Seasonal update!

It was really special to experience this place during shoulder season, witnessing how the locals transition from one chapter to the next.

Here, the switch to winter looked like digging up vegetable gardens and flower boxes in preparation for months of deep snow, the town ice rink built from scratch day by day, and snow machines running through the night in anticipation of ski season.

And now here we are, deep in it.

I know one day we’ll look back on this time with so much appreciation, and probably a longing to return 😔. I hope this reflective post helps transport me (and you) back here to Saas-Fee in the winter months. A magical time indeed.

Winter in Saas-Fee sounds like:

• Avalanche control booms echoing through the valley

• Snow plows and ice scraping before sunrise

• Thumping helicopters passing over for dynamite deliveries and mountain rescues

• Cheers echoing from the town hockey and curling tournaments

• Ski boots clacking through the village streets

• Shrieks from kids sledding at the Sportplatz

• The mechanical whir of ski lifts and gondolas overhead

• Apres-ski music carrying through the town

• The 5AM Fasnacht marching band wake-up parade kicking off celebrations and warding off winter spirits

• And as always, the church bells marking the time

Winter in Saas-Fee looks like:

• Rooftops piled high with snow

• Bluebird days warm enough to sit in the sun in a t-shirt

• Skiers zigzagging down the mountain like little ants

• Short days built around the sunshine hours

• Blinding white snowscapes and glacier views

• Stacks on stacks of skis everywhere

• SPF and Piz Buin

And if you’re curious, our daily rhythm hasn’t changed much. Still quite boring by some standards, just with the very fun addition of snow.

• 8AM: Out the door for the walk to school

• 8:15AM: The church bell rings once, and the school day begins

• Morning: The gym a few times a week, some remote work (we’re gearing up for our return to full-time work), and if we’re lucky, a few ski runs before school is over

• 11:35AM: School is out for lunch

• Noon: A warm lunch

• Afternoon: Snow play, sledding, or skiing plus some down time, maybe a couch nap, maybe some Paw Patrol

• 6PM: Family dinner, sometimes joined by Grosspapa

• Evenings: Some combo of remote work (the time difference is fun…), relax with a show, crossword puzzle (always), or reading. As usual, an early bedtime ha.

Every Saturday morning through winter, the Swiss Ski School hosts the local kids for “fun group,” a morning of skiing in small groups while parents ski solo, catch up on work, or rest. Truly the best.

Wednesdays are no school, so we do a family day of skiing, sledding, a long lunch out, or errands in Visp.

Soaking it up, taking it in, and missing you all! And in case you haven’t heard, we are coming back to the States, with mixed emotions. See you in July! 😎

A notably slower rhythm has replaced office and school parties, rushed errands, and packed schedules. There are things we certainly miss about this time of year back in California, like our annual fondue dinner with friends, Irish coffees at Buena Vista Cafe, and our neighbors over-the-top Christmas lights display.

But here, in this snow-globe–like village with few obligations, we’re soaking up what feels like an alternate reality, halfway through our year-long sabbatical (!!). After-school skiing, Christmas markets, the annual school concert of folkloric songs (plus a hilariously cute rendition of Wham! Last Christmas, which was filmed here in Saas-Fee).

Anticipation is building for December 24 (the main event here) when St. Niklaus visits with gifts while families attend the local kids’ mass. Later, presents are unwrapped after a big fondue chinoise dinner. (Asking for a friend: if the unwrapping starts after dinner, when will my sweet child go to bed?)

Here’s a glimpse into life lately:

Wishing you and yours a happy, safe, and restful holiday season. We miss you!

xoxo

In honor of our skipped Thanksgiving, here’s a look into the traditional Swiss dishes that have taken over our meal plan, plus Teo’s take on each.

Älplermagronen aka Alpine macaroni

The equivalent of mac and cheese. BUT… with potatoes, Gruyère or Appenzeller cheese, ham bits, crispy onions, and a side of applesauce. Life changing, honestly.

✅ Teo approved; Rating: 9/10 (would be a 10 if the little applesauce bowl was bigger)

Schnitzel & Pommes frites

Lovingly called “Schni Pa Po” here. The equivalent of chicken nuggets & fries. Gets the job done.

✅ Teo approved; Rating: 10/10 no comments

Meats & Cheese, Cheese & Meats

Meats & cheese are pretty much a breakfast-lunch-and dinner kinda situation over here.

❌ It’s a nah for Teo; Rating: 1/10 unless we get ketchup or sugar involved

Käseschnitte aka Cheese Toast

Baked bread slices soaked in white wine, topped with Valais Raclette cheese, sometimes an egg, ham, and onion (optional).

❌ It’s a nah for Teo; Rating: 0/10 the taste of white wine just doesn’t do it for him

Cheese Fondue

Always a classic safe bet. If we’re feeling fancy we level up to the champagne and truffle fondue at Zur Mühle because life is short, people.

❌ It’s a nah for Teo; Rating: 3/10 fun and interactive but nope

Fondue Chinoise

Similar to hot pot: cook thinly sliced meat or fish on a fondue fork in simmering broth at the table. We love the interactivity, how filling it is, and the yummy dipping sauces. But the cooking takes time (one meat at a time folks), so it’s usually reserved for a festive or larger family meal.

✅ Teo approved; Rating: 7/10 for the canned fruit and french fries, plus danger

Raclette

A traditional tabletop grill meal where you melt Raclette cheese and eat it with potatoes, cornichons, and pearl onions. A staple at local festivals (of which there are many). Far and away the favorite family meal!

✅ Teo approved; Rating: 10/10

Listen, it’s all really delicious, it really is. But I’m personally campaigning for maybe like, a side veggie here or there?

PS: Happy Thanksgiving to you, our family and friends back home! Even if we’re not celebrating in the traditional sense, we’re thinking of you, grateful for your love, and melting a slice of Raclette in your honor. 🧀❤️

I’ve been lucky enough to visit enough times that I’ve lost count, and each trip feels more rewarding than the last. I think there’s a general misconception that Paris is disappointing (or, a naïveté that it cannot possibly be disappointing)…and I think we have Instagram to thank for that.

So here are my favorite Paris recs that are NOT Instagram hype spots.

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Getting Around

My favorite way to travel is to pick one neighborhood to explore each day and just walk and walk and walkkkk. I’ll usually skip the cabs and ubers in favor of the metro, train, or bus. Paris’ transit system is very easy, clean, and fast. You can now load your metro tickets onto your phone. Fancy!

The Ideal Itinerary

Start with a slow breakfast, followed by some window shopping. Maybe a museum, definitely a leisurely lunch, and an afternoon coffee. A lil afternoon rest. An apero at a cafe for some people watching, then dinner.

Mostly just eating and walking, I realize. But it’s a nice way to really soak it all in.

Where to Stroll

• Saint-Germain-des-Prés - lots of Parisian charm (cafes, boutiques) on the Left Bank

• Le Marais - very much a hot spot right now; tons of great shops and restaurants and a lovely neighborhood feel

• Latin Quarter - winding cobblestone streets and plenty to see and do

• Île Saint-Louis - a small, quaint little island just upstream from Notre-Dame

Where to Sit

• Parc Monceau - for real french people watching; a massive park frequented by locals in a residential area

• Pl. des Vosges - for more real french people watching; in the Marais

• Cour et Jardin de l’Hotel de Sully - the formal gardens are gooood

• On the Seine - preferably with a bottle of wine and someone to share it with, ya know

Where to Eat

• Breakfast at La Bossue - a very sweet neighborhood patisserie in Montmartre, everything is homemade on-site

• Lunch at Boubalé - the food is good, the interiors even better

• Afternoon tea and people watching at Cour des Vosges OR Cafe Varenne

• Apero at Vesper - french-japanese restaurant and cocktail bar

• Dinner at Le P’tit Troquet - a tiny, old school, cozy, traditional french spot, or…

• Dinner at Margaux - also traditional; best french onion soup; reservations recommended for both.

Where to Shop (French Brands)

• Balzac Paris - timeless yet playful fashion; my favorite!

• Jimmy Fairly - really fun eyewear

• Tressé - travel-inspired less-is-more kinda quality fashion

• American Vintage - colorful, elevated basics

• Monoprix - the larger ones are the French equivalent of Target (but are chicer because … French); homeware, fashion, skincare, all the things.

• Any pharmacie - I love stocking up on my favorite French skincare lines like Caudalie and La Roche-Posay at the best prices

Where to Find Inspiration

• Musée de l’Orangerie - quintessential France; right in the Tuileries Garden with so many masterpieces, including Monet’s Water Lilies cycle which is so freaking good

• Bourse de Commerce - such stunning architecture and really cool exhibits

• Musée Carnavalet - the history of Paris, right in the Marais, and it’s free! Really lovely courtyard garden in the middle as well.

I have SO many other favorites for Paris. So if you are going and looking for more recommendations, leave a comment or send a message.

And, if you’ve been and are willing to share your own recommendations, I would love to hear.

Warmly,

Stacie

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Like most big life decisions, our family sabbatical abroad started as a distant, dreamy idea. And then slowly but surely it began inching closer…and we had no idea what to do first.

So we started a list. And then the list grew longer, and longer, and longer. 😅

Six months before departure, Marc and I sat down to map out what needed to happen when, then divided and conquered.

If you’re curious or plotting your own big life change, here are the 25 things we tackled before we got on the plane. It turns out baby steps really do make big things possible!

Our Pre-Sabbatical Checklist

1. Said our plan out loud - Telling friends and family made it feel real!

2. Booked one-way flights - This also made it feel real :)

3. Arranged housing - Locked in an apartment with Marc’s family.

4. Picked our start & end dates - A full year aligned with the school year and gave us four seasons; starting in summer gave us wiggle room.

5. Aligned on priorities & goals - Listed our “why” and priorities (travel, work, hobbies) and revisited them as plans evolved (and still do.)

6. Planned finances & budget - Created a monthly budget, including travel, and mapped a savings plan.

7. Made work arrangements - Marc renegotiated his contract; I paused inquiries and leaned into remote business coaching.

8. Prepped our home for long-term rental - Staged, photographed, and kept it furnished to save us the hassle of moving out fully.

9. Listed our house for rent & found renters - Finding renters we could trust gave us peace of mind and covered our living and travel expenses.

10. Sold my car - Freed up funds and reduced storage needs.

11. Downsized personal belongings - Donated, sold, and gave away items we no longer needed.

12. Moved personal items into storage - Stashed the rest in Marc’s mom’s garage :)

13. Secured a long-stay visa for me (Marc and Teo have dual citizenship).

14. Sorted our son’s schooling - Instead of preschool or “Transitional Kindergarten” in the states, he’d start public Kindergarten in Switzerland.

15. Updated insurance - Maintained our US health coverage and adjusted our home/renter policies.

16. Leaned on our local “ambassadors” - to help navigate questions, arrangements, and logistics locally.

17. Prepped mentally - Read books and resources to get ready for the transition.

18. Forwarded our mail

19. Coordinated the transfer of house utilities and scheduled regular maintenance.

20. Squeezed in medical appointments and extra supplies of prescription refills

21. Paused or canceled any subscriptions & memberships

22. Scanned, copied, and stored all important documents

23. Prepped our son - Talked through the new setting, routine, and excitement for the move

24. Packed light - or as light as possible :)

25. Threw a big ol’ backyard party with friends and family before our departure

Looking back, none of these tasks were particularly sexy… but together, they added up to something pretty incredible: the freedom to restructure our lives in a hugely different way.

So if you too are thinking about a sabbatical, or any kind of big change, start somewhere small. Make a list, send a text, say it out loud. Your future self will thank you for it.

If you missed it, I shared more about our “why” here and wrote about the admin of our first few weeks abroad here.

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Autumn update!

Something about Fall (aka ‘Herbst’) in Saas Fee feels really special.

It’s quieter. The summer tourists have left, and many local businesses take the month of November off to reset for the busy winter season.

It’s distinct and dramatic. Golden larches against a backdrop of snow-peaked mountains, morning fog that gives way to bright blue skies, and a sun that comes up fast and goes down faster.

It’s been the perfect time to slow down and get cozy.

Here’s what a (kinda boring honestly!) day in the life looks like for us these days:

• 8AM: Out the door for the walk to school

• 8:15AM: The church bell rings once, and the school day begins

• Morning: Marc & I go to the gym, have breakfast together, and get some remote work done (soon, skiing)

• 11:35AM: School and work are out for lunch

• Noon: A warm lunch

• Afternoon: A family walk, meetup at the playground, bike ride, indoor play, or chores

• 6PM: Family dinner, sometimes joined by Grosspapa

• Evening in: Some combo of remote work (the time difference is fun…), relax with a show, crossword puzzle (always), or reading. As usual, an early bedtime ha.

The other night, we made cholera for dinner. Terrible name, delicious dish. It’s traditional here in the Valais region of Switzerland: a hearty, savory pastry filled with potatoes, onions, leeks, apples or pears, and raclette cheese. The definition of comfort food!

Recipe: Cholera

Serves 4; From Valais.ch

Ingredients

• 500g puff pastry

• 40g butter

• 200g potatoes

• 200g apples or pears

• 200g leeks

• 200g onions

• 250g raclette cheese

• Salt, pepper

Preparation

1. Chop the onions into slices. Fry the onions in a frying pan with butter.

2. Chop the leeks into two lengthways and wash each half in cold water. Then cut the leeks into slices of 2 to 3cm and blanch them for 3 to 5 minutes max in lightly salted boiling water. Drain and rinse them under cold running water to stop them cooking further.

3. Chop the apples into little pieces. Fry the apple pieces in a frying pan with butter. Mix the onions, leeks and apples and season well.

4. Cook the potatoes in boiling water for 25 minutes. Then peel the skins off and cut the potatoes into small cubes of around 2cm. Add to the apple/leek/onion mixture.

5. Grate the raclette cheese and add to the mixture.

6. In a deep baking tin, lay the pastry out and fill with the mixture. Cover over with the pastry. Cook in the oven for an hour at 170°C.

Annnnnd now, with the first big snow in the books, it’s pretty much on to winter…

We miss you all! Send us your updates ❤️

I couldn’t get enough of the azulejo tiles throughout Lisbon.

We ALL couldn’t get enough of the pastéis de nata.

Lisbon reminded us of San Francisco, in some ways.

We stocked up on fresh (and tinned) fish.

And shopped the “world’s oldest bookstore.”

Two of us loved exploring the region’s wines, while one kept busy.

We road-tripped south to the Algarve, with a stop in beautiful Lagos.

And wound down at the Martinhal family resort in Sagres, at the “edge of Europe.”

Each of us found something for ourselves on this trip. Marc golfed, I read on a lounge chair, and Teo took full advantage of all the kid perks.

We even enjoyed a (cold!) family swim in the ocean, encouraged by Marc.

Portugal was everything we needed. Sunshine, seafood, sand.

Now, back to snow (!!!) in Saas-Fee. Looks like we’ll be skipping Fall?

reaching for blueberries,

on a Tuesday afternoon —

a family of three.

A warm breeze on our cheeks,

crickets carry on,

mountain goat bells ring.

Teo sits atop a boulder,

turned imaginary choo choo train,

singing us a song.

Fingers stained blue,

searching for ripeness —

not squishy, not shriveled.

Tartness gives way to sweetness.

Who’s walked these hills before us?

Will we have enough for jam?

High on the mountainside,

for a moment,

time stands still.

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Pish posh. I’m rating it ‘D’ for Difficult. 😅

Our first official Swiss climbing adventure was full of surprise, delight, and a dash of panic. Here are some of the highs and lows, moment by moment.

A load of nerve-wracking gear — It all sounded fun…until I realized we needed a professional guide, crampons, a harness, ropes, and an ice axe. An ice axe!?

A handy subway head start — For a quick 80 CHF, we took the world’s highest underground funicular — the Metro Alpin — to 3,457 m, giving us a head start for the climbing portion.

Thin air that humbled — Before even starting, the altitude had me huffing and puffing and fully questioning my life choices. Easily the hardest part of it all.

The magical side of glaciers — Steep, endless walls of turquoise ice, plunging below. Stunning! Art!

The terrifying side of glaciers — Nothing like hopping over a snow-covered crevasse or tiptoeing along a 10-inch-wide path with a full drop-off to remind you that life is short and fragile. Yikes!

The punishing Swiss sun — Merciless. Bless you, Piz Buin.

Glacier walking zen — One foot after the other, snow crunching, and crampons scraping kept me in the zone.

A most peaceful summit encounter — We were welcomed by an Alpine chough, a black bird known for circling summits, marking and celebrating the moment with us.

Views of Switzerland, Italy, and France — Clear skies and views of the Mischabel range, Weisshorn, Matterhorn, and Mont Blanc on the horizon. Layer upon layer of mountains felt surreal.

The simplest culinary delight — An Ovalmaltine cookie at 4,027 m is…incredible, chef’s kiss.

A new perspective of Saas-Fee — Looking down, the town seemed tiny, its houses like little ants, swallowed in mountain shadows. It gave me a new view of where we live — with a sense of connection, pride, and humility.

A connection to Saas-Fee — The Allalinhorn holds special meaning for locals, and experiencing it firsthand, especially as the Fee glacier melts due to climate change, made me feel a little more like I belong.

A deeper family connection — Marc’s sister planned this adventure for our group, and it was so special to experience it together. Sentimental bonus: Marc’s Grosspapa, an Olympic skier and mountain guide, climbed this peak upwards of 800 times. We felt a little of his spirit with us.

So…does this mean I’m officially Swiss now, or…? Knowing Marc, it’s just straight onto the next highest peak.

Which feels in direct conflict with our own history with playgrounds — namely, the unfortunate fall that landed our son in the ER with a spinal cord injury (thankfully caught early and followed by a full recovery).

So, every time I step onto a playground, it’s with a mixed bag of emotions. My body tenses, my palms get sweaty, and my mind runs through every possible worst-case scenario. And then throw some WILD Swiss playgrounds into the mix…

But then the rational part of me steps in: playgrounds are a sacred part of childhood. They’re where kids learn to make friends, practice sharing, build motor skills, and gain independence.

If Switzerland hasn’t rid me of my playground anxiety altogether, it’s at least shaken it. So, this is my little ode to you, Swiss playgrounds.

You encourage risk-taking and independence, with your sky-high towers, steep slides, and ziplines.

You let kids explore, climb, and problem-solve, with your rope courses, water pump stations, and suspension bridges.

You play so nicely with nature, blending into forests, hillsides, lakesides, and meadows, built from wood and stone instead of plastic and metal.

And you’re often wisely placed next to a restaurant, so kids enjoy their autonomy while parents enjoy some apéro :)

So while I may forever clam up on playgrounds, that won’t stop me from sitting back and letting my kid run wild.

Here are a few of the quirks we (I) have encountered as we’ve settled in.

• Saas-Fee is booming — there’s currently construction everywhere — but architecture guidelines keep everything in traditional Alpine style, so that’s cute!

• English isn’t a given here — but most locals are multilingual, speaking Swiss German, High German, French, and/or Italian. My german is coming along … langsam (slowly).

• Kids are expected to stay quiet on trains — We learned this very quickly 😅Luckily every train has a designated kid car — with a mini playground of course.

• Garbage is taken seriously — Residents are required to buy special taxed garbage bags as part of a “polluter pays” principle. (Recycling is free as long as you perfectly sort it!) I kinda love this!

• Skipping school is a big no-no — Kids are allowed two ‘joker days’ per school year. I’m not quite sure of the ramifications yet … but we’ll find out soon enough based on our travel plans, oops.

• The church bells mark every hour — And half hour. And quarter hour. They are very lovely, and impossible to miss.

• School children are expected to walk to and from school alone — Even kindergarteners; independence is encouraged at all ages.

• Playgrounds here are an extreme sport — zip lines, ropes courses, and sky-high slides. Risk-taking is a huge part of childhood here. It’s…terrifying. But amazing!

• Nights here are very calm — Streetlights turn off, motion sensors are used, noise rules are in place, and the village becomes very still. The low light pollution makes for some amazing stargazing.

• Lunch is a big deal — Most locals (including school children) go home for a 1.5hr lunch break midday — it’s typically a hot meal enjoyed with their family; dinner is often simple cold meals like meats and cheeses.

• Every August, the village fills with skiers — People travel from all over the world to train on the glaciers here. It’s wild watching them come off the mountain in full ski gear as we enjoy the warm, sunny weather. I think I’ll just wait til winter!!

Anyway, it’s all been a great adventure, and we’re loving every minute. With the school year started, we’re slowly settling into a routine as we enter our third month of calling this place home.

Chat soon. Tschüss!

SETTLING IN SULMONA

We booked an apartment in the town of Sulmona for 5 nights, planning to use it as a home base to explore Abruzzo. Sulmona is special — surrounded by the Majella mountains, steeped in history, and with a buzzy lively feeling. Entering town it became apparent the tourists (like us) would be few and far between. This was the real deal slice of Italian life.

Our apartment — up a tiny squeaky elevator, with broken air conditioning, and that distinct Italian smell (you know the one?) — made up for any lackings with a spectacular balcony and view. Of a glowing town, layered tiled rooftops, set against the mountains. A woman reading at her window, another hanging laundry to dry. Set to the soundtrack of meowing cats, animated Italian mothers (you know), and echoing church bells.

Settling into the smaller town vibes, we soon found our favorite spots and started to see the same locals every day, adding to the charm of it all. We observed that still, almost all Italians smoke cigarettes. With their morning espressos and through their late dinners.

We happened to be there for La Giostra Cavalleresca, a jousting festival held each summer in the main piazza. The town was transformed into a medieval spectacle. The cobblestoned streets were decked with vibrant silk flags representing each of the town’s ancient neighborhoods and territories competing in the event. It was so fun to witness.

In town, the mornings were slow to come to life, late afternoons deserted for riposo, and the evenings lively. Enter: the passeggiata.

THE ART OF THE PASSEGGIATA

I’ve never fully experienced the Italian tradition of passeggiata until our stay in Sulmona. Passeggiata is a cultural ritual where each evening, people of all ages stroll up and down the main street and piazza, dressed to look their best. It’s more than just walking — it’s all about being seen. The community of Sulmona clearly takes the ritual seriously.

Couples walking arm in arm to dinner, elder women exchanging gossip, babies sleeping in strollers, pre teens grabbing gelato, friends unwinding after work. It’s so beautifully unhurried, turning the most average weeknight into a special celebration.

I truly wish I had photos or videos, but watching from a small patio bar with a spritz, I couldn’t take my eyes away.

We quickly adapted the nightly routine ourselves, calling to mind our post-dinner walks back home in California during the summer months. (As a family we jokingly call it a ‘fart walk’ (it’s a thing!) — but after our time in Sulmona, we’ve rebranded this to a ‘farteggiata’.)

A REUNION IN TERAMO

A miracle in itself, we happened to be in Abruzzo at the same time as my cousins and Aunt. We all held a few pieces of the puzzle that is the family tree, plus notes from past visitors, and the same goal to meet our family members that still live in Abruzzo.

Through a combination of broken English and broken Italian, we managed to find each other at Cattedrale di Santa Maria Assunta in Teramo. We met my grandfather’s cousin Gianpiero and his son Alfredo, who took us for lunch at one of their favorite spots then back to their home. We looked through old family photos, and came across a photo of my dad visiting while he was living in Ireland in college. It all felt very sweet and special.

As we said our goodbyes, Gianpiero hugged us through tears — clearly feeling the weight of connection across continents and generations — and it almost felt as if I was hugging my late grandfather himself. We promised to stay connected.

BYE FOR NOW, ABRUZZO

I wasn’t sure what to expect from Abruzzo. It’s just not one of the top Italian destinations you read about. It’s more of a hidden gem, ‘up and coming’, best kept secret kinda vibe. And it did not disappoint, serving up the most authentic and heartwarming experiences.

These are some of the moments I hope to never forget:

Late dinners that were on one hand a struggle, and on the other hand, so delicious that we just had to go back to the same restaurant again

A respite from the heat: a hike down to a nearby river where we swam and played in the mud

A beach day on the Adriatic: sunshine, sandy beaches, warm shallow water…and chairs and umbrellas packed like sardines of course

The town of Campli: the sweet and charming mountain village where my great grandfather Serafino was born

—

Until next time!

To prepare for a big life change, most people might ask around, do some Googling, maybe make a checklist. Me? I read an unreasonable number of books. 🤓

Reading helps me process things, triggers my curiosity, and over-prepares me in a way — so that I can let the rest unfold as it does.

So as soon as the idea of a family year abroad started to take shape, I turned to the experts to help wrap my head around the logistics, emotions, and sheer possibility of it all.

Below is a roundup of the books I read to prepare for our adventure — some practical, some inspirational, but each very helpful in their own way!

Whether you’re actively planning an adventure or simply daydreaming, I hope these reads offer a little spark of inspiration.

1 - The Road Taken: How to Dream, Plan, and Live Your Family Adventure Abroad by Michelle Damiani

Featuring stories from 36 different families, “The Road Taken inspires families to venture out of their comfort zones to create lives of freedom and fulfillment, at home and abroad.” The book helps:

• shatter the myth that only trust fund babies can afford the global adventure of a lifetime by offering practical strategies to make money abroad

• inspire families to think outside the box and discover which experiences would be meaningful for them

• demystify the visa process and guide families to their new home

• share principles grounded in child psychology so parents can help their children with the inevitable transition adjustment

• describe the advantages and disadvantages of various educational options, including worldschooling, boatschooling, roadschooling as well as the more traditional local or international schools

• embolden parents to step bravely into the unknown of possible hardships like language learning and medical issues and travel snafus

• offer comprehensive information on everything from banking to phones to what to do with your mail

2 - Il Bel Centro by Michelle Damiani

“A witty and warm-hearted memoir of abandoning fast-paced American days in favor of discovering the Italian secrets of food, community, and life.”

3 - Family Gap Year by Sheila Maloney

Part memoir, part self-help, part travel guide, Family Gap Year is the adventure of a mom and her three kids under the age of ten living in Brazil — “what she learned when she stopped doing what society told her she should do and started listening to what her soul was calling her to do instead.”

4 - Swiss Watching: Inside the Land of Milk and Honey by Diccon Bewes

“A fascinating journey around Europe's most individual and misunderstood country. From seeking Heidi and finding the best chocolate to reliving a bloody past and exploring an uncertain future, Diccon Bewes proves that there's more to Switzerland than banks and skis, francs and cheese. This book dispels the myths and unravels the true meaning of Swissness.”

5 - A Year in Provence by Peter Mayle

“In this witty and warm-hearted account, Peter Mayle tells what it is like to realize a long-cherished dream and actually move into a 200-year-old stone farmhouse in the remote country of the Lubéron with his wife and two large dogs. A Year in Provence transports us into all the earthy pleasures of Provençal life and lets us live vicariously at a tempo governed by seasons, not by days.”

6 - Free-Range Kids: How Parents and Teachers Can Let Go and Let Grow by Lenore Skenazy

“A New York columnist-turned-movement leader delivers a compelling and entertaining look at how we got so worried about everything our kids do, see, eat, read, wear, watch and lick -- and how to bid a whole lot of that anxiety goodbye. Skenazy describes how parents and educators can step back so kids step up. Perfect for parents and guardians of children of all ages.”

Including this one as a side-note because so much of its philosophy aligned not only with our goals for the sabbatical, but also our parenting in general, and how parenting and childhood are approached in Switzerland (with lots of trust, independence, and freedom for kids to explore).

Cheers!

Before Teo starts school, and while we still have warm weather, we wanted to squeeze in a trip. Italy isn’t far from Saas Fee, so we planned a road trip across three regions: Piedmont, Abruzzo, and Umbria. Because who doesn’t want to drive 20 hours total roundtrip with a 4 year old on vacation!!!

I booked accommodations before we left the states and that’s pretty much where I got with the planning — so we’re kinda winging it as we go. We packed our new (except, old and used) station wagon with our carry-ons, Teo’s bike, and a few beach toys, then crossed the mountain pass into northern Italy.

Our first stop: Lake Orta. It has all the charm of Como or Maggiore — storybook villages, scenic lake and mountain views, dreamy gardens — but it’s quieter, laid back, and authentic-feeling.

We made no real plans and took each day as it came. There was lots of swimming (the lake was so warm!), wandering through cobblestone streets, a fun summer thunderstorm, a boat ride, an entirely too-fancy dinner at our hotel, and many many skeeter bites.

Marc squeezed in a round of golf while I dragged Teo to Villa Motta, where the lovely owner Gianmario and his wife gave us a tour of their gardens and welcomed us into their home for espresso and coca-cola.

Back at the hotel pool, Teo found another kid his age to get into lots of trouble with. “Madame, ees… no. Is dangerous, sì?” — the pool staff, five times.

It was a perfect start to a few weeks of exploring. Next up: Abruzzo. More on that in another post.

A few photos from our time in Lake Orta:

I remember early on — over a glass of wine — telling someone about our plan to live abroad for a year. They looked at me with concern and asked, “Are you sure this is a good idea? Won’t it be hard?” I was caught off guard. Of course it would be hard.

They pressed further: “But won’t you feel isolated? Lonely? Nobody there will speak your language.”

They weren’t wrong.

But isn’t that the reality for so many people — living in places where they’re “other,” without the comfort or security of being easily understood?

One of the biggest reasons we chose to spend a year here was to truly immerse ourselves in Swiss culture, to soak up everyday life with Marc’s local family, and to do something outside our comfort zone that we’d never otherwise get the chance to do.

For Teo and me, that means learning the language — or at least doing our best to try. 😅

First: Quick Crash Course

Switzerland has four official languages: German, French, Italian, and Romansh (spoken by less than 1% of the population).

Here in Saas-Fee, the primary language is German — more specifically, a local dialect known as Saaser Deutsch. It’s quite different from standard High German, and borrows many words from the French language. For example:

• ‘Door’ in High German: die Tür

• ‘Door’ in Saaser Deutsch: die Port

To add to the challenge, Swiss German is primarily spoken, not written. There’s no Google Translate for it. 😅

That said, Saas-Fee is a tourist destination, so you hear a mix of languages, and most people are impressively multilingual.

Our Goal

My personal goal is to hold onto some of my autonomy and not to rely on (or hide behind) Marc for every little interaction. I love solo outings and want to navigate the basics on my own, ideally with a little confidence…eventually.

For Teo, he’s along for the ride and is in a sweet spot — kids are language sponges at this age and apparently 4-year-olds can pick up new languages in 3–6 months with immersion.

Currently…

I’ve been dabbling in both High German and Swiss German, but I’ll be honest, I gave up on Duolingo early on. Now I’m just winging it, learning as I go through awkward encounters. In a tiny village where you’re constantly running into people, you really can’t avoid interaction whether you like it or not (like when I recently got roped into a spontaneous coffee date with locals).

If you know Marc, you know he likes to golf, which has meant lots of opportunities for me and Teo to stumble through errands and activities on our own. Marc’s golf has become rewarding for me — never thought I’d say these words, ha!

Right now we’re at the level of greetings, simple small talk, ordering at cafés, and basic vocab.

How We’re Learning

• From Marc and his family, who are all fluent

• German kids’ books and cartoons (i.e. Paw Patrol is now exclusively in German)

• Real-life exposure (signs, menus, shop talk, and small interactions)

• Local activities like biking and tennis with other village kids

• Playground convos like “What’s your name?” / “My name is…”

• And soon, through kindergarten — which is German-speaking

Memorable Moments

For the most part, it’s been a positive experience, though I’ve definitely gotten a few confused stares when I attempt German. When someone assumes I’m fluent (cute), I usually make it a few sentences before having to admit “kein Deutsch…” and bail. 😅

The hardest moment so far: Picking up Teo from bike camp to find him sitting on a bench in tears because no one spoke English. We talked it through, made a plan for next time, and he says he’s ready to try again.

The sweetest and funniest phrases from Teo so far:

• Good morning, did you sleep well? — “Güete Morge, hast du gut geschlafem?”

• I love you — “Ich liebo dich”

• Excuse me? — “Entschuldigung?” (in a full sentence used daily: “Entschuldigung, can I bitte have some ice cream?”)

• “My name is ich bin Teo” 😂

• Elephant farts — “Elefanten Furz” 🤦🏻‍♀️

This whole language bit will be a journey for sure, but we’re taking it a day at a time. If anything, I know this is already teaching both me and Teo SO much about being an outsider in someone else’s culture.

Until next time!

After months of planning, spreadsheets, and paperwork, we finally landed in Switzerland and the adventure has begun. Our bags are (mostly) unpacked and the jet lag has subsided. It’s been a little over a week, and I still wake up a bit disoriented thinking we’re just on vacation.

But there’s not much time to process, because we’re on Swiss time, and the Swiss are very efficient. Marc and his dad Rinaldo have us moving at warp speed over here, and I’m just trying to keep up. 😅

Here’s what our first two weeks have looked like.

Settling In Tasks

A reality check for us that this adventure is a bit more complicated than a vacation.

✅ Get a local Swiss phone plan (our text messages are a hot mess right now)

✅ Obtain a residence permit (endless paperwork here still)

✅ Sort out health insurance

✅ Unpack and settle into the apartment

✅ Get our mountain passes (an annual pass for ski resorts & summer lifts)

✅ Buy our Swiss Half Fare cards (half-price travel on trains & buses)

✅ Confirm Teo’s kindergarten spot

✅ Lots of spielplatz (playground) breaks

✅ Buy a car and car insurance so we can explore beyond town

What We’re Loving

Not even two weeks in, and already so many little moments have reminded us exactly why we did this:

❤️ Everything that’s right outside our door: trails, cafés, playgrounds, and spectacular mountain views.

❤️ Family meals, either gathered around Grosspapa’s table, the family restaurant, or one of the many outdoor picnic spots.

❤️ Tiny apartment life, where there are no house projects nagging us.

❤️ Teo’s first real hike and his mountain biking debut.

❤️ Small village life, where we’re always bumping into people we know.

❤️ Church bells that chime on the hour (and for a full ten-minutes at noon to signal lunchtime).

❤️ Walking everywhere (it’s a car-free village), making each errand an adventure.

❤️ Being spoiled by family here — hospitality runs deep, from restaurant owners to personal fitness trainers, to babysitters.

❤️ Introducing Teo to our favorite Swiss dishes like raclette and fondue chinoise (though so far, schnitzel, pommes frites, and ice cream are #1).

❤️ Watching Teo fully live his best carefree life in a place that feels built for kids.

Struggles So Far

Of course it wouldn’t be an adventure without a few growing pains.

• Small apartment life in a vacation rental — we’re adapting to a fridge the size of my foot and zero pantry space with daily micro grocery runs and some very creative storage solutions.

• Adjusting to altitude, where walking up a small hill or attempting to work out feels twice as hard.

• Embracing the slower pace and lack of a firm routine. It feels like a 180.

• Juggling the time difference (we’re both still working remotely a bit).

• Navigating the local Swiss German dialect (Marc’s fluent, Teo and I are attempting to learn).

• Trying to balance (and digest) the rich Swiss cuisine with some semblance of healthy eating.

• And of course, the sticker shock. Groceries for instance cost 1.5-2x what we pay back in the US.

What’s Ahead

Before the school year kicks off in mid-August (Teo will be starting the equivalent of the U.S. “Transitional Kindergarten” here), we’re squeezing in a little family adventure to Italy — visiting Lake Orta, Umbria, and Abruzzo.

Right on the heels of that trip, we’ll welcome our first visitors: my sister and her family, plus Marc’s sister and her boyfriend. We can’t wait to soak up these final weeks of summer with them here.

I have a feeling that once school begins and the initial novelty wears off, we’ll slip into more of a routine, and a few more realities will start to sink in. I hear winter is long here :)

More soon. Until then, if there’s anything you’re curious about — life here, travel plans, parenting in Switzerland — let me know in the comments or send me a message. I’d love to hear from you!

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I’ll be sharing much more from our time here, but before jumping in, I figured I’d start with the question we keep getting: how and why did we pull this off?

So here’s the tea.

The Call for Adventure

Our family started out in a picture-perfect suburban Bay Area town that many people only dream of — safe, tree-lined streets, excellent schools, endless conveniences. It’s a glorious bubble. A well-oiled, mostly homogenous, keeping-up-with-the-Joneses, hamster wheel of a bubble. And with that has come plenty of privileges and perks.

But during one of our trips back to Saas-Fee, Switzerland — the small alpine village where Marc was born and raised — something clicked. Watching our young son experience life there, we started to wonder: could we give him a taste of Marc’s own childhood, even if just for a little while?

Maybe a year and a half ago, I picked up a few books on family gap years (starting with this one) and shared my takeaways with Marc. It took a bit of convincing, but once he was in, he was all in. We began tossing around the idea of a big adventure — something to do before Teo entered the U.S. school system. Age four or five felt like a sweet spot. And with the economy as it was, we also anticipated a natural lull in work that might make the timing easier.

Once we started telling family and friends what we were thinking of doing, it felt more real. Saying it out loud set things in motion. Whenever the logistics started to overwhelm us, we’d come back to: “Life is short. If not now, when?”

At the end of December 2024, we made it official. We booked our departure for July 1, 2025, giving ourselves six months to pull it all together.

Why Switzerland

From the start, Switzerland was the obvious choice. Marc spent his first 17-ish years here. His dad, cousins, aunts, and uncles still live here and were so supportive as we navigated paperwork and plans.

Marc’s hometown of Saas-Fee checked all the boxes: endless nature, a slower pace, safe and community-centered village life, exposure to new languages, traditional Swiss culture and customs, easy travel to other European spots, and the chance to deepen connections with family here.

The Admin of it All

Logistically, we had a leg up. Marc and Teo both have dual citizenship, which lowered the barrier significantly. I applied for a long-stay visa (visa D), which involved a paperwork parade: background check, marriage certificate, proof of funds.

Work-wise, we were lucky, too. I’m self-employed and could adapt my schedule around this year, while Marc’s company allowed him to take a sabbatical and simply tacked on another year at the end of his contract.

Renting out our house in Danville and selling my car made the math work, helping cover our living and travel expenses while abroad. We’re also staying in a vacation rental apartment owned by Marc’s family, just downstairs from his dad. (We’re very aware of the privilege that makes all this possible!)

So Here We Are

Right now we’re deep in the early days: jet lag, admin (buying a car, Swiss SIM cards, health insurance…) and grocery sticker shock (yikes).

But every day so far has brought awe and joy: alpine hikes, wildflowers, family dinners, playgrounds with postcard views. And daily moments of holy crap, we actually did this.

Who knows what tomorrow, next week, next month, or the next year will bring. I’m sure the novelty will fade and challenges will come. We will embrace the unknown. But for now, Marc and I look at each and agree: this was the best decision we could have made for our family.

Stay tuned for the good and the challenging. Whether you find a dose of inspiration or maybe a bit of schadenfreude :)… we’re happy to have you along. Be sure to hit ‘Subscribe’ below to see new posts.

This is A Swiss Interlude. Where I’ll be sharing snippets of our family’s year-long sabbatical in Switzerland.

From the logistics of how we pulled this off, to glimpses of daily life in a tiny alpine village, to reflections on Swiss culture, customs, and what it’s like raising a kid here.

Thanks for following along. Be sure to click ‘Subscribe’ for notifications of new posts.

More soon!

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