Hausfrau Victories

It has been my not so secret dream to take an early retirement from nursing and become a housewife.  This move has afforded me the opportunity to do just that, but being a Hausfrau doesn't come without its own battles...

Hausfrau vs. Produce

As a fellow expat said, you don't need to know German to know you're being bitched out in German.  I learned this all too well during a lunchtime trip to my local grocery store, Migros. I arrived filled with excitement to purchase the ingredients for my first home-cooked meal, and leisurely strolled around the market Google translating items along the way.  All was good, until I reached the check out counter.  The cashier held up my bag of tomatoes, gave me the stink eye, and started yelling at me in German.  Timidly I responded, "Um, Ich verstehe nicht. Sprechen Sie Englisch?"  She rolled her eyes and proceeded to complain about me, in German, to the next guy in line.  After a huff she left her station, all the while the line was growing, and came back with a printed out sticker which she then slapped on my bag of produce.  Oh, I have to weigh and price my own produce here.  My bad.  Lesson learned.

My next few visits to the grocery involved spying on fellow shoppers in an effort to figure out how to use the scales.  The light finally dawned and I cracked the code.  I'll pass my wisdom on to you, so that in your travels you can avoid future scuffles with cranky check out ladies.

Step 1: Bag produce & note code #

Step 2: Place bag on scale and press code #

Step 3: Place printed sticker on bag, and voilà, no more cranky check out ladies

Hausfrau vs. Washer/Dryer

Remember the wandering washer?  Well here's a little refresher.  During the spin cycle our washer/dryer would freak out, bang violently against the kitchen cabinets, make a set a noise as if it was about to explode, and caused the apartment floor to vibrate earthquake style.  Needless to say laundry was quite a frightening experience.  I became like one of Pavlov's dogs.  Yet instead of eliciting salivation, the sound of the spin cycle starting caused palpitations.

I am happy to report that one month and 4 repairmen later we finally have a functioning washer/dryer. No longer do we cower in fear at the start of the spin cycle.  No longer does a full hamper bring on an anxiety attack.  This is a huge win for the Hausfrau.  Life changing.  Dare I say I even now love the once hated washer/dryer?  A little tip if you ever encounter a temperamental Swiss washer/dryer that refuses to stay still...make sure the transport bolts are removed.