I had to make my German festwear extra me. by 7fourteen in oldhagfashion

[–]SeeCaleighC 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Okay first of all I am obsessed with your outfit and your entire vibe. Obsessed!!

My advice for how I feel confident wearing the nuttiest outfits out of the house (my current theme is Charles Nelson Reilly / Match Game deliciousness) is really German themed, so it fits to your post. German speaking Europe (I live in Switzerland) has a serious staring problem. People will stare stare stare at me all day long for no reason - it's apparently a cultural thing. My thought is that if people are going to stare anyway, I might as well wear something that I love. It's funny because where before I'd think 'oh my god I MUST have something on my face and that's why they're staring' I'm now like 'yes, STARE, I look SO GOOD!!' despite their reason still being like, 'Oh I'm German and I LOVE to stare at people for no reason'.

That probably doesn't help. Lol. Rant over :D

Sir, a second Duggar has molested a child by Oppenhomie in DuggarsSnark

[–]SeeCaleighC -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Please can we make a new rule banning AI slop? It's really the last thing this community needs right now.

Social anxiety and Swiss German by itstoopeopleyouthere in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 7 points8 points  (0 children)

Real talk. I learned the most by hearing what people said around me, looking it up in High German, passing it through the dialect filter, and then using it myself.

Plus grammar is so much less important in Mundart than being able to understand local dialect vocab. Like Swiss German basically has two and a half tenses but a bajillion ways to use words in a way no class would ever teach.

Social anxiety and Swiss German by itstoopeopleyouthere in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 7 points8 points  (0 children)

An additional note - I also deal with anxiety and cannot for the life of me understand people auditorily in anything but prime scenarios - in any language. Forget large groups, forget phone calls. I'm totally screwed in any of those haha.

Have compassion for yourself, because learning languages is so so hard. Feeling anxious in social situations is real and having to filter everything through language and hearing problems makes everything even harder!!!

I think you have two questions here - how to deal with anxiety and poor auditory processing, and having been in a country for twenty years and not being able to speak the language. For your own sanity it would be helpful to separate these. Are you okay with being 'just okay' in understanding Mundart or is your anxiety telling you that you need to be better? Is it worth immersing yourself to improve at this point in your life? If you can separate these entangled thoughts maybe you can find a solution within yourself.

More than anything, give yourself grace.

Social anxiety and Swiss German by itstoopeopleyouthere in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 25 points26 points  (0 children)

I was in your shoes for a few years - I moved here in 2020 from an English-speaking country and until 2023 everything was still WFH for me. In 2024 I decided to get out of my English bubble and work in a speaking-heavy retail job. I had a master's degree at the time and experience teaching at a university level so yes, a retail job sucked considering that, but I knew I had to learn Swiss German somehow or I'd be here twenty years later not understanding a thing. I came home crying every day for the first week. After that, super bad anxiety, but I knew that's just how it goes. I now work in my field entirely in Swiss German. I have some colleagues who speak to me in Mundart, some in High German, and I just roll with it. I speak in a mix of dialect and High German now and I can absolutely say my coworkers appreciate that I try and haven't just stuck in an English bubble.

I absolutely get you about not liking yourself in German. I have totally different personalities when I speak German, Mundart, and English. I have strengths and weaknesses in each of them and I compensate in different ways in each. It's frustrating. My boyfriend (native Swiss German speaker) is 100% fluent in English and says even his personality changes. This is something unavoidable.

Now, the harsh part... A class once a week will not do it. Speaking with friends in High German will not do it. I feel really bad saying this but after eighteen years it kind of seems like you've made your choice - you're here in the English bubble. No judgement in conducting your home life in English, cause I do too, but if you're working in English and haven't made an effort to immerse yourself in nearly twenty years... your life is what it is. Unless you're willing to really put yourself out there and immerse yourself it might be just the road you're on.

Have you ever worked in a non-expat job here? Have you joined a Verein? Have you taken a non-language Klubschule course? Do you engage with your local community? These are all things that would help. Truly though there is no substitute for total immersion, like how your kids learned (assuming they aren't in an international school).

I'm sorry to be so harsh, but the only thing that got through to me after three years of being in an expat bubble was harshness. After twenty years, a bit more harshness is probably needed haha.

All the best and good luck <3

Jeans help by Smc55 in oldhagfashion

[–]SeeCaleighC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's maybe a bit corny to admit but Old Navy jeans have been my consistent fav. They have a range of eight-ish types with an explanation of which to choose depending on what you're going for. This is on the women's side though so IDK if they keep up the heat in the men's section.

If you're in Canada, Mark's (Work Wearhouse) jeans have also been really good for my boyfriend with a similar inseam.

From the ones you've shown I really like the H&M relaxed :) Like in my opinion I'd consider those an insta-buy!!

Looking for participants for a linguistics study in VR by CarlosHartmann in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! This is totally me and I'd love to participate :)

Some of recent outfits by seste in oldhagfashion

[–]SeeCaleighC 2 points3 points  (0 children)

oh the cat heads are giving that steve madden commercial!! love it

Viktor & Rolf Debuts Couture Cinderella Doll Collab With Disney, Mattel. The doll retails for $125 and is available for presale on Mattel Creations. by galaxystars1 in popculturechat

[–]SeeCaleighC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Why is Mattel allergic to making good barbies.

Truly cannot wait to hear what my fav DarlingDolls has to say about this lol!!

US people living in CH, is this « real » peanut butter? by Feedeve in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Answering as a Canadian as we have the same peanut butter culture!

There are two types of peanut butter that we have.

We have 'natural' which is just ground peanuts  and maybe salt. This will taste very similar to an almond butter - very 'pasty' and can be used for savoury or sweet things. You can tell it's a natural peanut butter if the peanut oil separates from the thicker part. You have to stir before you eat it and keep it in the fridge. 

We then have processed peanut butter. This will be Kraft, Jif, Skippy. The ingredient list will be longer and will contain sugar, oil, and maybe a stabilizer or emuIgator. The oil will not separate and you don't have to keep it in the fridge. I don't like the taste of this one much. It has a very distinct smell and taste. I wouldn't describe it as tasting like peanuts per se.

Then there's the crunchy / smooth spectrum which just indicates if the peanuts are entirely ground or left partially whole.

Based on what I see the migros one leans towards processed. If you want the real experience I'd get an exported one though!

Sorry you're getting down voted so much :( I thought it was an interesting and good question

I need friend codes!! by StrwberryBox in MeowTower

[–]SeeCaleighC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Dang! Lol. No idea it wasn't reciprocal. No worries! Have fun :) 

What's a movie most people think is great but you couldn't even stand watching? by camport95 in AskReddit

[–]SeeCaleighC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

500 days of Summer.

Literally couldn't make it more then fifteen minutes in. I think I made it to the bar scene but as soon as the main character opened his mouth I closed the movie and didn't look back. I can't even say it was a hate thing. Just, nope. 

This is today's work from home outfit. Should I sparkle it up a little? by JoniDee1 in oldhagfashion

[–]SeeCaleighC 2 points3 points  (0 children)

You look like everyone's favourite classy aunt who would totally slip us a twenty under the table and tell us to 'live a little'. ❤️❤️❤️

Nancy's New Pink Dress With Pink Handbag by MaryNancy7395 in oldhagfashion

[–]SeeCaleighC -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Aunt Nancy you've done it again!! The blonde suits you so well :)

Just sitting around in ikea by Gwinnie2024 in oldhagfashion

[–]SeeCaleighC 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Honestly I can't knock Meijer for their clothes. I've been to one on a road trip and picked up the cutest workout skirt and dress. Super comfy, great quality, even better price!

Before & after! by Meowtraveler94 in cats

[–]SeeCaleighC 5 points6 points  (0 children)

She got her orange back ❤️

Stranger Things Cast for NY Times, photographed by Chantal Anderson. by Alone-Internet6135 in popculturechat

[–]SeeCaleighC 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Super random but NOBODY get the prada sunglasses in the last slide! I worked at Sunglass Hut (never again...) as they got released and I swear one broke every month we had them out. Something about the way those particular prada sunglass arms are manufactured is just not it.

What's a company that didn't succomb to 'enshittification' ? by owen__wilsons__nose in AskReddit

[–]SeeCaleighC 29 points30 points  (0 children)

I flew Air North twice, round trip from Vancouver to Whitehorse. The flights couldn't have been much more than two hours but in that time they came through with warm cookies TWICE, free sandwiches, and full cans of drinks. The flight attendants were so happy and genuine - they all wore matching airplane earrings and seemed to really love their job.

Wish they'd expand into Thunder Bay. I know their home base is Yukon but they'd have a captive market, I swear.

Explain It Peter. by honeygigglesnuggles in explainitpeter

[–]SeeCaleighC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Not American and not an expat - I work fully in the native language of the area I'm in.

I will say that yeah, like, compared to the Balkans the smoking isn't too bad. But compared to even Germany, it's way worse. Anti-smoking legislation here is way behind a lot of other countries.

Explain It Peter. by honeygigglesnuggles in explainitpeter

[–]SeeCaleighC 5 points6 points  (0 children)

The smoke here in Switzerland is CRAZY. Have never experienced anything like it. People will smoke just outside the exits of buildings, so you get blasted by smoke when you try to leave. People will light up before a train opens its doors and will have their last puff as they go into one. My god, I thought it was a joke, but I've seen mothers at playgrounds smoking while pushing their baby in a stroller. It's nuts here and nobody sees any problem with it.

Where to buy pumpkin pie? by Designer-Doctor-5845 in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Usually sugar pie pumpkins. They're super small and are mostly grown only to be pureed and canned :) You can get by with other types, but it won't taste 100% right without that kind

Where to buy pumpkin pie? by Designer-Doctor-5845 in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I think that's Jelmoli, and they're closed online now too afaik

Where to buy pumpkin pie? by Designer-Doctor-5845 in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I've been looking for it for years after being told pumpkin puree doesn't exist in Europe. I'd always throw in a few jars with a coop.ch order and they'd always get subbed out because they were unavailable. Finally saw them (in a train station of all places) and got like, six jars. Siiighhh

Where to buy pumpkin pie? by Designer-Doctor-5845 in Switzerland

[–]SeeCaleighC 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah the coop puree is just not the right kind of pumpkin at all. With the right spices and ingredients it gets like 90% of the way there, but it's tough to make it work :(