Are the Swiss unfriendly?

Occasionally I'll be asked this question by people who visit or move to Switzerland and find it hard to find friends. One thing I know for sure is that if you have friends in Switzerland they are great friend and the friendships last for life (I've already lived long enough to say that, right :-)
So are the Swiss unfriendly? So far I've observed in the Swiss German parts of Switzerland that the younger generation is way more friendly and open to foreigners, new ideas and changes. The older generation likes to keep things private, thinking nowhere else except inside the box and usually isn't very friendly towards foreigners or new concepts and changes. But i think you can also find that a little everywhere.
I've also noticed that alot of the Swiss usually are good finger pointers and fault finders. And if there's something going on in the world like the US invading Iraq then they're usually unfriendly toward Americans.
But I haven't noticed them being generally unfriendly. Of course, i did grow up in Zimmerwald, a little village outside of Bern and still have a lot of friends there. When my family moved to Meilen, on the lake of Zurich, I made new friends there. The Swiss are proud of their dialect of Swiss German. And yes, I had to take alot of crap about my dialect being very different from my class mates'. But I learned to speak Züridütsch too. And I still have alot of great friends all around Zurich too.
I think that maybe when we come to a place in Switzerland where we don't speak the same language or dialect that pride of the language kicks in and that's maybe part of the trouble, at least at the beginning. But we have to try to adapt, try to speak the same, even if we suck at it. People DO open up when they see that you're trying.
By the way, that's also a general rule for if you're ever in the french speaking part of Switzerland or in France. Most french speaking Swiss also know German, actually even very well. When you go there and you try to speak german with them, they usually won't help you and aren't friendly. But if you at least try to speak french and suck at it, they usually see that you're making the effort and open up, usually they'll even proudly speak german at times if you get stuck.
In France it's alot the same. Usually you can get by by asking if they speak english the first thing you say, not a god idea though. But if you actually try to speak french with your very appearant non-french accent, doors open up and you'll probably be having a conversation in english a few minutes later. The French usually are proud english speakers too.
So I guess the biggest problem is a pride issue and if you raise the person in front of you above you, let go of some of that pride, then things get easier much quicker. Don't forget, you're in THEIR country.

some recent blurbs

yeah.. after this crazy day at your favorite coffee shop i've been doing some thinking.. i mean, my manager seems to just keep picking on me and think of reasons to give me crap.. i know he won't fire me because he doesn't want to hire new people and wait until they're trained well enough. but gosh, he's starting to drive me crazy.. maybe i'll leave first.. or transfer - just what he wants anyway..
especially now that i got my review i realize that i can't make it right for him anyway. first he tells me what needs to improve, then when i've improved and even he acknowledges it, then something else is bad.. and the review is just as crappy as the last one...
so WHY EVEN TRY when there's no difference???

Well, the difference is that i try and fail knowing that the outcome will be the same as if i don't try.. i just keep it to myself.. except today was an exceptionally bad day for me.. not sure why though.......

Other than those minor frustrating details I'm really happy and thankful. God has opened so many doors and shown me his grace countless times since i've moved here (and before too). It's really exciting to watch his plan for my life unfold the way it is and visions and dreams that he's shown me years ago start becoming a reality.
Oh, what exciting times we live in right now!!

We are the rich man in the parable

In sunday's message Steve gave us an example of how rich we (Americans) really are and put some things a little more into perspective for me. He read a recently conducted statistic that shows the following (and more):
- The US is 6% of the world's population, but we use 40% of its resources
- Only 8% of people who live in this world can afford to have/drive a car
- One billion people in this world do not have clean drinking water
So I have been thinking about it.. Gosh, we are really blessed! One thing that comes to mind also is the parable of the rich man and the beggar in Luke 16. I cannot help but but draw a parallel between us as the rich man and the 3rd world as the beggar.
The story does not end very happily for the rich man and I think that we are very likely to end up the same way if we don't do everything in our power to help the "beggar" of this world. The rich man lets the beggar have the crumbs of bread that fall from his table. But that's really just a lame gesture to use as an excuse to have actually done something to help the beggar. It's the rich man's "junk" - the stuff he doesn't want.
As the rich man in this world, we have to give more than is convenient to us. And especially not just our junk! It's still better not to waste what someone else still might be able to use. But to do this right, we need to invite the beggar to sit at our table and enjoy the meal with us. And we need to take care of him, fix up his wounds give a bed, a bath, clean clothes.
I understand that there's a lot of things already being done out there and I'm very happy for that. But there is just so much that still can and needs to be done. Myself included, we live in our own individual worlds and would rather have the newest gadget than help someone else in some 3rd world country get food for a month or clean water or maybe some medical aid.
I think when we start living more outside of our comfort zone to help someone in need, the closer the true kingdom of God will come into this world.

how can TV become an idol?

Yes, I've just finished my first accelerated quarter at the Art Institute. Five and a half weeks instead of eleven, but twice as fast. Now I have three weeks off until the next quarter starts. That means more work at Starbucks. But it also means having more free time. Sadly, I've realized, it also means more time to be doing nothing.
Most of my time is being spent in front of TV watching movies and series that I'm not really interested in. Finally, these days I've been coming to my senses. TV and the programming of the many stations have been dictating my life. When will I go out to buy groceries? Usually after I’ve seen this episode of “Law and Order”, and maybe even after the next one.
When I find myself doing this day by day, that’s when I need to watch out and learn to just switch it off. I can’t lat this device, that’s now become an idol; dictate the pace of my life.
As I was telling Gina today, maybe I should go out more, like to the beach, maybe pick up surfing. Yeah, right… Surfing!

It's done!!

Woohoo, it finally all worked out! I mean, going to the Art Institute. And of course getting approved for the student loan. So on Thrusday, May 11th, I had my first class, Fundamental of Design. Very interesting.. I am so excited!

on second thought

on second thought and after reviewing the programs at the Art Institute a little closer I realized that I would be a much better fit for the Interactive Media Design program. because of what is being taught I realized that there I would basically be earning college credit and a bachelors of science in Interactive Media Design all while I'm doing stuff that I've been doing on the side for years!!

how 'bout something completely different?

you know.. i was just thinking.. what if i go back to school and study something completely different than bio/chemistry or teaching..?
how about art, media, design? i checked out the website of the Art Institute which is located very close to my new place and kinda got interested, http://www.aicasd.artinstitutes.edu/
i was thinking that getting a Bachelors of Science in the Media Arts & Animation Program could get very interesting and
is something that I already like to do a lot..
What do you think about all that?

i moved

aha

Ok, so here’s the deal..
in some earlier entry I mentioned the story of when Joshua led the Israelites into the promised land and I was wondering about the whole promised land thing. But what keeps getting clearer to me now is the part where the Israelites ate from the produce of the land and the same day the manna stopped coming.
Now, for some reason I thought that there’s something very significant about that event at the time but I didn’t know why. But that’s the part I’m starting to understand now and why it’s so significant.
See, in the desert they’ve been eating manna from heaven every day – Gods supernatural provision – for 40 years. When they came into the promised land it was a land they no longer needed supernatural provision.. or so they thought.
There surely was enough food. But the problem was that they stopped counting on God to provide it for them. Sure, God provided by bringing them to that place. But their trust was no longer in God but in the land and their ability to get the food on their own.
That’s were we (especially me) have to watch out. Count on God in everything. Sure, he gave us abilities, talents, strengths, resources, friends, families etc. but we need to keep our hope and trust in him and not in those things. That kind of an attitude would make life as a lukewarm christian impossible because it forces me to constantly be in prayer and keep my focus totally on him. There is no room for a superficial relationship because such trust and dependence is so crucial.
I’m guessing that’s the lesson I need to learn right now. You know revival’s coming.. and it starts with us. So he’s making sure we’ll be prepared..!

wow, it's been a while

really, i've been thinking about updating a lot lately.. but i've just been busy and so much new stuff keeps happening. when i get a chance though, i'll put in some very important new things in here. for now, here's something i just read in the MorningStar Word for the Week:
"Most of the troubles we suffer in our own lives are the result of things we try to do without God. Many are the result of choices we make without even consulting Him. We may think that this is just what we were talking about, how the Lord does not want to control us, but has set us free to make our own choices. That is correct, but there is a difference between God dictating to us what He wants and Him wanting to walk with us just as He did with Adam, having fellowship in our choices.
The most basic purpose for which God created mankind was for fellowship. We are not maturing, and we are not fulfilling our purpose unless we are growing in this fellowship."
That's a something i've been chewing on for the last week or so.. the situation seems to be clear: yesterday my car stopped working, on the weekend i just moved and am barely making it finacially, i keep looking for lab jobs and somehow the hiring companies keep closing their openings for no real reason when i apply for a position..
I really long to have the kind of fellowship Adam and Eve, Abraham, or David had and it seems that that's when i have the biggest struggles.

MySpace

yeah.. i did it too now.. i got myself a MySpace account.. http://www.myspace.com/thegurtner

some praise worth mentioning

some of you might know that parking here at the apartment complex is a nightmare. some people actually have moved away because of all the trouble they've had. usually parking's fine between 0700 and 1500 which is great for me when i get off work during that time so often. but outside of that window it's hard to find anything "reasonable".
so my prayer often is to get a parking spot within walking distance (which for me is slightly farther than the average american because i actually enjoy walks :-) and just this week i been seeing this prayer answered ever so often.
last night i was coming home from bible study around 2200 and couldn't find a spot anywhere near our place. so i drove around for sometime and prayed and sure enough someone got into there car accross the street from the apartment and left just as i came around the corner. Hallelujah!

swiss flag

Yesterday i finished a new paint job on the car. i made a swiss flag in the shape of the outline of the country of switzerland and made a back cloud around it that sort of flows into the stuff that was already painted on it. i left the edges on the windows silver because i think it goes really well with the black. check it out on: http://www.dgurtner.ch/car.jpg

Seriously, would you do that??

So I’ve been checking out possibilities of getting a research job through the US Army.
There’s a way to get a scholarship from the Army to get the college degree in whatever you want while also taking certain Army courses and upon graduation you’ll have your degree and be an Officer (Second Lieutenant) in the US Army. Then you need to serve. Pay them back. The Program is called Army ROTC (Reserve Officers' Training Corps).
It’s really a good thing if you want a career in the army. Even research positions.
The question is, if you were me, would you do that? If you’ve got dual citizenship and have already served in the Swiss Army, would you want to go through the same stuff again. Including a much tougher basic training and the possibility of being sent to Iraq or some other place where there’s a real war and a real enemy that you have to kill before he kills you?
And as if that’s not enough, there’s the possibility of working on top secret research projects. The only thing that you have to do before getting there is give up your citizenship of any country other than the US.
A place where you grew up. Spent most of your life. At least half of your family and some of your best friends live there. You speak the language fluently, sometimes even talk to yourself in it. Give that up?

more german

Man könnte wohl unsere Ziele hier mit missionarischer Arbeit vergleichen. Letzten Sonntag haben wir uns zum ersten mal als Hauskirche getroffen und planen weitere Hauskirchen hier in der gegend zu gründen, mit dem ziel die party/beach-community zu Gott zu führen. Und wir arbeiten mit verschieden Kirchen hier eng zusammen, die gleiche ziele haben. In der Zwischenzeit gehöre ich auch wieder zu einer Kirche hier, ähnlich wie die in Zürich und Indianapolis, und spiele wieder Schlagzeug in der Band.
Die Arbeit hier ist immer noch die gleiche.. bei Starbucks. der neue Laden ist aber ca. 3 mal grösser und es kommen 10 mal mehr Leute als beim alten.. und es geht etwa 20 mal hektischer zu und her.
die Arbeit mit Kindern würde ich gerne wieder tun, habe aber noch keine möglichkeit gehabt, wieder einzusteigen. Es ist jedoch immer noch ein Ziel von mir, wieder in die Schule zu gehen um Lehrer zu werden. Es ist einfach in der Zwischenzeit ein eher längerfristiges Ziel geworden. Vorallem weil meine Laboranten-Lehre hier immer wieder anders anerkannt wird. Ich habe aber auch evtl. auch die Möglichkeit wieder im Labor zu arbeiten, was wieder besser dazu beitragen kann, einen College abschluss zu bekommen und danach weiter in die Schule zu gehen. Es geht halt momentan ein bisschen mühsam voran..

mini neuschti news uf zueriduetsch

bi mir isch wiehnachte echli komisch gsi.. ich han müese schaffe und bin wit wäg vo minere familie gsi. han aber viel chöne mit ne telefoniere. und in San Diego schneits nöd.. es isch für mich s'erscht mal gsi dasi kei wissi wiehnachte gha han. defür isches sunnig und warm gsi!
ich han neuerdings möglichkeite wieder irgendwo imene labor ga schaffe, was natürlich äu nöd schlächt wär. Bi Starbucks gfallts mir scho immer no aber für längerfrischtig isches finanziell nöd eso guet.. und luschtigerwies hilft esone labor-firma viel besser mitem ischtieg zum id schuel zgah und en usbildig zum lehrer wärde z'übercho.
Mit de Chile klappets bi mir äu immer besser.. ich han ja eini gfunde wo ich immer wieder lüt triffe wohni scho vode arbeit her känne. das isch u cool. und es isch e no sehr chlini chile wo no jede fascht jede kännt, e grossi familie. fascht echli wie's ICF womer no im Limmat-Hotel gsi sind. Und woni grad neu han agfange ga hani gfröget was für ministry no hilf bruchet und die hämer dänn gseit sie bruchet im neue Jahr unbedingt en Schlagzüger. jetzt hani mal mit de band güebt und am sunntig probewis gspillt und s'isch alles super gange. Gott hät würklich glueget dasses klappet!
Und ich bin ja mit fründe us minere Chile in Indianapolis nach San Diego züglet zum e neui Chile gründe, en art "beach ministry". Geschter abig hämer eus zum erschte mal "offiziell" als huus-chile troffe und es isch total abgange mit gebät und worship und emene churze bsuech vom tüfel wo für ihn aber nöd so guet isch usecho. und für eus isches e wahnsinnigi ermuetigung dass mir ide letschte zit viel agriff händ - das heisst dass mir ganz sicher öppis richtig mached und er eus versuecht devo abzhalte. Jesus hät eh scho de Sieg.. mir müend nur no s'land inäh und ernte!
Ich wünsch eu allne es guets und gsägnets neus jahr!