Powder, Pucks, and a Little Hulk
Winters are one of the main reasons you’d move or travel to Switzerland. It’s what you picture, where you’re sure they’ve found the inspiration for countless snow globes all over the world. Chloe Kim and other Olympic skiers and snowboards live here for seasons at a time to train. So, if you’re here, before too long, you’ll make the trek to soak up the snow and the sun shining above the clouds that seem to form a lid on Lausanne and anything else down below. Your jaw will drop in awe at the views way up in the mountains, and you’ll be living that that winter wonderland life, too.
But, at least for us Roddens, that winter life doesn’t come without a few bumps along the way. It’s magic and it’s a mess often all in the same day.
Sometimes you book ski lessons for all four of you, and then you leave Nash’s skis at the train station down the mountain, so two of you ski while the other two have snowball fights, slide down hills like slides, and wait to wave like crazy when the others come back around on the button lift.
Maybe the next time you go, you’re all set for ski lessons for all for of you, and you’ve got everyone’s skis because you’ve triple and quadruple checked this time, and you get on the train only to find another train has derailed up the mountain and you can’t make it up the ski-lift with a 3 year old. We’ve made lemonade from lemons before though, so we go to the kids’ bunny slope behind the train so we can all let Cooper show us how much of an “expert skier” he’s become and to get Nash some extra time on skis. Which excites Nash until he finds he can’t keep up with Cooper, and hates holding on to your leg or your hand or your pole, so he just plops down in the middle of other kids’ lessons. And when he feels up for the challenge again, and you’ve hooked up the harness so he can ski standing up while you hold on behind, maybe you make the world-ending mistake of nudging him so he has a little momentum. Now…well, now you and your three-year-old attract all the attention and every eyeball on the hill as he melts down into the snow, skis kicking and flailing, before turning over and screaming, “You’re—a—WOOSER (loser)!!!!”
Side note. This kid doesn’t handle disappointment or frustration well. He’s the same dude who just a few weeks ago got annoyed at having to ride his scooter up a hill. The same kid who proceeded to jump off, sidekick his scooter over, and proceeds to focus his rage on the guy who allowed him to bring and ride his scooter in the first place by screaming: “YOU WUIN (ruin) ME!”
Who screams you ruin me at anyone?
Where does a three-year-old learn that phrase?
Granted it’s not original, but am I allowed to turn around and yell it right back?
Yup, he’s the same punk who cuts over on the sidewalk right in front of your feet at a Christmas Market, trips and falls down, and turns to shout at me as I stumble to not fall directly onto this under-cutter: “Why you TWIPPIN’ me all the time!” while Lisa and Cooper snort and wipe tears from their eyes, cackling at the near two-person pile up and fury that capture the true essence of the holiday spirit.
Did I say Happy New Year from Switzerland already? Happy New Year!
All in all, honestly, life is so good. It’s a mild winter here so far, with temperatures staying in the 40s and no real snow to speak of here by the lake. Just up the hill 15 minutes, where the boys’ school is, they’ve had a little snow, and the mountains have had enough, but it’s been a clear, beautiful, more-sunshine-than-not winter so far.
One of the perks about Swiss living is the expectation of independence for all ages, even kids. Even though Lisa and I have tried to help Nash and Coop ski a few times, it’s so much more rewarding (while allowing us all to stay a little more sane) to watch them struggle, try, focus, and work to ski with instructors. Watching their confidence grow, getting a thumbs up as they practice skiing down the hill as you ride the button lift back up the hill (Lisa and I aren’t aces by any means either, yet) reminds us that they can do a lot more than we give them credit for sometimes.
Because he’s in Year 1 (kindergarten), starting last week, Cooper got to start ice skating once a week with his class on Thursday afternoons. The peer pressure and encouraging instructors kept his whole class happy, tough, determined, and trying for their first crack at it last week. He’s also choosing to take Taekwondo (ever-excited to embrace his Korean heritage) and water colors as his two school-provided after school activities this term. After trying out a bowling alley on New Year’s Day with some local friends because it was one of the few things open, Coop’s decided to become a professional bowler when he grows up. We’re planning his birthday party there in about a month.
Nash is still in school two days a week in the same building as Cooper. Whether he’s ready to burn the world down or light it up with his smile and personality, he never fails to bring passion and energy to his days. He comes home talking about baking, music, trips to the forest, puzzles, and spending time with his friends. Because the refrigerators are small in the apartments here and the freezers are even smaller, he’s my grocery store/bodega buddy seemingly every other day.
Speaking of shopping, on the weekends, we do any family shopping we need to take care of on Saturdays because everything closes on Sunday. Sundays are meant as a day of rest—a day to spend with family. Some weekends we’ll go up to the mountains for a day to try and finally get this family skiing thing down, or to find a good sledding (they call it sledging here) or tobogganing hill to take advantage of the snow higher up. We also try to travel a bit on Sundays if there’s a day trip we can make. Nash is always down for an adventure, with Cooper digging his heels in the whole way but ultimately enjoying exploring with the rest of us when he gets there.
A couple weekends ago, after a year and a half, we finally managed to head to a French town just across the border. Ah France, where the meat is cheaper, you can get instant mac and cheese, and lots of non-perishables are less expensive too. Amazon also ships to France, but not Switzerland. There were a few people opening big Amazon boxes in the parking lot, no doubt getting their online shopping fixes as they unboxed treasures and values the Swiss only dream of (or have to travel across the border to pick up, I guess).
There’s always something new to figure out, witness, and/or explore. Some weekends it’s the French Amazon Connection, and the next it’s the 2020 Winter Youth Olympic games, which are taking place in and around Lausanne right now.
First, we took in 3-on-3 hockey (4 on 4 with the goalies). Tickets are free for all events if you sign up online in time, and we got to sit right next to the ice. The boys jumped out of their seats the first time a puck hit the glass, their heads spinning at how well and fast the Youth Olympians could skate and how flexible those goalies can be. Then we checked out a full 6-on-6 hockey game where Russia handled Canada. With his recent practice on skates, Cooper caught the hockey bug hook, line, and sinker. He followed the puck, admired how tough they were when they slammed into the boards, and was quick to judge the puck-handling and passing skills of each team.
We had such a good time, we decided to go back to an 8 pm game on a school night the following night, to see how Team USA stacked up against the Swiss team and their legion of fans. Lisa helped the boys make USA signs to wave for the game, because when you get a chance to live up to everyone’s preconceived notions of the loud Americans, why not lean in a little bit? (This time, Lisa caught the full force of Nash’s wrath when he couldn’t make the sign look like the vision in his head. “YOU BWEAK (break) MY WIFE (Life)!” he screamed over his shoulder as he stormed out of the room. At least he’s an equal-opportunity rage monster).
We were able to get good seats next the American bench, and the boys loved waving their homemade signs and trying to wave at the players as they warmed up. One of the guys stopped right in front of the glass and pointed to Cooper, who soaked up the attention like a sponge but had no idea what to do. Then he tossed a puck up and over the glass to me, and I passed it to the boys. I’m not sure who taught this 15-year-old guy how to make a hockey fan for life, but he’s already got the skills of a pro. Cooper’s eyes were saucers and he couldn’t wave fast enough or yell thank you loud enough. USA won their game 8-2 with speed and some great handling and passing, and Coop has slept with the puck the last three nights.
Tonight during dinner, Nash chose a picture of my guys’ trip to Green Bay as something green while playing I-Spy. I asked the boys if they’d want to go see a Packers game with me someday. Nash, mouth crammed full with pizza, nodded enthusiastically and immediately. But Cooper? Cooper said, “I’m kinda not as interested in football or American football or the other sports right now, Dad. Will you take me to a grown up hockey game some time?” Luckily, we’re picking him up from school early on Wednesday and Lisa is working from home so we can all go to the Gold Medal game. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie might be a world-renowned children’s book, but I think there’d be more truth in the potential follow up in the series: If You Toss a Five-Year-Old a Puck.
Again, Happy New Year! We hope your New Year is off to a good start, or that it’ll get better soon.