Voices Carry

Apparently, you can pick out the Americans in Europe by the level of our voices, how much we laugh, how friendly we are, and by the size coffees we drink. Americans are loud. Or maybe it is just me? I know I am loud. I am okay with this. Swiss are not.

I met my new friend today for coffee and shopping. Michele is also American. She is also loud. WE GET ALONG GREAT!! See I can even type loudly. First the coffee. Because 3 cups just doesn't do it in the morning. Well another one doesn't either. The cups here are small, like espresso sized. So I ordered two each for us. When I told the barista 4 cups please, she asked me three separate times if she heard correctly. Yes, 4 cups please.

See how small they are? Each is like a swallow. Please! Yes, we need four! Well, we sat down and preceded to have a lively conversation. We were having loads of fun, laughing and talking and laughing. We scared away 4 people. They looked at us several times. Did they think this would quiet us down? We were in an open air cafe. Please, think again men! This is not a new experience for me though. On occasion I have helped, okay so I was helped since I did the most talking, in restaurants, to annoy people enough by talking and laughing to make them move. But today records were broken.

Then a walk through the Swiss Home Depot called Jumbo. It probably would have helped others if we made a list. But what fun is that? You have to exclaim over a Star Wars lamp. And you have to shout across an aisle when you found something the other needs. I think we also scared a few people away in the there too. But, again, we were having fun. Hey girls like Home Depot too you know! Then Athleticum. After giggling over the name we went shopping for snow shoe raquets. We found some, and a few other things. No abuelo, I did not buy any shoes! After that was Aldi. Up and down the aisles checking things out and, again, having fun. What is not fun about shopping with a friend? Two of the best things in the world. Plus we found great wine that was cheap. Did you know Aldi does not take credit card? We found that out at the checkout as we were paying. And everyone behind us, as well as the cashier, was staring at us. I think we were the only two people smiling in the whole place. When I said hello to the cashier she gave me a look like I was insane. She just met me. How did she figure it out so fast? Scrounging for money at the bottom of our purses, because hey, we are not giving up that wine, we had eyes rolled at us. And the next girl in line practically kicked us out of the lane. Michele went to pick up one of our bags and was stepped in front of. Um, scuse me! We are just trying to get our stuff. Jeez.

Out the door laughing all the way, Ho, Ho, Ho! We made it to our car with an old man passing us grumbling. He was mocking our laughing. We might have been shushed as well. In the parking lot. Not positive on that though.

Then to the Swiss Costco, Aligro. This place is awesome! I took Michele around. We laughed over trying to push the trolley without running into people. They are rear wheel drive or some such thing. It is not easy to navigate. Again, the looks. Then to the cheeses where there are wheels and wheels of cheese. More fun. Then to the wine section. There were samples. Need I say more?

We had a total blast today. Hopefully we put a smile on just one other person's face. And who cares if voices carry. We weren't swearing (where anyone else could hear us) or being mean. We were having fun. Come on! Life is short. Might as well make the most of it and laugh as much as you can. Especially at yourself....

Oh and I forgot about the guy in the car next to us. We were in the turn lane, talking again animatedly. The guy next to us was staring at us. Michele, in an aside, mentioned it. I turned, looked at him, smiled and waved. He was not sure what to do. He looked a bit confounded. Hopefully he will at least smile when he thinks of us later.