Dec

30

Lakeside Performance

Filed Under Family & Friends, Special Events, Travel/People & Places, YouTube | 11 Comments

It was a nice Christmas treat: that is, seeing again the Swiss street performer I first met in Basel three years ago. This time, however, the setting was in Montreux where my husband and I visited the Christmas market by Lac Leman.

I don’t know how he managed to “work” in the freezing cold (around 3 C) the whole time, performing every time he got a coin donation from amused passers-by. He made people laugh and smile with his funny antics. It must have been tiring for him.

I dropped some coins into his bowl, had my photo taken with him, and said good-bye as we went to the nearby McDonald’s outlet for an afternoon snack.

Two hours later, on our way back to the hotel, we spotted the street artist again, sitting on his high chair. I wanted to have a video footage of him with me shaking his hand, but all of a sudden, a small crowd milled around us. The YouTube video above shows what happened next. Our street artist-friend did his routine, dancing and moving his hips here and there like an old man with a pot belly, for the visual benefit of a mentally handicapped lady who was accompanied by a French-speaking gentleman. This scene touched my heart.

I respect this street performer. He works with diligence; he treats his art with utmost care. I think there’s dignity in what he does in the sense that he doesn’t simply beg for money or, worse, steal other people’s possessions.

And I’m just glad that, eventually, my husband was able to shoot my souvenir video with him the night before Christmas. That was more than enough for me.

RANDOM TIP: Show your appreciation to street performers by giving them a tip for what they do.

Dec

15

Pre-Christmas Flight

Filed Under Family & Friends, The Philippines, Travel/People & Places | 11 Comments


All I need is this picture from my brother, who’s temporarily based in Haifa, Israel with his family (that’s my nephew Ethan and my niece Yannah, both sunburned), to remind me that it’s time to buy new bonnets, plus a new set of winter getup, for myself.

I never felt I needed to — until now.

My four-month “academic holiday” — I’d also like to call it “my hiatus from Swiss living” or “my much-needed sabbatical leave” — in the Philippines, where changing jeepneys to go from one destination to another is enough to make me sweat profusely, is drawing to a close. I’m set to fly back to Switzerland in six days’ time. I’m sure I have to make major readjustments in many areas once I wear again my Swiss hat — literally and figuratively.

I would have loved to spend Christmas in my home country where the holiday festivities with family and friends are much more lively and colorful. But the husband beckons.

“Silent Night” here I come. The Swiss Christmas celebration is definitely not like its Philippine counterpart. Don’t expect me to party hop and to eat, drink, and be merry there.

RANDOM TIP: Enjoy the company of your loved ones as you celebrate Christmas this year.