Dear Switzerland,
I would like to apply for my C Permit a year ahead of time because in four short years, I have become more Swiss than some Swiss. I realize this is not “the rule” and may involve special votes and über-democratic procedures, so here is my reasoning for your fellow citizens to consider:
-If a tram is one-minute late, I feel like I’m going to have a heart attack.
-I have personally dug out a Schweizer Familie Feuerstelle, buried under five-feet of snow, and proceeded to cook fondue over a wood fire to the amazement of passing Swiss snowshoers (see photo).
-I can now eat an entire cervelet in one sitting.
-When I’m invited somewhere, I now wait outside said person’s door until the nearest clock tower dings our agreed meeting time. And then I ring the bell one second later.
-Last year my gutters were so clean I could drink from them but I still went out and bought a SFr 6 bottle of water anyway.
-I often start capitalizing all English Nouns.
-I consider paying SFr 60 ($60) for dinner a “good deal.”
-I also consider a savings of 10% reason enough to run an advertisement in a newspaper.
-I have gone to two Tunnelfests.
-Finally, I make sure to crowd the door when a train arrives so that the people trying to get off the train can’t.
Anyhow, thanks for your consideration and I look forward to being one step closer to citizenship.
Herzliche Grüsse,
The Hausfrau
Now it’s your turn. Are you worthy of a C Permit? Prove it by leaving a comment below.
18 comments:
Right. I've checked that, that, and that... But I can't check *that*, because ich esse ohne Fleisch... and I have never heard of fondue-ing in the outdoors (*gasp*).
Hmmpf. I think you beat me to that C Permit.
I never ate sausages until I moved here either. But when your choice is sausage or sausage, you slowly learn to eat like the locals.
Eating fondue outside is great in theory. But in reality, my toes were frozen off. Anything for the C Permit.
LOL. I love these! The "good deals", the Tunnelfests, and especially crowding the train door. I too start to get edgy at the one-minute mark at the tram stop. You have earned that permit!
Cracks me up. I love the English Noun capitalizing. I totally do this and have to stop and question which way is right. Scary.
Glad you guys think I'm ready.
Ok Swiss government, I'm waiting...
I get stressed if my neighbors leave they clothing in the drying room for longer than 24 hours! And I will enforce the "quiet car" rules in the train firmly. Does this move me closer to a C permit?
Susan, I think you are ready too!
When I lived in Chicago I took the bus to work every day. There was a "schedule," but I usually just went to the stop whenever I was ready and hoped I wouldn't have to wait too long.
Now I get really upset when my tram is 4 minutes late.
Stephanie, as a former Chicago girl, I know exactly what you mean.
Hysterical - I swear people really do plan their arrival times based on the clock chiming the hour. I've had guests tell me they have driven around the block until exactly the right hour. I am now MUCH more aware of my nasty habit of being early - so gauche!
Hi, I found your link via Expat Blogger!
Being early, the horror!
And welcome, Elisa!
#1, definitely. I'm part German. Punctuality is a personality!
I would also wait outside someone's door until the clock struck the appropriate time. Again, the punctuality thing.
The rest would disqualify me, but I love snow. :)
Snow is good!
nice blog..
the first full sentence my two year old uttered was swiss german. does that qualify :)
Anyway, We applied for C-Permit with all the documents requested a month ago and now waiting..
Anurag
Good luck with your wait! I think having a Swiss-German speaking child definitely qualifies! Especially if you understand him or her!
Why, if it was up to me, this would definitely qualify as a perfect application for a C permit - in fact, I might have even thrown a passport in the mix ;-)
Wow, a passport, I am honored!
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