Well, it has been more than six months since we packed up the kids and moved lock, stock and barel from the good 'ole USA to breathtakingly gorgeous Switzerland. I have been working since December 3rd 2007 for a very large firm (to remain nameless at this time) and will be posting a few more blogs on that subject over the next few months. The children (Rory & Jack) have settled in really well, mostly due to the fact that darling husband Ron made the sacrifice to be a stay at home Dad. So, for the last few months, I have been working long hours and seeing very little of my family. For those of you reading this that know me, you are probably shaking your head saying 'how & why' considering or former life was the complete opposite, and for those of you that just stumbled upon this blog you are probably wondering what is so different about one parent (or both) working and your kids being in daycare all day?
The adjustment for Ron & I has been OK. I cannot say either of us are happy with our current life here in Zürich, but we tolerate it. This is just the introduction to who we are, who we were before we moved to Switzerland and who we hopefully will be once we 'settle' here and eventually feel like we are 'home'.
Who are we?
Ron & Mona. Happy couple. Together for 14+ years now. Ron (US born but carries dual citizenship (Irish/US) because he married a lovely Irish girl :-)), went to Culinary Institute NYC and has had a very successful career for the lat 25 yrs as an excellent chef. His creative style and dedication to working with local farmers (even growing his own) has earned him credit and recognition throughout the US and Canada and it all paid off when we were able to open our own restaurant in 2003.
Me - the lovely Irish girl that he married, went to the US in 1994 and fell head over heels in love with him. I worked for 9 years as a wedding/event planner in conjunction with the city park system and let me tell you, it was the most amazing job a girl could ever have.
After finally deciding to tie the knot (in lovely Canadian Wine Country, 2000) we started the search for a restaurant. We both loved our jobs but knew Ron needed to do his own thing.
We also decided to think about starting a family and as we knew we had fertility challenges we naturally and quickly opted for adoption. (I say naturally because of my upbringing where my parents (both teachers) fostered many many babies over the course of my childhood and teenage years).
Ironically, Rory Belle (now aged 5 going on 15) arrived home in August 2003 only 5 weeks old and we opened Rondo's Restaurant September 30th, 2003. The nice thing was she slept in a bassinet under the bar for the first 6 months and due to her exposure to Ron's cooking, has the most amazing palate today at the age of 5. Ron did a blind cheese tasting with her recently and she could name 6 out of 7 cheeses............(I just ate them, did not care about the names).
Little Jack arrived a little more than 2 years later and that is a whole other story. (see separate blogs on the kids/adoption).
We had little chance to return to Europe during the four years operating the restaurant and having both kids, but with the encouragement of my younger brother Shane and his lovely Swiss wife Sylvia, they convinced us to visit last May 2007. That started the snowball of questions as to if and when we would finally take the plunge to move 'back' to Europe. 6 months later............our new address - Zürich city just a block from the lake.
That is the brief description of where we came from, a glimpse into who we are.
Over the next few months I will describe in careful detail more of the who, the what, the how and the what will we do next!....................of the SwissFamilyWise.
Happy Reading,
Signing off for today,
WiseMona
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