Saturday, December 5, 1981
I left for the post office at 8:00, keeping an
eye out for posters about any St Nicklaus
Tag/St Nicholas Day events, but nothing. At the Post, Telefon und Telegraph (PTT), I went to the telephone section
and was directed to booth 3 to make a long distance call. I called the Ls at 9:00, direct dialing and Tom
answered, going to get Dot. I let them know when I was arriving in
Prague, where they are now assigned. They told me not to worry about how much
Czech money I had to purchase, because they would buy whatever I had
leftover. The call was leisurely but
short, costing only 7.70 CHF/$3.85.
 |
| Telephone receipt |
 |
| Train day pass |
Exited onto Rue Mont Blanc which was lined with
real evergreen trees, crudely decorated with household-size light bulbs and
round ornaments. Went to McDonald’s for a fish sandwich and fries (hmm, getting
to be a weekly thing…).
Finally found “The Swiss Cookbook” in English and
bought two copies. I had wanted one for my mother, but I have already sent off
the package. Paid more than I would have in the U.S., even with New York City
tax of 8%!
I returned to the new mall and saw long lines at
La Placette department store. The lines went to colorful makeshift telephone
booths. They were offering free 3-minute telephone calls to anywhere in the
world! Sure enough, the people in the lines were representative of the U.N. I
figured I could call home in Suffern, but they had run out of the “take a
number” tickets. Too many people; oh, well. (A phone call to the U.S. costs $4/minute.)
Caught the 14:43 train to Bern. A couple got on
and the girl asked in French if the seats were free. I said, “Oui.” They
proceeded to have a conversation in British English where they “criticised”
everything!
Change to the 16:41 to Biel. A lot of hippie
types boarded the train, perhaps on their way home from a demonstration. They
had balloons proclaiming “Für Frieden und
Abrüstung/For Peace and Disarmament.”
In Biel I finally found a poster that said Sämichlaus/Santie Claus was coming to Marktgasse/Market Lane that day at
14:00. I missed him!
Sunday, December 6, 1981
Today is the traditional St Niklaus Tag/St Nicholas Day. But I later found out that in Biel,
Sämichlaus/Santie Claus comes a week
later than the rest of the country. One legend has it that because of the fire
in the old town in 1367, the baker did not have enough time to bake enough Lebkuchen/honey cakes and so the holiday
was postponed to the second Tuesday in December. It is on St Nicholas Day when Sämichlaus delivers gifts or switches,
depending upon behavior that year.
Monday, December 7, 1981
I saw Sämichlaus
today! He was riding in a car on his way to the children’s home in Ried. We
have been having a lot of rain and I got soaked going to and from Ried.
Later I heard Sämichlaus or at least his bells as he wandered through
the Kinderspital/Children's Hospital. He left each child a bag with a couple tangerines, a small
box of chocolates, a couple small bags of nuts, hard candies, and a Lego toy. I
didn’t see any switches!
Wednesday, December 9, 1981
Tonight was the hospital staff Christmas party
and buffet supper. I didn’t hear about it until this week and the deadline to
sign up was last Friday. No one else in the CP Station was going, until Fr. Dr.
B’s secretary, Susanne E, decided to go and insisted that I go as
well; we didn’t need to sign up.
I “dressed up,” wearing my best work clothes,
hoop earrings, and my gold watch! Went down at 19:30. Susanne was also in work
clothes (she usually wears peasant dresses), and she saved me a seat. There
were three rows of tables in the staff cafeteria topped with white tablecloths
decorated with candles and pieces of evergreen. There were bottles of red wine,
fizzy water, and Coca-Cola. Later they brought out white wine with the
Wildermeth label.
The buffet opened at 20:00, but since the tables
were called up one by one, we had a long wait. There was liver pâté, deviled
eggs, and slices of cold cuts including ham, turkey, roast beef, and beef
tongue. Tuna and chicken salads, and tomatoes carved to look like baskets
filled with corn. Several types of cheeses and a whole fish. After a “Guete/Bon Appétit!” everyone settled
down to eat. Herr S, the hospital director, came around to ask “Schmeckt’s/Tastes good?” He then asked
me if I understood that. “Jawohl!” Some people went for second helping, but I
was stuffed.
A bell started ringing, and a black-cloaked Sämichlaus/Santie Claus arrived with his
chimney sweep-looking helper, Schmutzli/Dirty
One. They began dispensing prank gifts. Medicine for Monday illnesses for Herr
S. Alpine fresh air in jars for the receptionist (the reception area had
been suffering from literal ill winds). A clock for Frau L, the housekeeper,
because the cafeteria never opens on time.
They joked about a dirty kitchen and Frau L was highly insulted and
left the room crying. The old man who runs errands was given a monthly pass for
the bus. An intern was given a medal for always being in a good mood, and
another was given a large heart to wear so that the girls wouldn’t miss him as
he is such a sweetheart. A recording of yodeling to the American doctor because
she has such a good voice, and next year she was expected to yodel for us. A
toy bed for intensive care because they never have enough beds.
Apparently it was the turn of the laboratory
department to plan this year’s entertainment, so a couple of their employees
received gifts, one a pair of funny glasses for driving and another got hiking
boots and sneakers because she says she would like to walk to work, but always
has an excuse. A calendar for the head nurse who is always on vacation.
Corkscrews for the surgical unit, etc. At the end, the chief doctor received a
switch!
Herr S stood up to thank everyone and to
make some announcements. One of the cooks won second prize in some cooking
contest; she was congratulated and given a gift (a cookbook!). She had prepared
the fish tonight. Two employees of long standing (16 and 13 years) were given
fruit baskets. He then gave formal holiday greetings in German and French. The
girl who lives in the room next to mine laughed out loud at his French. Poor
Herr S doesn’t seem to command much respect. The head nurse also gave
thanks and holiday greetings. The surgical unit gathered around the piano where
the American doctor played and they sang Christmas songs. She then sang a solo
in an operatic voice. It took me a while to realize she was singing in English!
Dessert was passed out: a slice of ice cream cake
for everyone and a plate of cookies for the table. Jan had warned me that the
cookies are often very hard. I was careful, although only the chocolate ones
were hard. The specialty seemed to be two layers of soft white cookie with jam
in between. A hole in the top layer allowed you to peek at the jam. These
cookies were picked out first! There was also coffee.
Next three of the unit head nurses were called up
and they had to do something with newspapers (put them in some order?). They
frantically shuffled the papers.
Later the intensive care staff came wearing baggy
pants with suspenders and ties. Now we know why one of the girls had just asked
Dr. L for his tie, and he had reluctantly handed it over as it was his only
one. They sang a song about food and being fat or something. Then Dr. L and
Dr. R sang a song in which they made up amusing verses about the hospital
and staff, while Dr. L played a guitar.
Next representative nurses from each of the four
units were called up to sit in chairs and be blindfolded. Three doctors and a
fellow from the kitchen had to stand in front of the nurses and bend over as
the nurses stitched a fabric heart onto their derrieres. There were lots of
squeals of pain, probably feigned!
The excitement seemed to be over, so I left at
23:30. |
| Words to German Christmas songs |
Friday, December 11, 1981
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| Receipt for Czech visa |
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