Cooking: Chinese steamed dumplings

Yes, it is true that I, Alison Ruth Markowitz Chan, gave a cooking lesson. I'm sure any family members right now reading this are rolling on the floor. They always tease me about my lack of cooking skills, but when you've got a husband who loves to cook you don't have many opportunities to practice! (poor me.) Also, lets not forget the amazing sweet potato casserole that was the hit of our thanksgiving dinner. Well, this year is different and I've already been cooking a lot, both simple everyday dishes and a few more complex. 


Here is a blog post I wrote about the recent cooking lesson for some other partners on the MBA partners blog. The post contains the instructions for cooking dumplings. And, if you're interested, check back on that blog to find out what some of my new friends are writing about throughout the year. 

Iyerida, Junko, Sharon, Maria, AMC, Verity & Nora

Ouchy 58.

Ouchy 58 may not mean much to you, but its now where we call home! (Although for me MN will forever be "home" as well.) On Friday I gave my first cooking lesson at our place.  I cleaned up a bit and realized that I never posted photos of our lovely abode.  It was looking spiffy so I snapped a few.  


We have one big bedroom with a nice big wardrobe and another room that is open to the kitchen so it makes it feel a lot bigger than some of the other apartments here. Our bathroom is very new, nothing special. But, living here has made me very aware of space we really need. I wonder how I ever needed so much space before, when all of our things fit onto that tiny bathroom cart?  We’ve made chicken curry, spring rolls, soups, muffins, etc. in our small kitchen. And I had 6 guests over for my cooking lesson. I love having a small apartment, especially when cleaning takes 1/3 of the time!

The couch is almost finished- I call it my “IKEA hack job”. The couch was originally from IKEA, passed down to us from other students, like most of our furniture.  We actually paid for the thing, without knowing that it is actually very old. Who buys a white couch in a student apartment?! It is very grey with many stains, pen markings, etc. and then springs are about to burst through the cushions. I found some adorable fabric at IKEA, took some measurements, and bought just enough to cover the couch. I had no idea how I was going to do it, but luckily the previous cover was attached by a friction-fit type of device, a metal groove with a plastic plug to hold the fabric taught under the couch. This job was easier than I thought! Now I just need to tack down a few corners and it has most definitely brightened our room.  Now to get a few things on the walls…

 

i'm a "partner"?

The last two weeks have been so busy, it feels like its been many more! Howie has been working hard on schoolwork already, and the partners group has begun with so many activities to coordinate. It has been a flurry of names and cultures and I’ve tried very hard to remember them all. Still working on that. To be perfectly honest it has been a little overwhelming. I came to Lausanne with a fairly clear set of goals in mind and already I feel like I should be doing more to accomplish those goals- professional and otherwise. (A year goes quickly!) But somehow I have become the running group coordinator, cross country ski coordinator and cooking class coordinator. I also will participate in some other events/classes (such as: Bollywood dancing, clothes making, and cycling) and whew, there went my free time!  But, having friends and things to do wins every time. It’s a matter of balance, planning and plenty of chocolate. 

a little gift for my hubby:

Blondel chocolates- the best in Lausanne

towers and kissing cows.

After scouting some French language schools, a few of us made a trek (well, took the metro) north of Lausanne to a more suburban area called Sauvabelin where there is a large park with walking trails. I’d seen a photo in a brochure, but this tower that is in the park is a beautiful piece of architecture, completely unexpected!

The tower is made from large timbers stacked on top of each other, pivoting at the center to form a helical structure. The timbers create steps, walking up on one side and down on the other. The entire visible structure is wood, and its so interesting to look out on the way up/down to see the different views through the wood and the trees surrounding. At the top, of course, an amazing view of the mountains. In the summer with the sun a bit higher in the sky, it will be even better.

we also managed to find some kissing cows! so cute!

and ended the day with a to-die-for sunset.

my first SANAA.

As life is catching up with me I’ve slowed down on the blogging a bit. I’ve been busier (which is great) and have taken some time to explore some parts of the city. Luckily there are a few willing friends who have made great company on the excursions.

My first excursion was to see the Rolex Learning Center (library and student center) at the EPFL campus by Japanese architects SANAA. Friend, Nora, (also an architect) and I walked the 6km along the lake to the campus.

students walking into the building under a large concrete span.

next time we'll find a place to relax and read

and our favorite is the map of the building... so cute!

We not only saw the building, but scrounged in the library to find some names of local Swiss architects. We were hoping to find more, but unfortunately there are not many publications of architecture in the French part of Switzerland, and of course so much information on the German part. It just means that we’ll have to dig a bit more.

It was great to see such a large architecture selection in the bookshop- even saw some familiar books! (Also saw Tom Fisher’s newest book in the library.)

architecture books! i was in heaven!

Transmaterial!

It was a great day, so good to have a friend who not just appreciates architecture, but has worked as an architect in Switzerland before!

first day of school!

we both started school this week. Howie to the real thing, IMD MBA, me to the partner group! here is howie on his way out the door- day 1.

and here is me with the group of lovely ladies (and a few gents) that i'm starting to get to know.

finally feeling a bit busy, which is nice for a change.

also went exploring yesterday, more good stuff to come!

12C = 53F

we enjoyed a day of 12C/53F weather this weekend and got a taste of spring. this was the first time we could clearly see all of the beautiful mountains that surround us.

free entertainment at the Ouchy waterfront included expert roller skaters practicing a slalom course at top speed, old ladies almost being run over by said roller skaters, and small children picking up cones of the slalom course.

Howie starts school tomorrow, so our "vacation" is now over. wishing him the best on this new adventure. time for him to get busy and for me to learn how to cook!

ciao, friends!