Susan's News

Funny English: frisky flowers

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Sat, 19 May 2012 07:29:08 +0000

I noticed this orchid in the home of a 75-year-old Swiss woman.

Judging by the care tag, it seems the garden center didn’t have a clear idea of what a table dance actually entails. It reads:

“This group of orchids includes varieties that are especially suitable as table decorations because they bloom for so long.”

I wonder if they sell bean plants that are called “pole dance”?

Funny English: boundary issues

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 18:25:51 +0000

Is it so bad to be close? Spotted in a puppet shop in Bern. Indeed, it was closed, which made it easy for me to snap this photo.

Have an egg-cellent Easter!

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 18:38:03 +0000

In this week’s swissinfo.ch podcast, I focused on:

- a noisy Lenten tradition

- happy laying hens

- and a man who found a way to outsmart ovulation.

Click here to listen.

Optimism and opulence characterize Baselworld

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:56:43 +0000

Time flies in the Hall of Dreams (© BASELWORLD)

The world’s top watch and jewelry fair – featuring 1,815 exhibitors from 41 countries – has opened its doors in Basel. Now in its 40th year, Baselworld showcases the latest technology and designs over the course of a week. Click here to read the whole story.

48 hours in Zurich

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Mon, 27 Feb 2012 19:28:51 +0000

: Oryx, January 2012

Having worked in Zurich for a few years, I was glad for the chance to write about fun things to do there for Oryx, the inflight magazine of Qatar Airways.

I wrote the piece in English and it was translated into Arabic as well. You can read the English version here: Weekend Away, Zurich.

If you’re curious, check out page 16 of the online magazine to see a blurb about me on the “contributors” page.

Funny English: I love water

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 21:08:17 +0000

: The campaign for a special kind of toilet.

Admittedly, the English here is perfectly correct and not all that funny. But the ad campaign (butt-)cracks me up, at least when I’m not embarrassed to be seen with it. A magazine I was reading last week had this on its back cover; you wouldn’t believe how many startled looks I got on the train.

What’s even funnier is the related TV ad starring a former Miss Switzerland. They’ve got her enjoying a waterfall and singing the praises of fresh water. Is it just me, or does she look like she’s being flushed away? Click on TV-Spot mit Melanie Winiger to see for yourself.

Care drain threatens needy countries

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 18:19:24 +0000

Experts say incentives are needed to keep health care workers at home (© Medicus Mundi)

Switzerland is facing a dearth of health workers, but nothing like the shortages in developing countries where doctors and nurses have left for better opportunities.

To combat this problem, a coalition of Swiss health and humanitarian organisations has written a manifesto that addresses the worldwide need for properly trained healthcare professionals.

Click here to read the whole story on swissinfo.ch.

Funny English: a positive take on weight gain

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 16:43:08 +0000

Guaranteed: generous portions

Spotted this sign in Langenthal, canton Bern, while looking for a place to eat. Decided this sounded more filling than a pizza! The waitress said that loosely translated,”Winn Fat” meant prosperity. We left with pleasantly full bellies plus leftovers.

Swiss Federal Railways targets fare dodgers

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:02:26 +0000

For Swiss Federal Railways, the new year has already begun. In addition to introducing new timetables on December 11, it has stopped selling tickets on board. This policy translates into hefty fines for passengers who fail to buy their tickets prior to boarding – either because they forgot or because they were in too much of a hurry.

Read the whole story here.

Doctors say weak students get too much therapy

Susan Vogel-Misicka — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 14:23:04 +0000

Attentive in an Alabama classroom in 1936 (Marion Post Wolcott)

More than half of Swiss schoolchildren are undergoing some sort of therapy in an effort to solve learning problems. That is far too many, according to the authors of a recently-published book on children with learning difficulties. They say that parents, teachers and doctors have unrealistic expectations of children.

Solothurn pediatrician Thomas Baumann and Zug pediatrician and youth psychiatrist Romedius Alber have written a 285-page book aimed at health professionals. Their goal is to reduce the numbers of children in therapy that might well be unnecessary.

Read the whole story here on swissinfo.ch.