some success to boot. The offerings of dried figs were offset by whole chocolate bar winners (the Swiss were digging deep in their cupboards, apparently), and after a couple of hours on the streets, Maya has a Tasche of sugary loot that should last at least the week.
Although Maya wins the too-cool-for-school prize, my favorite costume was a Swiss Army Knife. Brilliant.
Happy Halloween, and Happy Birthday to Cousin Jake! 14! Holy cow.
