August 27, 2011

Gifts from Baden Stadthaus

You must provide 8 or 9 documents to city hall to finally be registered in Switzerland. My residence card has still not yet arrived but not to worry - I have received lots of freebies to tide me over.

Like how Calgary offers you a white cowboy hat, Baden hits you up with some wonderful gifts as well.


The back brochures provide general city information about attractions, shops and local hiking. I also got information on the library fees, a pass to Baden's hot sulfur springs and card that provides me one free entry to the casino. Now that I have gone through all the boring items, we can now get to the fun piece of information I wanted to share with you.

The box on the bottom right are what I have now named my "nuclear pills". Maybe it's my own ignorance to these things by living in a city drunk off fossil fuels but those pills made me crack up right in from of the official.

What are they for?

Well, in the event that the nearby nuclear plant undergoes a meltdown or crisis, there will be a mass flurry of radio reports and news broadcasts urging civilians to take their nuclear pills. The pills block your thyroid and allow you some time before you absorb the radioactive waves. He also assured me that if I ran out, I can always pop back to city hall and grab some more.

Tourism, library, casino, sulfur springs and nuclear fallout precautions. Thanks Baden !!

Judging by the 3 other nuclear pill boxes I found in my room from past interns, I will likely not be needing any. However, if in the event that nuclear fallout does occur, you know just the Asian to contact for thyroid pills.