Good morning! Tuesday is here and while my week still doesn’t feel normal yet, it’s feeling a lot better.

My Day

I survived my first day of work and even have an official Geneva office badge to prove it! I would also consider having 4 “coffee meetings” but only 2 small cappuccinos during the 9 hour day a caffeine win as well. Overall my day yesterday went really well as everyone was very friendly and welcoming. This week will be lots of paperwork to ensure all my Swiss work visa processes go smoothly, meeting with many new people for on-boarding sessions, running errands, and ensuring that by next week I’m set up and ready to go with my new Swiss iphone and storage places in the office. One of the most refreshing things about the environment where I’m working is the lunch hour.

The Sacred Lunch Hour

This is a sacred thing and evidently very Swiss but unless there is a special situation, almost everyone enjoys lunch in the work cafeteria from 12-1pm. People either sit with their team or schedule friendly lunch dates with people during this time. But, the fact that the step away from their desk and invest in an hour of recharging while eating lunch is such a refreshing concept. In New York City the vast majority of people in my office dashed out to lunch to grab a salad or sandwich and then ate it during a meeting or at their desk while working. No one schedules work meetings during 12-1pm for the most part in the Geneva office so people can really enjoy this time.

Since there is also a small gym in our office, some people use this time to workout instead or take advantage of the yoga classes offered two days per week onsite. As I do not have a family here in Geneva, I will most likely focus on working out before or after work and enjoy the lunch hour with colleagues. I am most looking forward to eating on the outside terrace which is open during the warm months of the year!

My Evening

I left the office around 6 yesterday and was home by 7pm after taking the tram back and stopping at the grocery store, Migros, for a few essentials. While there I found that salmon was on sale. I was immediately inspired to sauté salmon for last night’s salad which was an incredible decision!

After a 4.1 mile run along Lake Geneva, I came home to make the salad which I thought about during my entire run! I highly recommend you make this salad this evening as it was one of the most delicious summer salads I’ve made and only took 10 minutes!

Warm Salmon Summer Salad

• fresh mixed greens
• 1/4 an avocado thinly sliced a top the greens
• 4 small tomatoes sliced a top the greens
• green onions chopped
• 1 peach sliced a top the greens
• 1/4 cucumber sliced a top the greens
• sprinkle of feta cheese
• fresh dill sprinkled on top
• sautéed salmon
• drizzle of olive oil and balsamic on top of the salad
• salt & pepper for taste

I spent the next hour and a half enjoying some quality time with my friends and family back home!

It took a while to figure out some kinks with both Google + Chat and Skype but by the end of the evening I enjoyed a 30 minute conversation with Theodora and almost an hour conversation with Bo. Unfortunately, due to internet connection I could see both of them and hear both of them but they could each only hear me. This afternoon Swiss Com is coming to the apartment to set up our phone and wireless so hopefully that will help.

Last but not least, I won’t have my new Iphone until later this week or early next week which means taking pictures will be limited. In addition, I have to buy a new SD card as I lost mine during the move. Hopefully by tomorrow I’ll have this and be able to return to taking pictures.

Hope you all have a great Tuesday and that the heat breaks shortly for those of you suffering! I hear that even some of the banks have deemed this week business casual so no one suffers by wearing suits to work in New York City! Be safe out there if you are running outside!