I recently attended the Manhattan wedding of the daughter of a close American friend—it was a joyous occasion, and I enjoyed every minute of it. I was delighted to be invited, but also surprised because here in Switzerland, I’ve learned not to expect an invitation when our friends’ children get married. This is no reasonContinue reading “Weddings Past and Present”
Author Archives: Kim Hays
In Praise of Midwives
When I moved to Switzerland thirty-six years ago, I didn’t know anyone still practiced midwifery—I thought the profession had gone the way of blacksmithing. Five years later, I walked into Bern’s teaching hospital to give birth to my son and met my first midwife. She was with me during and after the birth and madeContinue reading “In Praise of Midwives”
More Cherry Blossoms!
Now that Peter and I are back from Japan, I want to share some of my thoughts and observations with you, mainly because my feelings about Japan have changed so radically since I was 21 and spent six weeks in Tokyo. As a college senior, I won a small fellowship permitting me to compare factoryContinue reading “More Cherry Blossoms!”
Reading under the Cherry Blossoms
Thanks, dear friends and readers, for listening to me go on about Swiss politics the last time I blogged. Today, I thought I’d mention some of my favorite mystery authors—at least, from among the ones who are alive and writing books—and ask if you have some recommendations for me. I’m happy to have you suggestContinue reading “Reading under the Cherry Blossoms”
“Please, Sir, We Want Some More”
On March 3, almost 60% of Swiss voters said yes to an initiative proposing that people aged sixty-five and over should receive an extra month’s social security payment every year for the rest of their lives. As a result, starting in 2026, Switzerland’s 2,500,000 retirees will get between $1400 and $2800 more a year, whetherContinue reading ““Please, Sir, We Want Some More””
Switzerland’s Junkyard Playgrounds
When I was eight, we lived in a neighborhood that was still being built. Our narrow suburban street had families living on either side in small concrete houses with carports and tidy front yards. But only a few blocks away, there were half-built homes and vacant lots. We children—mostly boys, but I wasn’t the onlyContinue reading “Switzerland’s Junkyard Playgrounds”
Trials Reconsidered
Until I watched a man in Bern being tried for attempted murder, I assumed trials required juries. But Switzerland doesn’t use juries; instead, it holds bench trials, where judges alone decide if defendants are innocent or guilty. I did some research to find out more about trials in Bern. I learned that juries generally existContinue reading “Trials Reconsidered”
A Joyful Novel
I’m not even going to try to come up with a list of the best books I read in 2023. But I can tell you about the book that delighted me most: Ann Patchett’s Tom Lake. A review in the Guardian calls it “an engaging exploration of contentment,” but I’m glad I didn’t read thatContinue reading “A Joyful Novel”
Debbi Mack’s Crime Café
Debbi Mack, the author of two mystery series, interviews fellow crime fiction writers on her podcast, Crime Café. So many of us want to be on her show that when I tried in February 2022 to sign up for a slot, she didn’t have a space for me until December 15, 2023! This turned outContinue reading “Debbi Mack’s Crime Café”
‘Tis the Season
This year, Bern’s Christmas season started on December 3, the first day of Advent. The official purpose of Advent is to celebrate the coming of Christ with four Sunday services before December 25, but since few Swiss attend church, it’s a time for feeling festive and getting a head start on baking the many sortsContinue reading “‘Tis the Season”
